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2011 Audi Q5 Problems & Owner Complaints

141 NHTSA owner complaints
4 crash 2 fire 2 injury

Age-normalised, this year draws ~8.8 complaints per year on the road — ranking 3 of 13 Audi Q5 years we track (1 = most complaints per year).

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What owners report

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Audi Q5, cited in 67 of 141 filed complaints (48%).

Engine is next (42 complaints, 30%), followed by Fuel/Propulsion System (25), Power Train (12), Electrical System (8).

Across all complaints, 4 report a crash, 2 report a fire, 2 report injuries.

The most safety-critical cluster is Air Bags: 3 crash, 2 injury report(s).

Complaints by vehicle system

Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2011 Audi Q5, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 141.

Air Bags 67 3 crash 2 injury

“Accident head on collision with wall airbags didn't deploy”
NHTSA complaint #11504366, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL, I HAVE BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS BOTH STATE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL. IN JANUARY 2017 I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY! I WAS TOLD BY THE LAST DEALER DURING 2 OTHER RECALLS THAT NJ WILL HAVE SUPPLIES COME THIS FALL! I WOULD LIKE THIS RECALL COMPLETED ASAP AS ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR! PLUS HAVING BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT HEAD ON ITS NOT TO REASSURING KNOWING THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY!”
NHTSA complaint #11005433, 2017 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“TOOK SUV IN FOR RECALL X3 (2) SEPARATE DEALERS, WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART IN YET TO REPLACE IT. I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THIS PAST JANUARY 2017 THE AIR BAG DIDNT DEPLOIT.”
NHTSA complaint #11021252, 2017 · crash

Engine 42 2 fire

“THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD PROPER MAINTENANCE AND CARE. THIS CAN BE DOCUMENTED WITH AUDI OF HUNTSVILLE AL. NO WARNINGS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PRESENT. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER A PASSERBY CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT IN WHICH WE WERE DINING SAYING A GRAY AUDI WAS ON FIRE. OWNER OF RESTAURANT TRIED TO USE HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO THE FRONT GRILL. NO LUCK AS IT IMMEDIATELY MELTED THE HOOD AND ENGULFED THE WHOLE CAR IN FLAMES. TOOK FIREMEN 30 MINUTES TO PUT IT OUT. THEY HAD NO IDEA OF CAUSE BUT SPECULATED ELECTRICAL AS THE SOURCE.”
NHTSA complaint #10763376, 2015 · fire

“I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED AUDI Q5 LAST MARCH 2013. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. NO PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2014 FOR AN ANNUAL SERVICE AND ALSO IN MARCH 2014 FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTION/EMISSIONS TESTING. ON APRIL 2014, I HAD LOSS THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FIRE THAT HAD STARTED IN THE CAR. YES, MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE! PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD OR SMELLED SMOKE WHILE I HAD DROVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THAT DAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE…”
NHTSA complaint #10595254, 2014 · fire

“Audi q5 shows no recalls on my vehicle. My car stops randomly while driving even while being on highways and interstates. As well as the passenger side leaking due to sunroof drainage coming to the inside (which may affect the air bags). This Car has not had any repairs on recalls that I know of personally.”
NHTSA complaint #11636788, 2025

Fuel/Propulsion System 25

“Audi q5 shows no recalls on my vehicle. My car stops randomly while driving even while being on highways and interstates. As well as the passenger side leaking due to sunroof drainage coming to the inside (which may affect the air bags). This Car has not had any repairs on recalls that I know of personally.”
NHTSA complaint #11636788, 2025

“My car smells like gas, I took it to the dealership ans they said my fuel pump flange is leaking gas”
NHTSA complaint #11438656, 2021

“Audi offered a warranty extension for intake manifold & fuel injectors in certain 2008-2011 Model Year Audi Vehicles with 2.0 TFSI Engine. Audi rejected our claim for a faulty fuel injector in our 2011 car citing that “vehicle does not have the extended warranty for fuel injectors and the information that was submitted was only for 2.0 TFSI Engine's with the Engine code of CBFA & CCTA. The engine in your vehicle is a 3.2 FSI with the Engine code CALB. So this warranty extension would not be applicable to your vehicle.” Our Audi dealership diagnosed our car with the same fuel injector issue li…”
NHTSA complaint #11481103, 2020

