2021 Audi Q5 Problems & Owner Complaints

Electrical System 25

“If I have a sensor that will malfunction due to water then there should be a water indicator alert. My sunroof vent was blocked and water went into my trunk where the core module is. I had just come to a red light to turn on to a major highway and my car began to smell like fuel. I rolled down the windows and realized the smell was not as strong as inside. The light turned green and as I stepped on the gas the car went into limp mode as I was in the middle of my turn. The power steering then went out in the turn and the wheel yanked to the left and put me half way into the lane next to me. Tha…”
NHTSA complaint #11745545, 2026

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the windows independently rolled up and down, and the engine seized. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times within five days. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was purchased. The failure was diagnosed with a failed gateway control module. The contact was informed that the gateway control module needed to be replaced. T…”
NHTSA complaint #11720211, 2026

“Control module located under rear seat became slightly wet from spilled liquid, and failed. Engine and electrical failure as a result of control module failure. Audi refuses to cover damages as warranty period is over. Vehicle design is defective.”
NHTSA complaint #11715668, 2026

Engine 17 1 crash 1 injury

“Reverse car went full throttle, brakes did not work, car stopped in reverse when it hit a tree. Seat belt did not tighten,”
NHTSA complaint #11592350, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I was driving at highway speeds when a "Transmission Malfunction" warning appeared, and the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. Once I was able to pull over and put the vehicle in Park, it completely lost the ability to engage Drive or Reverse, leaving me stranded. Important to note pulling over was difficult as I was on a highway driving ar 70mph speed and trying to locate safe space to stop avoid collusion. My car towed to the nearest dealership for repairs. Audi dealership confirmed the cause was broken internal transmission filter housing bolts. I was told this was premature occurren…”
NHTSA complaint #11747226, 2026

“If I have a sensor that will malfunction due to water then there should be a water indicator alert. My sunroof vent was blocked and water went into my trunk where the core module is. I had just come to a red light to turn on to a major highway and my car began to smell like fuel. I rolled down the windows and realized the smell was not as strong as inside. The light turned green and as I stepped on the gas the car went into limp mode as I was in the middle of my turn. The power steering then went out in the turn and the wheel yanked to the left and put me half way into the lane next to me. Tha…”
NHTSA complaint #11745545, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 10

“I was driving down a regular road by my house, full sunshine, perfect road, nothing unusual. In fact, it was such a nice day, the sunroof was open and windows were down. My dog was in the back seat after just being picked up from grooming happily enjoying the day with his head out the window. I was on a road with the speed limit of 30. I was going 30 mph. Nothing unusual. Literally, out of nowhere, like my car was possessed, is the best way I put it, my car abruptly braked in an attempt to stop on a dime. My car screeched to a stop while simultaneously my windows rolled up, my sunroof closed a…”
NHTSA complaint #11743573, 2026

“Following a rear collision repair at an authorized dealer collision center, multiple ADAS safety systems were not properly calibrated despite insurance payment and shop representations that repairs were complete. WHAT FAILED: Lane Change Assist, Peripheral Camera System, Side Assist, 360-Degree Camera, Front Camera, and Adaptive Cruise Control were either not calibrated or calibrated in timeframes physically incompatible with manufacturer specifications. SAFETY RISK: Driver relies on blind spot monitoring and lane change alerts that may be non-functional or inaccurate. Without proper calibra…”
NHTSA complaint #11712558, 2025

“While driving on the highway (70mph) at night, my instrument panel went completely dark. I was not able to see the speed I was driving and my warning sounds/lights were not working. The dealer could not get me an appointment for 4 weeks so I took it to a mechanic who specializes in European cars. The diagnostics indicated a loss of power to the instrument cluster/panel. I was told there was an active recall for this issue, but my VIN was not included. As this is a safety issue that sounds very familiar to the current recall for other Audi models, I contacted Audi and after inspection they…”
NHTSA complaint #11678159, 2025

Power Train 10

“Control module located under rear seat became slightly wet from spilled liquid, and failed. Engine and electrical failure as a result of control module failure. Audi refuses to cover damages as warranty period is over. Vehicle design is defective.”
NHTSA complaint #11715668, 2026

