Audi Q5 Complaints

1,386 consumer complaints on file.

#11719434February 20, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I periodically receive warnings for adaptive light malfunctions, headlight assistant malfunctions, active lane assist malfunctions, traffic sign recognition malfunctions, adaptive cruise assist malfunctions, and high beam assist malfunctions. The Audi dealer confirmed these issues and stated a solution is being worked on but currently not available since it appears to be a software issue. These warnings first appeared within the first 250 miles and has continued to periodically appear. These issues are available for inspection. The malfunctions jeopardize the safety measures which are standard on the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718005February 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 $. So the total damage is around 30 000$ .I contacted Audi USA about the whole situation when I received a negative message regarding the solution . I would like to point out that up until the moment mentioned we had no problems with the car .After my personal investigation of the problem ,I found that there was a safety recall # 21V-947 for same problem .It was not issued for my car which meets all the criteria.It looks like it was hidden by the manufacturer. Audi distances itself from the whole problem and refuses to cover the costs of the damage.Thank good this happened on the city road where the speed is low .If this happened on the highway at 60 MPH it would have had tragic consequences .Where it would never have been figured out what caused the accident. From a safety perspective ,I m reporting this dangerous and unfair treatment of customers by AUDI USA regarding the hidden recall and denial of resposability that occurred and I request an investigation .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717521February 12, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I am reporting a recurring safety defect in my 2025 Audi Q5 (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle has been in the dealership for approximately 42 non-consecutive days for repeated malfunctions of multiple safety systems.While driving, the vehicle displays warnings and disables the following systems: SOS, Adaptive Cruise Assist, Active Front Assist/Distance Warning, Lane Change Warning, Proactive Occupant Protection, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Light, Emergency Assist, High-Beam Assistant, Lane Departure Warning, and Distance Warning. These systems intermittently fail and become unavailable, triggering dashboard alerts and warning messages.Despite multiple repair attempts, the same failures continue to reoccur. The dealership has acknowledged the issue and stated that a fix exists; however, they advised that the necessary repair parts or software will not be available for approximately 3–6 months. I was instructed to take the vehicle back and continue driving it until the fix becomes available.I am extremely concerned about operating a vehicle with known unresolved safety defects affecting numerous driver assistance and crash prevention systems. The repeated failure of these systems significantly impacts the safe operation, reliability, and value of the vehicle. I am requesting investigation into this matter and the delay in providing a timely repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716576February 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
SoS emergency call malfunction. Besides transmission or engine mounting shakes on idle positions car still 6800 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715668February 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714224January 29, 2026
ENGINE
I am reporting a defect related to carbon buildup in the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) system on my 2016 Audi Q5 3.0L Supercharged (engine code CTUC). My vehicle has been diagnosed by an Audi dealer with DTC P0491 – Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow, and restricted secondary air flow has been confirmed through Audi-authorized diagnostics. This failure mode is described in TSB 2014569 and TSB 2014665/4. I discovered this when the check engine light illuminated and I sought a diagnostic from the dealer which cost me $249. Audi has acknowledged this condition as a defect in other vehicles by issuing Warranty Extension U19 (10 years / 120,000 miles), which covers carbon buildup in the secondary air injection ports. However, Audi denied U19 coverage for my vehicle solely because my VIN is not included in the warranty extension population. This condition results in increased emissions which impact the environment and which will cause the vehicle to not pass the emissions inspection required for registration. Audi has not provided any technical explanation distinguishing my vehicle from those covered under U19, despite identical fault codes, failure mechanism, and required repair procedure. The repair involves removal and cleaning of carbon buildup in the cylinder head secondary air ports and is quoted at approximately $2,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713660January 27, 2026
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the rear subframe was extremely rusted and could not pass a safety inspection. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,351.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713475January 26, 2026
ENGINE
Oil consumption. Audi Q5 oil consumption in my car is not functioning properly. I have to put oil in it about every 3 weeks or less depending on how much I’m driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712558January 21, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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 calibration, these systems may fail to detect adjacent vehicles, provide false alerts, or create blind spots in camera coverage, increasing collision risk during lane changes and merging. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Yes. Shop manager provided diagnostic logs as proof of calibration. Analysis shows 360-degree camera calibration executed in 18 seconds versus 40-60 minute industry standard, and zero calibration events logged for Lane Change Assist and Peripheral Camera systems explicitly claimed as completed. INSURANCE INSPECTION: Insurance company explicitly DENIED Lane Change Assist and Peripheral Camera calibrations on estimate. Shop admitted in writing these items were declined and blamed insurance for non-payment. No OEM calibration logs produced despite multiple written requests. WARNING SYMPTOMS: Systems may appear normal on diagnostic scan with no active fault codes, but this does not prove calibration was performed to OEM tolerances. Physical calibration requires target board positioning, laser alignment, and environmental verification that cannot be completed in documented timeframes. PATTERN CONCERN: This may represent a systemic issue where insurers deny ADAS calibrations, shops skip calibrations due to non-payment, vehicles are released as complete, and consumers unknowingly operate vehicles with compromised safety systems. Vehicle and documentation available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712260January 20, 2026
ENGINE
Piston rings failure, large oil consumption and water pump leaking
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711731January 18, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a loud gunshot. I got off the exit pulled over and I saw that my sunroof was shattered. On my Audi Q5 2016.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711288January 15, 2026
TIRES
