U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Audi Q5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

98 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

53,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 98 complaints (37.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	14	14.3%
Electrical and battery issues	6	6.1%
Braking behavior	5	5.1%
Engine operation	4	4.1%
Fuel system concerns	3	3.1%

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.

Engine

Steering

Unknown Or Other

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Suspension

Electrical System

Power Train

Engine: 37; Steering: 14; Unknown Or Other: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Suspension: 7; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 4

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: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 59 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.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 12; 2019: 12; 2020: 9; 2021: 5; 2022: 8; 2023: 13; 2024: 12; 2025: 11; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10763123 · 2015-09-11 (September 11, 2015)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LONG GRAVEL DRIVEWAY GOING 15-20MPH AND I WENT AROUND A SLIGHT LEFT CURVE. AFTER THE LEFT CURVE THE ROAD BECOMES STRAIT. MY CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CURVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HEAD RIGHT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PULLED ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO LEFT. IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING RIGHT, OFF THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED AT THIS POINT. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND ON TO GET THE WHEEL TO RELEASE SO…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763123 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11124576 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)

STEERING DEFECTIVE. DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. THIS MESSAGE CAME UP AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR FROM A PARKING LOT. TOWED IT TO AUDI DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT ITS AN AUDI ISSUE. DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK. REPLACED IT. $2500

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124576 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11101733 · 2018-06-13 (June 13, 2018)

I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, NHTSA # 18V229 FOR MY VEHICLE. REGARDING A COOLANT PUMP THAT COULD POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND OVERHEAT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE PARKED OUTSIDE AS A PRECAUTIONIN CASE THERE WERE TO BE A FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NOT YET ANY PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. AND EVEN IF I PARK MY CAR OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE, I LIVE IN THE WOODS SO A CAR FIRE WOULD LIKELY CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE ANYWAY. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11101733 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11101823 · 2018-06-14 (June 14, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V622000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED KANSAS CITY AUDI AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 10330 MADISON AVE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIG…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11101823 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11018887 · 2017-08-22 (August 22, 2017)

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AFTER DRIVING BRAND NEW CAR FOR ONLY 15000 MILES, THE BRAKES HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (RIGHT REAR WHEEL). LUCKILY I WAS IN A SERVICE ROAD OTHERWISE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I GOT THE CAR SERVICED 2 MONTHS AGO AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE (JUST SOME RUSTING ON THE BRAKES) SO THE AUDI AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP LET ME DRIVE SAYING WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT NEXT YEAR. THE CAR IS RIGHT NOW AT THAT SAME DEALERSHIP AND I ALSO WORRY THEY WOULD TAMPER WITH IT OR HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUE IN IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11330142 · 2020-06-22 (June 22, 2020)

VEHICLE RANDOMLY DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR NO APPARENT REASON, I.E. DRY CLEAR ROAD CONDITION, NO FAULT LIGHT OR ISSUES WITH ABS/TRACTION CONTROL, NO FAULT CODES, ETC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11311900 · 2020-02-27 (February 27, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI SOUTH BURLINGTON (1325 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS CLEARED BY THE DEALER. A MONTH LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REAPPEARED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC AUDI SERVICE CENTER (655 N MACQUESTEN PKWY, MT VERNON, NY…

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11501425 · 2023-01-12 (January 12, 2023)

The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in cold weather, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN and that the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11501425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11270178 · 2019-10-22 (October 22, 2019)

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN LEAKING GASOLINE INTO MY ENGINE OIL. IT HAS CAUSED ISSUES WHEN STARTING MY CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE .

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11557378 · 2023-11-29 (November 29, 2023)

in 2017 Audi repaired a leaky fuel pump in my Q5 due to a recall. My vehicle now has less than 35k miles since that repair and the new-replacement fuel pump flange is failing again. Fuel was coming out and created a significant fire risk to life and property. Audi has refused to deal with the issue and speaking with mechanics at 3 dealerships revealed that the replacement parts are failing at an alarming rate. I would like this looked into.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557378 at NHTSA ↗