“While driving my 2021 Audi Q5, the vehicle experienced a sudden transmission disengagement without warning. The vehicle behaved as if it had shifted into neutral while in motion. When this occurred, pressing the accelerator produced no response — the engine would not rev and the vehicle would not accelerate. This created a serious safety risk as it occurred during normal driving conditions and could have resulted in a collision. After stopping the vehicle and shifting into Park and then back into Drive, the transmission temporarily re-engaged. The issue reoccurred multiple times. Prior to one…”
NHTSA complaint #11704035, 2025

“My car always did a weird shuddering thing when taking turns a certain way. I just thought it was part of how the new vehicle worked. I thought it was strange when I took my car in to repair a front tire, and was told / showed that the back two tire treads were worn down. The new car only had 20,249 miles. But I read somewhere that some new car dealers use lower tread tires to save money, so I did not pursue anything. Then, when someone pointed out that the 'weird shuddering' was not normal, I took it into Audi to have them look at it. Audi did a repair, and said I had to drive it 600 miles t…”
NHTSA complaint #11688929, 2025

Unknown Or Other 8

“Vehicle: 2021 Audi Q5 I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety defect involving unintended emergency braking. On September 10, 2025 and again on January 8, 2026, my vehicle suddenly applied emergency braking while I was driving and there were no vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles in front of me. The dashboard displayed “Auto Pre Sense” during both incidents. These unexpected braking events created a high risk of a rear-end collision and placed me and other drivers in immediate danger. This is not a driver error, but a malfunction of the safety system. Because this has occ…”
NHTSA complaint #11710435, 2026

“The safety situation happened when my wife's car got stuck while driving at about 25-30 MPH in the middle of the road.Next day At the nearest Audi service center they found that water has gotten into the rear of the trunk and damaged the electronic module which caused the car to stall.The first repair was estimate at 4600 $ .After the repair the car was inoperable.The next repair was estimated at another 4 700 $.After the second repair the car was inoperable again and the service department told me that the car needed to replace the entire transmission .Which they estimated at another 20 000 $…”
NHTSA complaint #11718005, 2025

“The small buttons that are part of climate control on the dashboard pop out and fall off. The pieces aren’t supposed to do that. They are actually designed to work as buttons that stay in place but whatever mechanism that is designed to keep them is place comes off. I have tried just putting the buttons back in but they will eventually pop off again. My car is relatively new and should not have buttons popping off. No car of any age should have buttons just falling off. These are small buttons that pop off at any moment if there is a defect and I think could be a potential choking hazard for…”
NHTSA complaint #11675916, 2025

Fuel/Propulsion System 4

“If I have a sensor that will malfunction due to water then there should be a water indicator alert. My sunroof vent was blocked and water went into my trunk where the core module is. I had just come to a red light to turn on to a major highway and my car began to smell like fuel. I rolled down the windows and realized the smell was not as strong as inside. The light turned green and as I stepped on the gas the car went into limp mode as I was in the middle of my turn. The power steering then went out in the turn and the wheel yanked to the left and put me half way into the lane next to me. Tha…”
NHTSA complaint #11745545, 2026

“Engine coolant was empty. No indicators about it.”
NHTSA complaint #11577308, 2023

“2021 Audi Q5 parked (not running) in parking lot , outside temperature 95F, gasoline dripping from under right rear passenger area (approx 1/4-1/2 liter). Audi Service Center inspected and said the fuel pump needs replacing. Fuel system warning light had been yellow and gas cap gasket had been replaced .”
NHTSA complaint #11426144, 2021

Service Brakes 4 2 crash 2 injury

“Reverse car went full throttle, brakes did not work, car stopped in reverse when it hit a tree. Seat belt did not tighten,”
NHTSA complaint #11592350, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I was driving down a slight hill in 1/2 inch of snow at 5MPH and when I tired to gently brake as I descended the hill, the brake pedal had no resistance and went flat to the floor. I had no brakes. I then tried to steer towards the side of the road and the steering wheel completely locked up and I was not able to steer. I slid 150 feet down the hill and into a ditch. No brakes and no steering. There must have been a failure of some kind. Terrifying.”
NHTSA complaint #11442684, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious brake-related safety issue involving my Audi vehicle after recent brake service performed by an authorized Audi Meadowland dealership in [XXX] . In December 2025, I brought my vehicle to an authorized Audi dealership for replacement of the brake pads. The repair was completed by the dealership, and I trusted that the vehicle was safe to drive afterward. However, only approximately six months later, and after driving only around 1,000 miles since the repair, the vehicle experienced a dangerous brake-related failure involving the brake pad ass…”
NHTSA complaint #11736640, 2026