Power Train 12 1 fire

“I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED AUDI Q5 LAST MARCH 2013. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. NO PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2014 FOR AN ANNUAL SERVICE AND ALSO IN MARCH 2014 FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTION/EMISSIONS TESTING. ON APRIL 2014, I HAD LOSS THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FIRE THAT HAD STARTED IN THE CAR. YES, MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE! PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD OR SMELLED SMOKE WHILE I HAD DROVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THAT DAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE…”
NHTSA complaint #10595254, 2014 · fire

“TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEARS VERY BAD, WHILE BREAKING, FROM 2 GEAR TO 1ST GEAR CAR "JUMPS" FORWARD, I SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. SOMETHIMES WHEN I PUT IN TO REVERSE, IT TAKES A MINUTE UNTIL IT START DRIVING.”
NHTSA complaint #11252024, 2019

“TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT CAUSED IT TO JUMP, DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEADS AND VALVES. AS I WAS PROCEEDING TO STOP AT AT A LIGHT, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE SEEMED OFF. AT A FULL STOP, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AGAIN AND THEN PROCEEDED TO DIE. THE CAR WOULDN'T START, SO I COULD NOT PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AUDI WILL NOT COVER ANY DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED AND IS INDICATING THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAINS. I'VE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER LAWSUITS WHERE THIS TYPE OF ISSUE HAS BEEN COVERED FROM AUDI.”
NHTSA complaint #11240507, 2019

Electrical System 8 1 crash

“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 ON THE HIGHWAY, A LIGHT CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT SAID 'PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION!' MOMENTS LATER MY 2011 AUDI Q5 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING A 3 CAR PILE UP. MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED IN JUNE AND GOTTEN NEW BRAKES AT THAT TIME AS WELL.”
NHTSA complaint #11139404, 2018 · crash

“Rear driver side door will not unlock when keypad, nor inside unlock button is pressed. Once inside, door will not unlock in sequence with other doors when vehicle is shut off and it is time to exit the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11654307, 2025

“Audi q5 shows no recalls on my vehicle. My car stops randomly while driving even while being on highways and interstates. As well as the passenger side leaking due to sunroof drainage coming to the inside (which may affect the air bags). This Car has not had any repairs on recalls that I know of personally.”
NHTSA complaint #11636788, 2025

Fuel System 8

“The contact's wife owns a 2011 Audi Q5. The contact stated that after he parked the vehicle in his garage, he smelled a fuel odor outside of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the flange had cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and advise the contact to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the recall was previously performed under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V818000 (Fuel System, Gasoli…”
NHTSA complaint #11492317, 2022

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE STARTED SMELLING FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER KARMART OF MAUI (411 HUKU LII PL #103, KIHEI, HI 96753, (808) 419-7400) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V660000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11374321, 2020

“WE WERE TRANSFERRED FROM CHICAGO TO GERMANY AT THE END OF 2014 AND AS THE AUDI RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG AND FUEL FLANGE WERE NOW AVAILABLE WE SCHEDULED THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON 11/12 JAN 2017. THE DEALER HAD THE RECALLS IN THE SYSTEM AND PRINTED THEM OUT AS A SERVICE ORDER FOR REPAIR. ON 12TH JANUARY THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID AUDI AG WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIRS. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY 13 FEB 2017 AND THE DEALERS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL CARR SAID THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE AND THAT THE DEALER HAS NO WAY OF ORDERING THE PARTS WITHOUT AUDI AG AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT AN AMERICAN DEALERS…”
NHTSA complaint #10955909, 2017

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Unknown Or Other 8

“During a routine inspection my mechanic noticed the subframe of my 2011 Audi Q5 was rusted through in numerous spots. It seemed odd that a vehicle bought new and garaged since it was purchased had such extensive rust. Pictures of the rusted subframe were taken and shown to the local Audi dealer. The dealer then asked to bring the vehicle in so they could take their own pictures. Contacted Audi NA and spoke with rep about problem. The phone call ended abruptly when the Audi NA rep refused to file a claim and hung up on me.”
NHTSA complaint #11465454, 2022

“MY CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE. THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. YESTERDAY MY SON THROUGH A FIT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND OPENED THE BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS GOING OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE DOOR LOCK LIGHT WAS LIT. I FEEL THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD IT BE POSSIBLE OF THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH AUDI CORPORATE BUT THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ME BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED THAN THE ISSUE ITSELF. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11324269, 2020

“WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE SUNROOF SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED, EVEN THOUGH ITS CLOSED.”
NHTSA complaint #11183743, 2019

Service Brakes 3 1 crash

“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 ON THE HIGHWAY, A LIGHT CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT SAID 'PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION!' MOMENTS LATER MY 2011 AUDI Q5 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING A 3 CAR PILE UP. MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED IN JUNE AND GOTTEN NEW BRAKES AT THAT TIME AS WELL.”
NHTSA complaint #11139404, 2018 · crash

“TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR NEW BRAKE PADS BRAKES AND ROTORS. UPON LEAVING THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I CALLED THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WILL WEAR OFF. EXT FEW TIMES I DROVE THE BRAKES FAILED. I CALLED AUDI AND BROUGHT MY CAR BACK AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO BY BACK BRAKES AND CALLI ER FOR BOTH SIDES WHEN THE WORK WASN'T DONE PROPERLY TO BEGIN WITH.”
NHTSA complaint #11355375, 2020

“AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 10, 2013, I WAS RETURNING WITH MY MOM (FRONT PASSENGER) ON I-66E HEADED BACK HOME, A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY BECAUSE A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I ENGAGED MY BRAKES AND HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW I CAME IN CONTACT WITH HER BUMPER. WE THOUGHT INITIALLY WE HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND, HOWEVER, AFTER INSPECTING MY REAR BUMPER THERE SEEMED TO BE NO INDICATION THAT HAD OCCURRED. EVEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I WAS AT A…”
NHTSA complaint #10547597, 2013

Steering 3

“AUDI Q5 94,000. I WILL NEVER NEVER BUY AUDI VEHICLE AGAIN. FIRST STARTED WITH OIL LEAK, REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET, THEN HOOD LATCH SENSOR (GERMAN GENIUS). HOW IN THE WORLD THIS BAD SENSOR MEASURES OIL LEVEL. RACK AND PINION LEAK, THEN TIMING COVER GASKET LEAK. THEN MY MECHANIC REPLACED DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM. NOW REAR SHOCK IS BAD. ALREADY SPENT OVER $3000 FINE, THE WORST ISSUE I HAVE IS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. THE DEALER (STEALER) GAVE ME ESTIMATE OF $1700 TO FIX THIS. THE LAST SERIOUS ONE ON 12/23/20 WHILE DRIVING WITH 2 MORE PASSENGERS ON BUSY ARE IN HOUSTON NEAR MED.CENTER, CA…”
NHTSA complaint #11384772, 2020

“I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY AND IT APPEARS THE STEERING IS SOMETIMES STIFF AND THEN SOFT , I HAVE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND ITS FULL. THIS IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE ITS HARD TO MAKE TURNS AS THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS UP. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE CAR CONSUMES ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES, IT WAS PART OF A LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED”
NHTSA complaint #11312004, 2020

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE COLLECTION AUDI (200 BIRD RD, CORAL GABLES, FL 33146, (305) 444-5555), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE…”
NHTSA complaint #11156763, 2018

Structure 3 1 crash 1 fire

“I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED AUDI Q5 LAST MARCH 2013. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. NO PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2014 FOR AN ANNUAL SERVICE AND ALSO IN MARCH 2014 FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTION/EMISSIONS TESTING. ON APRIL 2014, I HAD LOSS THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FIRE THAT HAD STARTED IN THE CAR. YES, MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE! PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD OR SMELLED SMOKE WHILE I HAD DROVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THAT DAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE…”
NHTSA complaint #10595254, 2014 · fire

“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 ON THE HIGHWAY, A LIGHT CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT SAID 'PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION!' MOMENTS LATER MY 2011 AUDI Q5 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING A 3 CAR PILE UP. MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED IN JUNE AND GOTTEN NEW BRAKES AT THAT TIME AS WELL.”
NHTSA complaint #11139404, 2018 · crash

“WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE SUNROOF SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED, EVEN THOUGH ITS CLOSED.”
NHTSA complaint #11183743, 2019

Vehicle Speed Control 3

“VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS- ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES IRREGULARLY.”
NHTSA complaint #11439251, 2021

“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AROUND SOME BLIND CURVES WHEN I HEARD A CLANK KIND OF SOUND AND CLICKING AND THEN LOST POWER FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH I COASTED HOME. I WAS VERY LUCKY. I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO START AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER HE SAID, ENGINE NO START NO POWER: FOUND ENGINE CRANKS WITHOUT COMPRESSION. FOUND TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND JUMPED TIMING. REMOVED AND INSPECTED VALVES AND FOUND ALL VALVES TO BE BENT. AT THIS TIME WE NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN AND RELATED PARTS. PARTS: $4800 LABOR: $4835 TOTAL: $9635.00 REGARDS,…”
NHTSA complaint #10981379, 2017

