Audi SQ5 Complaints

30 consumer complaints on file.

#11759728August 26, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The primary MMI display screen on this brand-new 2026 Audi Q5 Sportback frequently goes completely black and enters an initialization loop while driving, remaining frozen for 5 continuous minutes. This defect completely disables the backup camera and critical safety instrument clusters while the vehicle is in motion. The manufacturer has opened a Corporate TAC Case but the dealership cannot resolve the software/hardware boot failure and is attempting to return the vehicle without a fix, creating an immediate highway safety risk
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759660August 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
Dry, safety-only. No dealer-conduct language, no corporate case number — this channel is about the defect. Vehicle: 2022 Audi SQ5 (VIN [XXX]). On XXX, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of electrical power and became inoperable. Independent inspection found water intrusion and debris accumulation in the rear drainage channels, in direct contact with the wiring harness and battery. Multiple electronic modules malfunctioned: the rear wiper activated without command, the third brake light remained illuminated, and the vehicle would start briefly before shutting off and entering limp mode. The condition was confirmed by the servicing dealer and repaired under Audi Warranty Extension U76, which addresses water intrusion (repair completed XXX). A sudden, complete loss of electrical power presents a safety risk, particularly if it occurs during operation. Submitting so the concern is on record and to determine whether other vehicles are affected. 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
#11759466August 25, 2026
SUSPENSION
During a recent inspection at Audi Chantilly (Virginia), the service department inspected cracked upper control arm bushings in the front suspension that were noted during a recent service to install new tires and perform an alignment (see attached photos. There is cracking and what appears to be some type of fluid leakage). The dealership denied warranty coverage, claiming these are merely "cosmetic stress cracks." This is contrary to what the TSB for this issue instructs the dealer/technician to do. Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #2060855: This directive explicitly addresses "damage identified on the bonded rubber bush of the upper rear link" and instructs technicians to "Replace the damaged rubber mounting of the upper rear link on both sides of the vehicle." The other reason the vehicle was in for service is to investigate low-speed binding, shuddering, bouncing, or rubbing noise during tight or wide low-speed turns, commonly known as the "Quattro Rumble". The technician noted that this was a comfort issue. Again, there is a TSB from Audi that addresses this issue: Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #2059057: This bulletin explicitly addresses the low-speed turning shudder and binding ("Quattro Rumble") inherently caused by premature degradation of the AWD clutch pack fluid, which mirrors the dynamic turning symptoms my vehicle is exhibiting. Both issues are indications of premature wear. Audi is trying to wait until the 4year/50k warranty expires so that I'll be forced to pay for both repairs instead of fixing them under the warranty that is currently still valid. For reference, this vehicle has just under 21k miles. There is no way either of these issues should occurring.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755015August 5, 2026
ENGINE
On July 17,2026 my vehicle suddenly overheated. All warning lights came on and I stopped immediately. The car had to be towed to North Atlanta Audi for inspection and repair. I was told the waterpump had failed and corrupted the vacuum lines. There was no symptoms or previous warnings at any time. The repair bill was going to be outrageous. The service department person contacted Audi and they agreed to furnish new parts but I would have to pay all labor cost. I had no choice but to agree. During the repair the turbo charger was damaged when being removed. Audi again agreed to furnish the parts but I would have to pay for the repairs. I feel like this was a catastropic failure with the vehicle being less than 4 years old. I did have 83,000 miles on it. When Audi provided the new parts they sent an upgraded/updated waterpump. This appeared to be an admission that they knew the original waterpump was faulty. This was a very costly repair. I would like to know if there have been similar issues with other owners of this make and model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753278July 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
While driving in live traffic, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic and total simultaneous mechanical and electrical system failure. Without warning, the vehicle completely lost engine propulsion, braking assistance, and all dashboard displays. Concurrently, the vehicle suffered a complete blackout of all exterior safety lighting, including the brake lights and the emergency hazard flashers rendering the vehicle completely invisible to surrounding traffic. Prior to this complete shutdown, the vehicle had been brought to an authorized Audi dealership on 3 previous occasions soon after purchase for progressive electronic communication failures and transient dashboard warning lights, which the service department dismissed as false alerts and did software updates to remedy the alert. It is unclear if those really were false alerts or some precursor to this future problem. The total loss of primary propulsion combined with the complete failure of the secondary emergency backup hazard lighting created an immediate, life-threatening traffic hazard to myself, my passengers and those in vehicles and pedestrians around me. The vehicle had to be towed to an authorized Audi dealership for diagnosis.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752851July 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
