2018 Audi Q5 Problems

198 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Electrical System · verdict AVOID 33/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Electrical System68
Unknown Or Other43
Engine30
Suspension24
Service Brakes22
Structure21

In the owners’ words

“The dashboard displayed a solid red brake light with a flashing warning “stop vehicle safely” light. A professional diagnostic scan confirmed a permanent hard fault on the ABS control Module (J104) and Hydraulic Unit (N55). The vehicle has only 66,755 miles. Independent repair shops cannot service this unit because it requires highly restricted, specialized Audi factory programming and coding software, forcing consum”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Audi Q5 owner
“I was pulling slowly into a parking space at a grocery store, with my right foot on the brake, nearly stopped. Then the car rapidly and suddenly accelerated unintentionally. The car jumped over a bush, a median, rammed into a parked car, pushing it across the next parking lane into a third car. The third car, in turn, bumped a fourth car. Safety: The air bags did not deploy. The potential for significant injury”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Audi Q5 owner
“The rear view camera is not operating when shifting to reverse. I can demonstrate this malfunction at any time to anyone. Driver is unable to detect short objects or small children directly behind the vehicle. The problem was confirmed by the dealer during a service visit. At that time, the service technician checked power and ground to the control unit and verified good. Attempted calibration for camera, vehicle wou”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Audi Q5 owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
01/06/2018Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper SAFETYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on the
05/06/2019Wheels:HubVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
16/10/2019Structure:BodyVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
08/04/2019Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder SAFETYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
29/12/2016Seat Belts:Pretensioner SAFETYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal
08/12/2021Electrical System:Body Control Module/Bcm SAFETYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam under

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Audi Q5 reliable?

On the federal record it scores 33/100: 198 owner complaints (24.75 per year on the road) and 6 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Audi Q5?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Electrical System, with 68 of 208 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2018 Audi Q5 scored 33/100 on the federal record.

Full 2018 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Q5 yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking