RS7 Cooling Fan Failure Causing Dangerous Overheating

Had the exact same overheating issue on my 2013 RS6, so I can share some experience about engine cooling problems. With some basic car maintenance experience, I initially tried diagnosing it myself. The electric fan behavior you describe matches my symptoms perfectly. The radiator fan would sometimes work fine, then suddenly stop engaging when needed, leading to quick temperature spikes especially in slow traffic. Took it to a workshop where they found the issue was a faulty wiring connection to the cooling fan control module. The connector had corroded over time, causing intermittent fan operation. Total repair cost was 95 Euro including diagnostic and fixing the cable connection. This is a common failure point in the cooling system of these engines. The electric fan itself was fine, just the electrical connection causing the problems. After the repair, the engine cooling has been working perfectly with consistent fan operation. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Are you getting any error codes? Does the fan ever run at all? Have you noticed any coolant leaks? When did you last service the cooling system? These details would help determine if you have the same root cause or if something else might be affecting your cooling system.

Thanks for the experience you shared. My last service was done at 53000 KM and no error codes are showing. The electric fan does run sometimes but very inconsistently. I have checked for coolant leaks and found nothing obvious around the radiator or hoses. The temperature control issues started about 2 weeks ago. The radiator fan runs fine when cold but struggles to maintain proper cooling once the engine is at operating temperature. Vehicle overheating happens mostly in slow traffic where airflow is limited. My cooling system was last serviced during the regular maintenance interval, with fresh coolant and a pressure test showing no issues at that time.

Thanks for the additional details. This really sounds identical to what I experienced with my RS6 cooling issues. When you mention the fan works fine when cold but struggles at operating temperature, that actually strengthens my suspicion about the wiring connection. Heat can make these electrical connection issues more pronounced, which explains the inconsistent radiator fan behavior. Based on the symptoms matching my case exactly, I would recommend having the cooling fan control module connections checked first before replacing any major components. The electric fan itself is likely fine since it does work sometimes. In my case, the temperature control problems cleared up completely after fixing that corroded connector. The repair was relatively straightforward and much cheaper than replacing the entire cooling fan assembly. While waiting for the repair, try to avoid conditions that put extra stress on the engine cooling system: Minimize idle time when possible, Keep engine RPMs up slightly in slow traffic, Park in shaded areas when stopping Given the matching symptoms and similar vehicle age, I would bet you are dealing with the same electrical connection issue that affected my cooling system. Worth checking this first before exploring more expensive repairs.

Based on your feedback and suggestion about the wiring connection issue, I decided to take my RS7 to a specialist workshop yesterday. The symptoms you described matched my vehicle overheating problems exactly, and I wanted to avoid replacing expensive parts unnecessarily. The technician found corroded wiring at the cooling fan control module, just as you predicted. The fan motor itself tested fine, but the compromised electrical connection was causing the intermittent operation. They cleaned and repaired the connection, performed a full cooling system test, and the total cost was 120 Euro. After driving in heavy traffic today, I can confirm the engine cooling is working perfectly now. The radiator fan engages consistently when needed, and the temperature gauge stays firmly in the normal range. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped identify the root cause quickly and saved me from potentially expensive unnecessary repairs. This seems to be a common failure point in these cooling systems, so hopefully other owners can benefit from knowing about this specific issue with the fan control module wiring.