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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 29 | 9.0% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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