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U.S. public vehicle records

Audi A5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

323 owner complaints analyzed

19 distinct recall campaigns

46,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 323 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior299.0%
Braking behavior216.5%
Electrical and battery issues175.3%
Transmission and shifting113.4%
Engine operation82.5%
Fuel system concerns82.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
77
Engine
58
Unknown Or Other
57
Air Bags
50
Steering
27
Power Train
16
Structure:Body
15
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System77
Engine58
Unknown Or Other57
Air Bags50
Steering27
Power Train16
Structure:Body15
Back Over Prevention: Warnings14

Electrical System: 77; Engine: 58; Unknown Or Other: 57; Air Bags: 50; Steering: 27; Power Train: 16; Structure:Body: 15; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
37
25,000 to 49,999
26
50,000 to 74,999
29
75,000 to 99,999
14
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00037
25,000 to 49,99926
50,000 to 74,99929
75,000 to 99,99914
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 206 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
1
2010
3
2011
4
2013
4
2014
6
2015
11
2016
26
2017
21
2018
28
2019
27
2020
12
2021
16
2022
21
2023
15
2024
25
2025
79
2026
24
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20103
20114
20134
20146
201511
201626
201721
201828
201927
202012
202116
202221
202315
202425
202579
202624

2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 11; 2016: 26; 2017: 21; 2018: 28; 2019: 27; 2020: 12; 2021: 16; 2022: 21; 2023: 15; 2024: 25; 2025: 79; 2026: 24

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10563988 · 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECTS WERE ALL CAUSED BY A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL SPRING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563988 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10376784 · 2011-01-15 (January 15, 2011)

OCTOBER 2010 SEVERE WOBBLING OF STEERING WHEEL, AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINT WITH DEALER THEY HAVE TO CARRY OUT FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT TOOK 3 ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY. THIS SAME COMPLAINT HAS NOW STARTED AGAIN ALTHOUGH ONLY A PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY AUDI DEALER AND WHEEL CAMBER APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WOULD NOT RECTIFY FAULT UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS IS ACCORDING TO THEM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE, I HAVE DONE 2.5K MILES SINCE ALL 4 WHEELS WERE DONE AND I HAVE NOT HIT OR DAMAGED MY WHEELS ALIGNM…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376784 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11731285 · 2026-04-15 (April 15, 2026)

2008 Audi A5 3.2L S-Line Coupe experiencing severe water intrusion into trunk compartment causing progressive failure of multiple electronic modules. Water enters through a known design defect in the trunk seal and drainage pathway, pooling in the spare tire well where critical electronic control modules are mounted. Affected systems: (1) Complete audio and entertainment system failure due to amplifier module destroyed by water damage. (2) Electronic parking brake malfunction with brake failing to engage and disengage reliably, creating serious…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11731285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11191567 · 2019-03-26 (March 26, 2019)

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK I NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WITH MY CAR, WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR TO PULL UP IN A GARAGE I FELT THE CAR LOOSING POWER AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO GO OFF, I WILL THEN HAVE TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GIVE IT POWER AND KEEP IT GOING WHICH WAS NOT THE SAFEST, KNOWING THAT I SHOULD BE DECELERATING IN SUCH INSTANCES. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, AND THEN 3 DAYS LATER AFTER PARKING IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 12 MINUTES, I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND IT NOT STARTING UP. IT WILL BEGIN TO CRANK BUT NEVER…

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191567 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11324945 · 2020-05-18 (May 18, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON OWNS A 2013 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, IT CRASHED INTO A FENCE WITHOUT WARNING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THERE WERE NO FIRE, REPORTED INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11599581 · 2024-07-06 (July 6, 2024)

I was having an issue with my 2013 Audi A5 starting. A call to roadside assistance was able to jump my battery and the car would start and run. However, the same issue kept happening. The EPC warning light would come on and it took a few weeks to get scheduled with a mechanic. I purchased a mobile jump starter myself because I never knew when the car would or wouldn't start. After taking the car to Audi, they found the "transmission coolant valve failing internally causing coolant to migrate up connector - this is causing a short which is dra…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11599581 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10637342 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)

AUDI A5 3.0L DIESEL QUATTRO EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY HAD JUST COME TO A HALT. ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART. TURNS OUT THE FAILURE OF MAIN THE MAIN DIESEL PUMP DESTROYED ENTIRE FUEL LINE SYSTEM! AUDI QUOTED 13,000K REPLACEMENT COST TO CHANGE ALL 3 PUMPS, ALL 6 INJECTORS AND CLEAN FUEL TANK! I AM SHOCKED. AUDI DEALER SAID QUITE A FEW CASES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637342 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11222261 · 2019-06-24 (June 24, 2019)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR STALLED NEARLY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS SMELLING GASOLINE SO I HAD TO BRING IT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING WITH MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE DETECTED. AS THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER AUDI FOR FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS, I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER DEFECTED FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC CLEARED THE CODE FROM MY CAR'S SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222261 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10380268 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ENGINE SURGE WHEN STARTING COLD (HEATED GARAGE 45) AND MOVING APPROX 50 TO 75 FEET. THE RPM SURGES FROM 500 TO 1800RPM SEVERAL TIMES AND WILL OCCASIONALLY DIE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH VARIOUS BRANDS OF PREMIUM FUEL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE ADDED A FUEL CONDITIONER, REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE STILL SURGES AT VARIOUS TIMES. IT HAS DIED AFTER LEAVING AN ON STREET PARKING SPOT IN TRAFFIC. IT DOES NOT SURGE ON SUBSEQUENT STARTS WITHIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380268 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
0
2011
0
2012
0
2013
3
2014
3
2015
3
2016
3
2017
2
2018
6
2019
3
2020
4
2021
5
2022
2
2023
0
2024
0
2025
2
2026
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20100
20110
20120
20133
20143
20153
20163
20172
20186
20193
20204
20215
20222
20230
20240
20252
20260

2010: 0; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 0; 2024: 0; 2025: 2; 2026: 0

Year-by-year records

Audi A5 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200851Not available
20091110
2010340-1
20112500
20122200
2013353+3
20142830
2015830
2016730
201702-1
2018376+4
2019123-3
2020604+1
202175+1
202272-3
202380-2
2024800
202582+2
202610-2