Steering 3 1 crash 1 injury

“I was driving down a slight hill in 1/2 inch of snow at 5MPH and when I tired to gently brake as I descended the hill, the brake pedal had no resistance and went flat to the floor. I had no brakes. I then tried to steer towards the side of the road and the steering wheel completely locked up and I was not able to steer. I slid 150 feet down the hill and into a ditch. No brakes and no steering. There must have been a failure of some kind. Terrifying.”
NHTSA complaint #11442684, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The Gateway control module failed in September 2025 on my 2021 Audi Q5. Vehicle error messages included the following failures: Cruise control, Parking brake, transmission, brakes, and steering, windows rolled down, seats moved, dash and MMI black followed by a sudden loss of power, narrowly avoiding an accident (kids in car). Would not restart. Diagnosis by Audi dealer was that the Gateway control module got wet and needed to be replaced. This is Recall 90S9 from 2021 that was “repaired” in March 2022 by covering the module with a plastic bag. This proved an insufficient repair backed up by…”
NHTSA complaint #11692317, 2025

“Steering wheel will forcefully and suddenly jerk to the left at random times on at least 6 occasions.”
NHTSA complaint #11462667, 2022

Structure 3

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the windows independently rolled up and down, and the engine seized. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times within five days. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was purchased. The failure was diagnosed with a failed gateway control module. The contact was informed that the gateway control module needed to be replaced. T…”
NHTSA complaint #11720211, 2026

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the windows started to go up and down. The contact lost power steering functionality however, the brakes was functional and she was able to safely stop the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that water had entered the vehicle and short circuited the gateway control module. Th…”
NHTSA complaint #11460941, 2022

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V947000 (Electrical System, Structure). The dealer was contacted and informed her that an appointment for service would not be available for two months. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact was informed that the protective cover used to repair the failure was a plastic cover which the contact did not believe was adequate for the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a fai…”
NHTSA complaint #11451901, 2022

Back Over Prevention 2

“I have an issue with my vehicle where when the car is in reverse gear, the video from the camera sometimes is shaky, and sometimes instead of showing a rear camera, it shows a front camera, and sometimes the rear cross-traffic warning doesn't work even when in reverse gear when this video malfunction happens. It happened a few times and took me to the dealership for service. When they try to reproduce, it didn't, however, after a few days it started happening. I have few videos of this instance”
NHTSA complaint #11479505, 2021

“The backup camera in the car randomly stops working while driving in reverse. These cameras are mandated by federal law and malfunctions can lead to collision with unforeseen living beings while backing up. The MMI screen also goes completely white/blue while driving forward. Additionally, the adas package comes with a birds eye view camera that is completely skewed created a deceptive understanding of objects in the surroundings. This can lead to collisions making the adas packing (and perhaps the collision warning) totally unreliable. The vehicle is available for inspection as needed. Took…”
NHTSA complaint #11455646, 2021

Fuel System 2

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, she noticed that after driving several miles, the fuel gauge displayed that the vehicle was full. The contact then stated that the fuel gauge remained on full although her fuel tank was close to empty. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there was a pending recall and to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, the contact stated that there was a four-hour…”
NHTSA complaint #11495208, 2022

“TL* THE CONTACT WHO IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC CALLED ON BEHALF OF A CUSTOMER WHO OWNS A 2021 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE RAN OVER A STRIP OF ALUMINUM THAT WAS LYING IN THE ROADWAY CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO BE RIPPED OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND NOT METAL CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI RENO TAHOE (9190 S. VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511) WHERE THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE VIN…”
NHTSA complaint #11397753, 2021

Visibility 2

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH on the interstate, there was an abnormal booming sound coming from the sunroof, and the contact noticed that the sunroof had shattered. The contact drove to the residence and reported the failure to the Insurance Company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11678663, 2025