While making a U-turn on a high-speed arterial roadway (Philips Highway) with a child passenger, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete failure of the driver-side rear CV axle/driveshaft assembly. A loud pop occurred followed immediately by total loss of vehicle propulsion, leaving the vehicle stranded across active lanes of traffic and creating an extreme hazard for severe rear-end impact. There were no advance warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed directly to an authorized dealership. Under Repair Order #198055, technicians inspected the vehicle, verified the failure, and formally documented "CAUSE: DEFECTIVE LEFT REAR AXLE. (mfg defect)". The dealer replaced the failed rear driveshaft assembly under warranty (80A-501-203-L). The failed component/vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer's authorized dealership service department.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745096June 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
While driving at normal operational speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, un-commanded, and catastrophic loss of motive power while navigating a live traffic intersection. The transmission completely disengaged all gears without warning, rendering the vehicle entirely stationary and immobilized in the path of oncoming traffic. This failure created an immediate, severe safety hazard, exposing the occupants to a high risk of a side-impact or rear-end collision due to the inability to clear the intersection under the vehicle's own power. The vehicle had to be flatbedded to an authorized dealer (Audi - Glenwood Springs). The professional diagnostic evaluation confirmed an internal failure of the transmission assembly and Transmission Control Module (TCM) / Mechatronic unit, requiring a total replacement of the powertrain assembly. The failure occurred at 59,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743621June 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1–2 second delay in throttle response from pedal input, followed by sudden uncommanded surge/jerk forward. Occurs when vehicle is on hold mode in a slope or in plain flat conditions at a light or a stop sign. It happens when the car is cold or warm. I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive. The cruise control also has a major problem. When activated the lane departure feature also gets activated automatically but instead of making the car more stable it moves the card left and right all the time without any major interaction from the driver. I have to deactivate the lane departure function all the time in order to feel safe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741553June 2, 2026
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
The contact leases a 2025 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that the driver's side exterior rear-view mirror position was blocking the driver's view while making a left turn. The manufacturer was contact and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for it to be test-driven. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736430May 7, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving out of a parking lot into the feeder road of a highway with the intent of immediately getting on the highway. When I attempted to accelerate the car would not go any faster. I was traveling perhaps 5-10 miles per hour as cars on the feeder road were approaching at 45-50 miles per hour. The lag time before the car would accelerate was about 20 seconds. Luckily, I had not entered the feeder road right as the feeder road traffic was near me, otherwise I would definitely have been hit. This lack of acceleration happened two other times but the lag time was shorter. I took the car to the dealer but they could not find the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735886May 5, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I am writing to bring to your attention a safety issue regarding Audi windshields that warrants further investigation. I own a 2022 Audi SQ5, purchased in December 2021 from Audi Wilmington. I currently reside in [XXX] where my vehicle has been exclusively serviced by Audi Sarasota since April 2023. Over the past two years, I have experienced four (4) windshield cracks resulting from minor road debris (1/26/24, 5/22/24, 2/27/25, and 5/1/26). In each instance, a small stone—rather than significant impact—caused an immediate, large starburst crack that was not repairable, requiring full replacement. I have attached my repair records including the latest with pictures. In my XXX years of driving all makes and models of vehicles prior to this Audi, I have only had one windshield incident and it was small and able to be repaired by Safelite. In researching this issue, I found that numerous Audi Q5/SQ5 owners report similar experiences with windshields cracking from minimal debris, and in some cases without a clear point of impact. This suggests the possibility of a broader pattern that may merit closer review. (Google Search: “Audi Q5 issues with cracked windshield from minor road debris”) I have reached out to Audi to bring this to their attention. Their reply was the following: "Our windshields are designed and tested to meet all applicable safety requirements, including Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 205. This standard ensures that automotive glass provides appropriate strength, impact resistance, and safety performance under normal driving conditions." I respectfully request that the NHTSA review this matter to determine whether a design review or other corrective action, including a potential recall, is warranted. Beyond the financial burden to customers, this represents a broader safety concern. 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
#11735402May 3, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My car has a known issue with a piston skirt defect that can cause engine failure. Audi of America acknowledged this issue with the EA839 and only warranted an 80k mile warranty. I am outside of that warranty and in risk of catastrophic engine failure that could lead to safety issues on the road. I am worried about my safety in driving this vehicle. Audi of America refuse to cover my car as it is outside of the extended warranty. There are numerous people that have the same issue as several models with the same EA839 engine and are prone to this failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700198November 18, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ENGINE
