What Audi A5 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Audi A5 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 199 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 554 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 787 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 911 |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 977 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,062 |
| 2020 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1,072 |
| 2019 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,015 |
| 2018 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1,054 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 715 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 728 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 915 |
| 2014 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,080 |
| 2013 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1,372 |
| 2012 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1,099 |
| 2011 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 984 |
| 2010 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 891 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Audi A5 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Car began bucking at low speeds. I parked car and when I turned on ignition next day, dashboard warning indicated "Transmission malfunction" and warned me not to drive car. I had it towed to dealer. Diagnosis was that it was a gearbox malfunction that according to dealer was occurring more and more frequently, so much so that Audi had issued a "Technical Service Bulletin." My car which is less than 5 years old and has 65,000 miles required $3,600 worth of repairs for this issue. If this is major engine problem occurring with increasing frequency, why is this not a recall?
Without warning or alerts from vehicle, car became disabled while partially into a left turn at a four way intersection. Car engine would rev, but not move. Gear selector worked, but wheels would not turn. Front wheels were completely locked and vehicle had to be dragged onto a flatbed truck. Police had to be dispatched to ensure safely of other drivers passing through the intersection until my vehicle was removed. Had a [XXX] child in the car with me that had to be received by my spouse. After towing car to an ASE certified independent repair shop, a full transmission replacement was recommended. Car has approximately 38,900 miles and is 8 years old. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FR…
Issue: Unexpected and extremely forceful Brake Hold impeded normal and safe driving maneuvers. While driving in heavy stop-and-go traffic on an incline approaching the GW Bridge towards NY, I cautiously attempted to move out of my lane into an adjacent lane. I lightly applied the brake, (I believe the automatic brake hold activated, to prevent rolling backwards) and the vehicle suddenly jerked extremely hard and came to a complete stop in the middle of the lane. A loud banging sound occurred at the same time, sounding like a collision. Fortunately, there was no collision. The safety concern is particularly serious when changing lanes or merging from slow-moving traffic into a lane where veh…
2018 Audi A5 Sportback has 16,500 miles only on it. Used for city driving only; never off road. Recently went in for annual inspection and was told that my right rear coil spring had snapped in two and vehicle was unsafe to drive. Took vehicle to local Audi dealer and they confirmed broken coil spring; they wanted $3000 to repair the vehicle. I took the vehicle instead to a local mechanic who did the repair--replacement of both broken right rear spring and one on left side--for ~$1000. Mechanic noted that he has seen and repaired many Audis with similar snapped rear coil springs.
The clutch does not engage properly and the vehicle makes a grinding noise when starting to move and while making right and left turns.
Vehicle performs a complete stop in the middle of a drive on the freeway. I loose sight of where I am going due to this sudden break, without knowing the UNKNOWN OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN. The vehicle has been inspected by Audi dealership over four times for this issue, in which they are not resolving this problem and stating nothing has been discovered by the scanner. The only message followed by the immediate breaking is ,"Emergency Assist: Cancelled". I have been denied a buyback two times because it's not considered a "repair". They are not taking my situation and safety concern seriously and I am hopeless.
I filed a claim with insurance company with what I thought was minor damages for a hit and run that happened to me while I was at emergency room for the multiple surgeries Iâve had recently and when the claim came back total loss due to defective airbag recalls and cause my airbags were supposed to deploy where they hit me and didnât, now Iâm left with 7k still owed on my full coverage insurance on Audi and no car and deemed total loss and unsafe to have on roads. The insurance company only gave me salvage value for the 2011 audi a5 that had 57k miles on it and left me with no car, no repairs, and no way to get another cause airbags didnât deploy for where I was hit! ð¤¬ð¥
My 2018 Audi A5 Sportback previously received Audi Safety Recall 74E3 on January 27, 2023. The recall repair documentation indicates a seat POD (Passenger Occupant Detection System) update was performed. Several years later, the vehicle developed another passenger airbag fault. The vehicle displays a message indicating the front passenger airbag is OFF even when an occupant is seated in the front passenger seat. Audi diagnosed fault code B12251B, "Passive Occupant Detection System Mat Resistance Too High," and determined that the seat POD occupancy mat and wiring are defective and require replacement. Audi has refused to cover the repair because more than 12 months and 12,000 miles have pas…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin provides information for new Key User pairing for all PPX vehicles with Audi connect.
This bulletin provides information when the digital key cannot be adapted.
This bulletin provides infomriaont when there are various faults, and no DoIO diagnosis.
This bulletin provides information when diagnostic address 0044 (steering) cannot be reached.
This bulletin provides general information about the current tpp issues for Audi connect.
This bulletin provides information when Digital Key activation cannot be completed with Audi connect.
This bulletin provides information when there is a parking aid fault when the combustion engine is running, DTC DA0009 is stored.
This bulletin provides information when the rear lid does not open or close fully.
This bulletin provides information when there is a steerin fault, terminal 30; DTC U140A00, PR number 1X1 1X0.
This bulletin provides in overview of the combined software update.
This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
This bulletin provides informaitn when there is a warning messsage; "Instrument cluster: fault. Limited warning messages. Please contact workshop"; DTC B200096.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2027, owners most often name: air bags, electrical system, engine. 361 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