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and exiting off a ramp, the sunroof exploded without impact causing the shattered glass to enter the vehicle and fall on the driver. The contact stated that no object had struck the vehicle to cause the failure. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle before driving to the residence. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle but could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The local dealer was contacted regarding replacing the sunroof. The vehi…”
NHTSA complaint #11438422, 2021

Wheels 2

“Leased new 2021 Audi Q5 from Audi of Coral Springs , FL on Aug 17, 2021. We had the vehicle serviced on 12-24-2022 and where notifed that during the inspection that all 4 tires needed to be replaced and where shocked because our Audi only had about 13,000 miles on the odometer. We asked how to get coverage under our NEW car warranty and where once again shocked when the service rep informed us that Audi doedsnt warrant the tires and we woud have to file a claim with the tire manufacturer Kumho Tires. We called Kuhmo direct at 800-445-8646 who instructed us one of their licensed dealers. We too…”
NHTSA complaint #11509529, 2022

“My 2021 Audi Q5 has a manufacturing recall (Safety Recall 42L1 - Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut) on it and my dealer cancelled my appointment and informed me that they will not perform the recall repair unless I schedule (something that I have to pay for) at the same time - they will not perform the recall repair otherwise. This was the Audi Minneapolis dealership located at 9393 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55426. I was told that this needed to be reported to you guys.”
NHTSA complaint #11434472, 2021

Air Bags 1

“After conducting a $10k forensic review on the car, they found out that the computer was infected with malware and that that vehicle will always put out fm transmitters to get into your cellular devise to hack it Unfortunately, this is the case for this bricked...Need a replacement with transferring the lease over to a similar priced vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11459647, 2021

Carry Handle 1

“The car seat comes loose every month and has to be reinstalled”
NHTSA complaint #11740956, 2026

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the vehicle decelerated before the vehicle stalled. During the failure, the check engine, oil, and coolant warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the engine bearings had failed, causing catastrophic damage to the engine. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA C…”
NHTSA complaint #11745548, 2026

Exterior Lighting 1

“Driver reading light flickers on and off while driving creating a night driving distraction hazard”
NHTSA complaint #11654294, 2025

Lane Departure 1

“Following a rear collision repair at an authorized dealer collision center, multiple ADAS safety systems were not properly calibrated despite insurance payment and shop representations that repairs were complete. WHAT FAILED: Lane Change Assist, Peripheral Camera System, Side Assist, 360-Degree Camera, Front Camera, and Adaptive Cruise Control were either not calibrated or calibrated in timeframes physically incompatible with manufacturer specifications. SAFETY RISK: Driver relies on blind spot monitoring and lane change alerts that may be non-functional or inaccurate. Without proper calibra…”
NHTSA complaint #11712558, 2025

Tires 1

“On September 18, 2025, while driving at ~65–70 mph on the Saw Mill Parkway in Mount Kisco, NY, a Michelin Latitude Tour HP tire (235/55R19) suffered a sudden circumferential tread/belt separation. The tread detached completely from the casing while the sidewall remained intact. A small screw was present in the center tread, but there was no TPMS warning or gradual pressure loss prior to the failure. This behavior is inconsistent with ordinary puncture damage and indicates a potential workmanship/materials defect. The separated tread, tire carcass, and wheel are preserved and available for in…”
NHTSA complaint #11689439, 2025

Vehicle Speed Control 1

“The instrument panel cluster assembly (screen behind steering wheel) needed to be replaced because it would intermittently stop working and I had no idea of how fast I was going, what gear I was in, how much fuel I had or whether the lane assist and other safety features were working. Without knowing speed, I may have followed cars too closely to safely stop or I could have run out of gas and left stranded somewhere. I thought it might have been software updates occurring but after a few days, I went to the dealer for service. Audi Naples was able to detect fault, replicate problem and repl…”
NHTSA complaint #11654027, 2025

Visibility/Wiper 1

“The panoramic Sunroof exploded while driving spontaneously. Luckily no one was injured due to the shattered glass due to the cloth screen being drawn fully. The problem was reported to Audi and to the local dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by insurance or police. There were no warning indicators prior to the incident.”
NHTSA complaint #11421380, 2021