We bought the car today at Audi South Atlanta brand new and were driving back home. The car suddenly showed the engine light, showed drive system malfunction please safely stop, and then the car slowed down and stopped on the highway. The steering stiffened up and almost caused a car crash. It was very dangerous. The Audi dealership said that software issues were all resolved before allowing the purchase of the vehicle today, but this dangerous malfunction still happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696875October 31, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The following problem happened 3 times. I was making a right hand turn with plenty of clearance when the car seized. Engine shut down, lights on dash said MALFUNCTION and many other lights lit. Oncoming traffic approached and nearly smashed into my car. This also happened making a left turn at a traffic light after a stop at a red light. The other incident was in bumper to bumper traffic in a rain storm.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687517September 16, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for routine service at the dealer, and the contact was informed that the coolant pump was starting to fail. The contact was advised that the mechanic found coolant running through the vac lines. The contact was informed that continuing to drive the vehicle with a failing coolant pump could cause engine damage. The contact had the coolant pump replaced. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V229000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, neither the VIN nor the model year was included. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685193September 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have. two 2024 Audi SQ6 Prestige vehicles. This has now happened on both of these vehicles while driving them. The axle will snap while driving causing the vehicle to stop and no longer move forward or back. This is extremely dangerous because it occurs when driving and can lead to an accident because the car just stops. Luckily in both instances I was not on the highway and was on side roads so there was no accident. After this occurred the second time, I discovered this is being reported by Audi owners of Q5 and SQ5 models however Audi claims there is no issue. This occurred on both of my SQ5s, once in April and Once in September. Both vehicles had low mileage, 15,000 and 22,000 respectively.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678890August 6, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Component/System: Engine and Cooling — Water Pump / Coolant System Vehicle: 2021 Audi SQ5 Engine Code: CWGD Mileage at Failure: 71,000 Date of Incident: 8/6/2025 Audi Denver I’m reporting a known defect affecting my 2021 Audi SQ5 with engine code CWGD. The engine experienced an internal coolant leak from the water pump housing, which is a known issue previously acknowledged by Audi in TSB #19Q5 2022 01, covering earlier 3.0T engines (DEWA/DEWC). Although my engine (CWGD) is not listed in the bulletin, the failure is identical in nature: the plastic thermostat/water pump housing fails internally, leading to coolant loss and potential engine overheating. This issue is widespread among Audi 3.0T engines, including CWGD, and poses a risk of engine failure and overheating. Audi has extended the warranty for earlier engine variants but refuses to cover mine, even though the defect and consequences are the same. This inconsistent coverage leaves owners like me exposed to high repair costs for a clearly known design flaw. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether Audi’s CWGD engines should also fall under the scope of the extended warranty or safety defect coverage already applied to DEWA/DEWC engine variants. Audi’s selective VIN or engine code exclusions appear arbitrary and may allow known safety-related failures to go unaddressed. Documentation available: dealer inspection report confirming internal water pump leak, warranty denial letter, and TSB copy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677713August 1, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MMI not connecting Control module for emergency call module
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672326July 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2023 Audi SQ5 Sportback's key fob stopped working, and when I took it into the Audi dealership they said that it is a known issue that if you don't unclog the drain (not sure where that is - was never told I needed to do so) then there can be leaks that affect the wiring and the Comfort Control Module, rendering the vehicle unusable. They are now trying to charge me approximately $16,000 to fix the vehicle when it is obvious that this is a manufacturing defect not present on other vehicles. I know there has been a recall for other Audi Q5 models, and it seems that the new generation of Audi Q5 has the same issue. I have also seen online that this occurs quite often to other Audi SQ5 and Q5 owners.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657723April 30, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Comfort Module J393 failed that is tied to all electronics warnings in car. brake warnings, light warning, security warnings, etc. Car was unable to be started as a result. If these electronics failed during driving, its very dangerous and could force crashing of vehicle. According to Dealership, failed module was submerged (ie water flooeded). This is a self contained electronics module that is not exposed to elements. The car was parked in driveway. it rained lightly over the weekend. Then this occurred. the damage and replacement cost was over $10K in damage. Audi dealership stated replacing rear water drain may be kinked or damaged causing water to leak where module located. Its not normal for self contained electronics modules to have this problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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