“1. Q5 2.0 HAS A VERY HARSH DOWNSHIFT WHETHER IN AUTOMATIC MODE OR IN MANUAL/SPORTRONIC. SPECIALLY 4->3 AND 3->2 AND 2->1. AS A RESULT THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THEN JERK FORWARD AFTER THE STOP (2-1), CAUSING ACCIDENTS IN PARKING GARAGES SPECIALLY IN TIGHT SPOTS. AUDI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE, APPLIED TSB-37-13-83 SOFTWARE UPDATE, EVEN REPLACED THE MECHATRONIC UNIT BUT THE HARSH JERKY DOWNSHIFT RETURNS. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THIS CAR. ESCALATED TO AUDI OF AMERICA, AND THEY CONFIRM IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHIN…”
NHTSA complaint #10597359, 2013

Visibility/Wiper 3

“THE SUNROOF SUNSHADE BROKE WHILE RETRACTING AND BLOCKED REAR WINDOW CAUSING A HAZARD. I HAD TO TAPE IT UP AS IT IS NOW ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED AND I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE. IT IS TAPED SO I CAN CONTINUE DRIVING SAFETLY. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.”
NHTSA complaint #11229390, 2019

“PANORAMIC SUNROOF START LEAKING WATER WHEN RAIN AND PANORAMIC FOAM SWELLS, FOAM BECOMES RUSIED AND BUILDS CORROSION.”
NHTSA complaint #11055868, 2017

“FRONT WINDSHIELD WASHER NON-OPERATIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BAD SWITCH. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, RECALL OR CAMPAIGN. (5) MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. STARTED AS INTERMITTENT NOW NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS MA STATE INSPECTION AS IS.”
NHTSA complaint #10785249, 2015

Suspension 2

“Rear subframe rust causing car to fail state inspection. This vehicle has been maintained well and always parked in garage. The rear subframe rusted most, then front subframe. This is a common compliant among Audi forum users.”
NHTSA complaint #11655321, 2025

“AUDI Q5 94,000. I WILL NEVER NEVER BUY AUDI VEHICLE AGAIN. FIRST STARTED WITH OIL LEAK, REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKET, THEN HOOD LATCH SENSOR (GERMAN GENIUS). HOW IN THE WORLD THIS BAD SENSOR MEASURES OIL LEVEL. RACK AND PINION LEAK, THEN TIMING COVER GASKET LEAK. THEN MY MECHANIC REPLACED DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM. NOW REAR SHOCK IS BAD. ALREADY SPENT OVER $3000 FINE, THE WORST ISSUE I HAVE IS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. THE DEALER (STEALER) GAVE ME ESTIMATE OF $1700 TO FIX THIS. THE LAST SERIOUS ONE ON 12/23/20 WHILE DRIVING WITH 2 MORE PASSENGERS ON BUSY ARE IN HOUSTON NEAR MED.CENTER, CA…”
NHTSA complaint #11384772, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“TAKATA RECALL! THE ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND THE PASSENGER DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ONE OF THE DOORS HAVE TROUBLE LOCKING AND THE OTHER CAN'T SENSE THE REMOTE FOR UNLOCKING, IT NEEDS TO OPEN MANUALLY FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON.THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS AND EXPENDED 2K WITH CHANGING THIS AND THAT BUT NOTHING WAS FIXED. THE ISSUE IS STILL EXISTS. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON!”
NHTSA complaint #11058463, 2017

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“CRANK SENSOR FAILURE AND AND FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10430034, 2011

Exterior Lighting 1

“RECEIVING LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH AUDI ACROSS MODEL RANGE POSSIBLY DUE TO DESIGN ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11034313, 2017

Tires 1

“THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE DELAMINATED HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE”
NHTSA complaint #11156010, 2018

Visibility 1

“WIPERS DO NOT KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR IN WINTER SNOW AND ICE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WIPERS FREEZE UP AND DO NOT CLEAR WINDSHIELD, SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING VISIBILITY AND CAUSING DANGEROUS VEHICLE OPERATION. DESIGN IS PROPRIETARY AND AUDI DO NOT OFFER WINTER BLADES TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS FOR AN AUDI A4 QUATTRO, NOT Q5 AS YOUR WEB SITE ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE A3 AND Q5 AS CHOICES FOR VEHICLES. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10370862, 2010

How we read this (methodology)

How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2011 Audi Q5 draws about 8.8 complaints per year on the road, ranking 3 of 13 among the Audi Q5 model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).

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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.

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