2019 Audi SQ5 problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi SQ5, most often about engine. There are 5 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- 7,150 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 4 of 18 complaints (22%).
- Electrical System (3) and brakes (3) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 7,150 mi.
- Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries.
- The 2019 Audi SQ5 has 5 recalls on file.
- It ranks 3rd of 13 Audi SQ5 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
2019 Audi SQ5 problems by category
- Engine4 complaints
- Electrical System3 complaints
- Brakes3 complaints
- Lighting3 complaints
- Body & Structure2 complaints
- Airbags · 1 crash2 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers2 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion1 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech1 complaints
- Steering1 complaints
- Suspension1 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4 |
| Service brakes | 3 |
| Electrical system | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 |
| Air bags | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 |
| Power train | 1 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2019 Audi SQ5 recalls (5)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM · STRUCTURE:BODY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
- STRUCTURE:BODY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
Risk: A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.
- WHEELS:HUB
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
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.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.
Recent 2019 Audi SQ5 complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Sep 7, 2026WAEngine
Piston skirt extended warranty calls for replacement of the pistons. This does NOT fix the issue if the vehicle was driven long term with damaged pistons. In my case the vehicle started knocking 1000 miles after replacement. Unsafe to drive and I now how to pay for a new engine on my own.
NHTSA complaint #11762508 · source - Filed Jan 15, 2026NYEngine
There’s a knocking noise coming from the engine that could lead to potential engine failure. There is a known manufacturers defect in these engines. Audi has extended a warranty, but not all cars are eligible. This should be a recall because if the engine fails on a high speed through a highway, it could be a highly dangerous situation
NHTSA complaint #11711317 · source - Filed Dec 17, 2025OHEngine
Piston skirt recall and warranty. Bulletin number AWA-25-08. Needs investigated. Based off average Audi owner statistics along with NHTSA statistics, when this bulletin was released in August of 2025, over 60% of vehicles with this 3.0T engine code EA839 would be disqualified from repairs for under 80,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11705497 · source - Filed Dec 9, 2025FLElectrical System
The rear brake lights on my 2019 Audi SQ5 stopped functioning due to a failure of the Comfort System Central Control Module (J393). This defect is documented by Audi in Technical Service Bulletin 2055123/5 and earlier versions. The malfunction causes the “rear lighting warning” to appear in the instrument cluster, and the brake lights do not illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed. The issue is not related to bulbs or wear-and-tear; it is caused by a software defect in…
NHTSA complaint #11704064 · source - Filed May 12, 202560,000 miPABody & Structure
The contact owns a 2019 Audi SQ5. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel flare detached. The driver’s side wheel flare was loosened. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11660370 · source - Filed Aug 30, 2024CTVisibility & Wipers
Panoramic roof glass exploded outwards while driving on the highway. No sign of rock damage or debris hitting. The glass is deformed outwards. The glass was sent towards the interior of the car. The sunroof shade was closed and many pieces of glass were caught by this otherwise the driver would have been hit by glass shards.
NHTSA complaint #11611752 · source - Filed Apr 28, 2024TXFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionSuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain
No warning lights or fault codes. Took it to Audi of Dallas and without a code they said they couldn’t troubleshoot it. The car makes a whining noise only while under acceleration and is prominate between 20-50 mph. Also the fuel gauge (electric) does not show the correct amount of fuel. I have already ran out of fuel and it still showed 200+ miles left and the gauge was still around 1/2. Also while at the dealer they replaced my motor mounts through my extended warranty and…
NHTSA complaint #11585696 · source - Filed Mar 29, 2024WIDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The Adaptive Cruise Control erroneously detects things such as shadows when going under bridges as stationary objects positioned in front of the vehicle, and aggressively applies the brake, causing an unsafe situation. If this occurs on wintry roads or icy conditions, this could create a safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. There is also no known way to disable the adaptive cruise control during periods where this could be a likely scenario, such as certain times of…
NHTSA complaint #11580069 · source
Compare the 2019 Audi SQ5 with another vehicle →
Other 2019 Audi models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology