2014 Audi Q5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 105 complaints (34.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 19 | 18.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 36 |
| Steering | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
Engine: 36; Steering: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Structure:Body: 10; Electrical System: 9; Suspension: 7; Power Train: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 52 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2013: 1; 2014: 9; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 20; 2019: 10; 2020: 7; 2021: 9; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 5; 2025: 15; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10568573 · 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)
VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AUDI FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. REPORTING AGAIN, BECAUSE DEALER COMPLETELY REPLACED AUDI "ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT". VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP HARD, REQUIRING VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO TURN EVEN A FEW DEGREES. MESSAGE ON A DISPLAY "STEERING IS DEFECTIVE". VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AUDI FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE JUST ON 23 OCT 2013. REPORTING AGAIN AS A NEW ISSUE, BECAUSE DEALER HAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AUDI "ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT" AND OTHER PARTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,884 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575950 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT EXHIBIT ANY RESISTANCE AND DID NOT ADJUST TO THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568063 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)
THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, WHEN I MADE A HARD LEFT TURN (U-TURN FROM A STANDING STOP) INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING AS EXPECTED. THERE APPEAR TO BE SEVERAL THOUSAND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATABASE, FROM MANY DIFFERENT MAKES, WHERE THE ABS SYSTEM CUTS POWER TO THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF ALLOWING A RAPID ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING START, WHEN THERE IS NO TRACTION PROBLEM, AND CUTTING THE POWER CREATES AN IMMEDIATE RISK OF CRASH BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS 'DEAD' FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS …
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643647 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000 KM , WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE WERE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND THAT WORE OUT THE BRAKES . BRAKES WE PULSATING AND GRINDING . INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ROTORS WERE HOT SPOTTED AND A LOT OF MATERIAL WORN OFF THE ROTORS AND PADS . WE ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS AND TREATED THE CAR WITH UTMOST RESPECT . AUDI MADE US PAY FOR NEW ROTORS AND PADS . AUDI SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . I DRIVE A GM THAT HAS NEVER NEEDED BRAKES BEFORE 100,000 KM .AUDI NAILED US FOR 400.00 FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331513 · 2020-06-29 (June 29, 2020)
LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE AND CAR STALLS ETC.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387114 · 2021-01-08 (January 8, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI GAINESVILLE (1920 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK & PINION AND ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROX…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598564 · 2014-06-16 (June 16, 2014)
FUEL TANK LEAK. WENT FOR A NORMAL UNEVENTFUL DRIVE FROM HOWARD COUNTY MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA SUBURBS AND CAME HOME BACK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE ON FRIDAY THE 13TH!. WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO A GARAGE THAT SMELLED VERY HEAVILY LIKE GAS. LOOKED BELOW THE AUDI Q5 AND SAW A SMALL PUDDLE OF GAS. PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND ASKED TO CALL AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ASKED ME TO CALL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10653600 · 2014-11-08 (November 8, 2014)
DROVE ON HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD CLOSE TO TORRANCE BOULEVARD LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR START TO SHAKE AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ASIDE AND AFTER FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS WORKING FINE BUT A MESSAGE ON THE BOARD MENTIONING THE AUTO STOP START FUNCTION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE ASSOCIATED SYMBOL TURNED ON THE DASH. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRM THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10653600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637126 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
THIS IS BRAND NEW AUDI Q5 I PURCHASED ROUGHLY A MONTH EARLIER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MULTIPLE CARS BEGAN HONKING AND WAVING AT US. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT BLACK SOME WAS APPEARING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ISSUE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE CREW DID CONFIRM AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. A WEEP HOLE WAS FOUND ON SIDE OF TRANSMISSIONS THAT WAS LEAKING OIL WHICH CAUSED BLACK SMOKE TO APPEAR FROM THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE TEAM ENDED U…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,046 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078578 · 2018-03-11 (March 11, 2018)
THIS IS A TDI. THE CAR HAS 53,000-MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ONLY SERVICED BY THE LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP. WHILE OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH THE "AUTO STOP/START" ENGAGED, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPED AND WHILE CRUISING, THE OCCURRENCE IS VERY INTERMITTENT. WHEN STOPPED, TO RE-ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION, YOU MUST USE THE BRAKE (TO PREVENT ROLLING) AND MANIPULATE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER BETWEEN NEUTRAL, DRIVE AND SPORT SETTING. WHEN DRIVING, YOU MUST MANIPULATE THE TRANSMISSION L…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11057997 · 2018-01-02 (January 2, 2018)
2014 AUDI Q5 3L TURBO DIESEL WOULD NOT START ON JAN 1. VEHICLE HAD "AUX HEATER " RECALL PERFORMED BY DEALER WITHIN THE PRIOR WEEK. AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS FRIGID (CAR INDICATED BELOW 8F) SUSPECT DIESEL 'WAXING' MAY BE CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR. TOWING COMPANY SUGGEST THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND OWNER MESSAGE BOARDS SUGGEST SIMILAR, BUT AUDI ARE VERY DELIBERATE IN NOT ANSWERING QUESTION. SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP WHEN ASKED STATES THERE IS NO DIESEL ADDITIVE REQUIRED FOR SUCH COLD WEATHER AND THEY HAVE NEVER PERSONALLY SEEN DIESEL WAXING WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11563997 · 2024-01-07 (January 7, 2024)
On 12/1, around 7:20am my fiancé and I were getting ready to leave for work; there was frost on the car so my fiancé went out to start it and turn on the defrosters. After starting the car, he turned on the heater and front and rear defrosters, he then went inside to retrieve some items we needed to load into the car. He was inside for about 5 minutes before coming out to see smoke emanating from right side of the trunk, which quickly turned into a small fire, whose point of origin was the rear fuse compartment. He ran inside to grab water to t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11563997 at NHTSA ↗