The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q5 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firehawk A/S, Tire Size: P235/55/R19, DOT Number: 1RBE793E9. The tires were purchased in 2022. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the rear driver’s side tire had a blowout. The contact's wife was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact was unsure if the tire was replaced or if the vehicle was driven to the residence nearby with the blowout tire still on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a tire specialty shop, where the rear driver’s side tire was replaced. On another occasion, while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver heard an abnormal sound before rear passenger’s side tire had a blowout. No warning lights were illuminated. A passerby assisted the contact's wife in changing the tire. On another occasion, while the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side front tire had a blowout. The contact changed the flat tire once the vehicle was driven back to the residence. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the inside of the tire, where the bead of the tire meets the rim, was cracked. The contact noticed tire crazing all over the tire, and that the inside of the tires showed deep cracks. The contact stated that the other two tires showed the same failure. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The vehicle failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710552January 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The audi presense seems to be too sensitive and it is available for inspection. There have been 3 times that I've been at a complete stop in the middle of the intersection waiting for the opposing traffic to stop so I can turn left and suddenly the car brakes, seat belts engage and it scares us. 2 times I had just started to turn left and the car braked (no opposing traffic) and it was so sudden the car behind me almost hit me since they were not expecting me to suddenly brake as I was turning left. The car has been inspected by 2 different dealers and they can not reproduce the issue. No other warnings.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710435January 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 occurred more than once, I am concerned that the Audi Pre Sense system in my vehicle may operate unpredictably and cause a serious accident. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated as a potential safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709656January 8, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I bought the car on September 2, 2025. The car has been in the dealer 5 times. The last one started on December 2, 2025, and still in the dealer as of today (January 8, 2026) no solution has been found. Most of the time is having problem with the technology in the car. I cannot even drive it. It has problem with cameras, Traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise assistant, adaptive light malfunction, headlight assistant malfunction, Audi active lane assistant malfunction, accessibility service malfunction, driver system malfunction (limited vehicle performance), and the list keep on going. I am trying Audi America to buy my car back. I have the car for 4 months and I have use it for approximately 3 weeks (milage as of today 1,529 - several miles done to test the car by the technicians).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709480January 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The over dashboard screen didn't turn on when the car was open or the ignition turned on. Sometime it would take minutes though on a few occasions it simply didn't turn on. The consequence is I couldn't see how fast I was going, any information related to the car such as fuel level, tachometer, temperature. etc. I had the part replace by Audi, but it was over 3K to fix on part and/or system that should not fail. This started in the month of December 2025 though I just had it fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708803January 5, 2026
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
The contact owns a 2023 Audi Q5 equipped with a Vredestein Spare Tire, Tire Line: Spare Wheel Space Master, Tire Size: 195/75/R18, DOT Number: DVVB. The contact stated that AAA was called to the scene to change a tire and discovered that the spare tire could not be inflated while needed. While attempting to inflate the spare tire, air was continuously leaking from the tire. The contact stated that the tire was unusable. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708657January 4, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
When attempting to accelerate rapidly (I.e. passing gear) the engine immediately begins to lose power. Audi dealer investigated and determined it was “TURBO LAG”. This situation happened multiple times at different speeds. When trying to accelerate to pass another vehicle or to merge onto a freeway are the scariest and most dangerous instances. Taking your foot off the accelerator does allow the engine to regain speed. The salesman that we had experienced this on a test ride with me. In reading previous turbo problems with Audi/ Volkswagen vehicles, I’m concerned that this may become a safety issue. This also occurred with the loaner vehicle they gave me which was the same year and model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708163January 1, 2026
SUSPENSION
The motor mounts and control arms are defective. The defective motor mounts that secure the engine causes the engine to shake resulting in collapse while driving. Both front control arms over the wheels are defective make clicking noises when turning resulting in the collapse of the car while driving. These problems were discovered by the dealer during a routine maintenance inspection. The warning lights did appear to have the vehicle inspected,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707450December 29, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
On 12/13/25 around 8:00am in the morning. I was driving between 20-25 MPH and started to brake for the corner stop sign. I applied the break as I normally would however, the car continued to roll and did not respond to my applying pressure to the brake pedal. No matter how much pressure I apply to the brake the car continued to coast without stopping. I continued to press hard on the break and even pumped the break. After 2 to 3 yards of coasting, the car stopped. I continued to drive the car for another 0.5 miles and the same break problem occurred again. There are no lights indicating problems on my dashboard. The weather was clear and sunny in the morning. There was no rain. There was no snow. All the roads were dry. I took the car to my dealership and they could not find anything wrong. The brake pads were well within the normal safety range at 8 mm. There was no computer system malfunction. They could not give me an explanation. The Audi dealership’s head mechanic said that because my front brake pads and rotor, and my back brake pads were replaced at Pep Boys two years ago that this could be a reason for the brake failure. although he was not 100% sure of this. He suggested that I pay $3500 for Audi to replace the current rotors and brake pads despite the original determination that there were nothing wrong with them. The auto mechanic test drove the car with me after the diagnostic evaluation. He could not detect any problems with the brakes no screeching sounds no noises. The anti brake system was working well. to this day, I still do not feel safe driving this car for fear that the incident with the brake failure will happen again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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