Audi RS5 problems & complaints
What Audi RS5 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Audi RS5 safety recalls or check your VIN.
- Owner complaints
- 8
- Service bulletins (TSBs)
- 549+
- Crashes / fires reported
- 0 / 0
- Defect investigations
- 0
Complaints by model year
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 163 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 177 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 331 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 378 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 549 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 199 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 154 |
Most reported problems
The vehicle systems named most often in Audi RS5 complaints (one complaint can name several).
Latest owner complaints
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The check engine light illuminated on several occasions indicating the catalyst efficiency is below the threshold. The vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection. Audi dealership has inspected the car and said that the catalytic converters are bad and need to be replaced. The car only has 60,000 miles on it and has no other problems with the engine. The dealership says that there is no reason why the converters should be bad based on the vehicle history. the repair is cost prohibitive due to an estimate of $13,500 to replace the catalytic converters. The catalytic converters being bad is increasing the harmful pollutants causing unnecessary excessive tail pipe emissions.
My 2013 Audi rs5 has a well known transmission issue. There was a class action lawsuit that justs settled for earlier years of the S4 & S5 models. My tranmission error has occurred several times when reversing, especially reversing up an incline or stop start reverses. The gear changes have become very jerky, both upshifts and downshifts, especially noticable at low speeds. The mechatronic unit on this audi model is a known issue and the audi forums are littered with examples of these mech units going bad. A replacement mech unit is costing me $4500 total and I have seen similar costs to others in the audi online forums like audizine
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I GOT A "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING" MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY. I SCANNED THE CAR WHEN I GOT HOME AND GOT THESE ERROR MESSAGE: (DRIVE POSITION SENSOR ELECTRICAL ERROR) ' DTC P0700 (TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION) ' DTC P1758 (TERMINAL 15 VOLTAGE SUPPLY OPEN CIRCUIT) ' DTC P060A (INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE MONITORING PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE) I DID SOME RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE DRIVE POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO HAVE DONE.
CAR MILEAGE AS OF TODAY: 24100 AT 11000 BREAKS VIBRATED: CHANGED FRONT BREAKS AND ROTORS. AT 23800 BREAKS VIBRATED: CHANGED BACK BREAKS AND ROTORS . AT 23959 CAR STILL VIBRATES ON BREAKING: CHANGED AGAIN FRONT BREAKS AND ROTORS. AFTER REQUESTING FROM DEALERSHIP TO SEE THE NEW FRONT ROTORS AND HAVE TECHNICIAN AT AUDI MEASURE THEM THEY BOTH MEASURED AT 33.4MM AND 33.7MM. I DO NOT BREAK OR DRIVE CAR HARD OR A LOT. AS YOU CAN SEE IS A 2015 AND ONLY 24000 MILES ON IT. NO CITY DRIVING. I HAVE SPENT 5000$ THIS MONTH ON NEW FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AND BREAKS DUE TO VIBRATING WARPED
FUELING ISSUES THAT CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY AUDI. REPLACED ENTIRE FUELING SYSTEM (PUMPS, MODULES, SENSORS, ETC)AND ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. CAR INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES AND STALLS AT IDLE AND UNDER LOAD. CAR STALLED ON INTERSTATE AND NEARLY CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION AT 80 MPH. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ON INTERSTATE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO AUDI DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. AUDI REFUSES TO RETURN CALLS OR EMAILS ON THIS ISSUE AND DOES NOT DEEM IT UNSAFE. MULTIPLE VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT.
THERE IS A WIDELY-KNOWN ISSUE IN 2013+ AUDI ELECTROMECHANICAL POWER STEERING THAT CREATES A SENSATION OF A "NOTCH" AT 12:00 ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS NOTCH FORCES YOU TO MANUALLY KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE BY STEERING "BACK AND FORTH IN THE NOTCH". WHEN YOU TURN "BEYOND THE NOTCH" THERE IS A STICKING POINT. THE FASTER THE CAR IS MOVING, THE MORE PRONOUNCED THESE FEELINGS BECOME. I HAD HOPED THAT MY ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE TIRES. UNFORTUNATELY, WAITING TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES HAS TAKEN ME OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER JUST INSTALLING NEW CONTINENTAL DWS 06, THE PROBLEM IS AS BAD, OR WORSE, THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS! RESEARCHING ONLINE, MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. …
2014 AUDI RS5 WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,000 IS EXPERIENCING BAD BRAKE SHUDDER AND PULSATING BRAKE PEDAL WITH LIGHT PRESSURE PUT ON THE BRAKES AT 50-60 MPH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFFECTING LOTS OF RS5S. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ROTORS ARE BAD. AUDI REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. NOTE THAT AUDI CAME OUT WITH A REVISED BRAKE PAD TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE EARLIER IN 2016. HTTP://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/652595-RS5-GUYS-WITH-BRAKE-PROBLEMS-CHECK-IN-HERE-AOA-LETTER?HIGHLIGHT=RS5+BRAKE+AOA
THE RS5 HAD A VERY BED PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS. WHEN I WAS USING THE BREAKS THE CAR WAS SHACKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN I USED THE BREAK AT THE SPEED OF 75/80 MPH. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND TO STOP COMPLETELY THE CAR I HAD TO GO OUT OF THE STREET. ON NOVEMBER 2013 I LEFT THE RS A5 AT THE DEALER IN GREENSBORO. ON THE AFTERNOON I WAS CONTACTED BY AN ADVISOR OF THE AUDI SERVICE IN GREENSBORO. THIS ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED NEW PADS AND NEW ROTOR AND THAT THESE PARTS SUPPOSES TO COME FROM GERMANY AND THE WAIT TO HAVE THIS PARTS WAS 2 WEEKS. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT DURING THESE 2 WEEKS I COULD DRIVE MY CAR. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS WAS VERY BED ESPECIALLY AT 80…
Technical service bulletins (TSBs)
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.
- A872474202012414
This bulletin provides information when the air conditioning is no longer operative; DTC 00457, 00256, 01592.
- A9024852073747_1
This bulletin provides information when there are scratches, or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles in the housing.
- A9024842032113_9
This bulletin provides general information regarding outside air temperature readings.
- A9624962027416_7
This bulletin provides information when the sunglass holder will not close or is stuck closed.
- A9024832059335_5
This bulletin provides information when there is noise from around the instrument cluster.
- Circular 37P1
Due to a software error, affected vehicles may experience elevated tailpipe emissions when driven in Sport Mode. Additionally, under certain conditions, affected vehicles may also store non-erasable, On-Board Diagnostic fault code(s) that cannot be cleared following specific repairs. If this happens, the vehicle may not pass a state emissions inspection.
- Dealer 37P1
Due to a software error, affected vehicles may experience elevated tailpipe emissions when driven in Sport Mode. Additionally, under certain conditions, affected vehicles may also store non-erasable, On-Board Diagnostic fault code(s) that cannot be cleared following specific repairs. If this happens, the vehicle may not pass a state emissions inspection.
- A9424762073332_2
This bulletin provides information for when there is noise when steering.
- A2724712067906_5
This bulletin provides information for when DTC P0A7D00 is stored.
- A5724342017082_1
This bulletin provides information when the remote control key is inoperative.
- A9424742073332_1
This bulletin provides information if there is noise when steering the vehicle.
- A9424722073282_1
This bulletin provides information on visual concerns with the headlight lens.
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.
Questions
What are the most common Audi RS5 problems?
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2017, owners most often name: service brakes, power train, back over prevention. 8 complaints are on record.
Is a complaint or a TSB the same as a recall?
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.
How do I report a problem with my Audi RS5?
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.