Audi Q5 problems by model year
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
NHTSA has 764 owner complaints and 32 recalls on file for the Audi Q5 (2008–2026). The 2018 Q5 has the most serious complaints, most often about electrical system.
- Complaints
- 764
- Recalls
- 32
- Model years
- 19
- Worst year
- 2018
Complaints by model year
Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.
Worst Audi Q5 years to buy
Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).
- 2018 Audi Q5 — 171 complaints, 6 crashes; top problem: Electrical System
- 2016 Audi Q5 — 52 complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Engine
- 2023 Audi Q5 — 43 complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
- 2021 Audi Q5 — 74 complaints, 2 crashes; top problem: Electrical System
- 2014 Audi Q5 — 57 complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Engine
Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2008 (0 complaints).
Every Audi Q5 model year
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Recalls | Top problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2025 Q5 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2024 Q5 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2023 Q5 | 43 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2022 Q5 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System |
| 2021 Q5 | 74 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | Electrical System |
| 2020 Q5 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | Electrical System |
| 2019 Q5 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 5 | Electrical System |
| 2018 Q5 | 171 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | Electrical System |
| 2017 Q5 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Engine |
| 2016 Q5 | 52 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | Engine |
| 2015 Q5 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Engine |
| 2014 Q5 | 57 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Engine |
| 2013 Q5 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | Engine |
| 2012 Q5 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | Engine |
| 2011 Q5 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Engine |
| 2010 Q5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion |
| 2009 Q5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Airbags |
| 2008 Q5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
Most common Audi Q5 problem areas (all years)
- Engine222 complaints
- Electrical System178 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech104 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion72 complaints
- Steering60 complaints
- Brakes58 complaints
- Suspension53 complaints
- Body & Structure52 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain51 complaints
- Airbags40 complaints
Complaint trend
Audi Q5 recalls
Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Risk: The screws can loosen, allowing oil to leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Risk: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Risk: A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Risk: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
Risk: The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Risk: Despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Other Audi models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology