U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Audi Q5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

30 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

56,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 30 complaints (53.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	5	16.7%
Braking behavior	2	6.7%
Transmission and shifting	1	3.3%
Engine operation	1	3.3%
Electrical and battery issues	1	3.3%
Steering behavior	1	3.3%

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.

Air Bags

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Fuel System, Gasoline

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Air Bags: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 18 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

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2009: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10596941 · 2014-06-08 (June 8, 2014)

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGH FOR A WEEK OR SO. THEN WE NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP IN THE GAS TANK HAD DEVELOPED FRACTURES AND WAS SPRAYING FUEL UNDER THE CAR BENEATH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE MECHANIC RELATED WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WASN'T A FIRE. WHEN HE REPLACED THE PUMP WITH A FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART. HE NOTED THAT HE COULD FEEL THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE NEW FUEL PUMP PULSATING. HE CONTACTED AUDI TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL A…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10704639 · 2015-04-09 (April 9, 2015)

STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. NO SMELL COMING FROM GAS CAP AREA. NO GAS LEAK NOTICED UNDER VEHICLE. PER RESEARCH THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP LOCATED ABOVE THE GAS TANK. CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR 2009 Q5S. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT AUDI IS NOT ADDRESSING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10972360 · 2017-04-14 (April 14, 2017)

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS ON THE ROAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11493915 · 2022-11-17 (November 17, 2022)

The contact owns a 2009 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking. There was antifreeze and oil leaking from the vehicle. While driving, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal became stuck, and the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal oil burning odor, fuel, and antifreeze. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The gear shifter button was also stuck. The gear box malfunctioned, and a message to restart vehicle was displayed. Additionally, the tailgate seized while going up and down. The vehicle was taken to…

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11493915 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10287380 · 2009-10-14 (October 14, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI Q5. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DOWN SHIFT FROM 2ND TO FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2900. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/06/09.*J

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287380 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587841 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)

VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED ON SCHEDULE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE CAR SAT IDLE ALL NIGHT, ON THE MORNING THE NEXT DAY, I TRIED TO TO START TO CAR. THERE WAS BIG POP SOUND. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINS AND NOTICED, MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ALTERNATOR FAULT. OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE POWER STEERING BEING COMPLETELY DISABLED. BATTER…

Owner-reported narrative. 47,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587841 at NHTSA ↗