2025-2026 Audi A5/Q5 Front Anti-Roll Bar Rattling TSB

Symptoms of a Broken Front Anti-Roll Bar

Owners of 2025-2026 Audi A5, S5, Q5, and SQ5 models may experience a distinct symptom related to the front anti-roll bar. The primary complaint is a "metallic rattling noise can be heard from the front of the vehicle when driving on uneven roads or when driving over bump speeds."

Workshop Findings and Diagnosis

When a vehicle is brought to an Audi workshop with this complaint, technicians can typically reproduce the noise. Upon inspection, the workshop findings often confirm that "The front anti-roll bar is broken." This diagnosis directly links the rattling noise to the damaged component, specifically the Audi A5 front anti-roll bar or its equivalent in other affected models.

Important Reporting Obligation (TSB 2081444/1)

Audi has issued Transaction No. 2081444/1, a reporting obligation for technicians concerning the issue of a broken front anti-roll bar. This bulletin, released on March 24, 2026, is crucial for Audi of America to collect technical information regarding this condition. The TSB emphasizes that the "damage part is required promptly for analysis. Please therefore send it via damaged parts logistics as soon as possible."

Technicians are instructed to verify the condition. If the vehicle is within its New Vehicle Limited Warranty, they must contact a Technical Assistance Center (TAC) consultant before proceeding. This contact should include attaching any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and diagnostic logs to the TAC ticket.

What Owners Should Know

Owners should be aware that this TSB (2081444) is primarily an informational and data-gathering directive for Audi dealerships. It is not a recall, and the document explicitly states, "This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty." This means that while your dealer will diagnose the issue, the warranty coverage for the repair will depend on your vehicle's specific warranty status.

If a technician does not receive a reply from TAC within two hours, they are authorized to perform the necessary repair and document the complaint as described in the bulletin. Audi reserves the right to only pay out for warranty claims after thorough checks if the reporting obligation is not observed by the dealership.

How Technicians Should Document the Issue

For proper analysis, technicians are required to take specific photos of the customer concern and attach them to the TAC ticket. These photos must:

• Include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the date.
• Not be edited.
• Be in focus and taken with sufficient light, though high resolution is not necessary.
• If appropriate, clearly mark the location of the problem to provide a clear reference for parts analysis. Photo documentation must not show any people, faces, license plates, or customer data.

This meticulous documentation process helps Audi understand the scope and nature of the Audi A5 front anti-roll bar issue across its affected models.

Technical Background and Production Solution

As of the release of TSB 2081444/1, the technical background of this issue is listed as "Under analysis," and the production solution is marked as "Open." This indicates that Audi is actively investigating the root cause and developing a permanent solution for the broken front anti-roll bar problem.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11031055