2016 Audi Q5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
36,244 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 77 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 11.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Engine: 26; Unknown Or Other: 11; Electrical System: 10; Steering: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 53 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2015: 1; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 11; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 8; 2023: 15; 2024: 6; 2025: 7; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 11343587 · 2020-08-06 (August 6, 2020)
ON 7/26/20, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A COSTCO'S PARKING LOT, A MESSAGE SUDDENLY APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD, 'STEERING DEFECTIVE DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE'. THE WEATHER WAS HOT WITH TEMPERATURE READING OF 99 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. MY VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF I DID NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS NO ONCOMING CARS. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO DRIVE AND MOVED BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY/STREET AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,442 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363817 · 2020-10-11 (October 11, 2020)
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AUDI AT FULL STOP WHEN STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY VEHICLE TRAVELING AT SPEED SUFFICIENT FOR THEIR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT ACCIDENT RESULTED IN BOTH BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH INJURIES. DRIVER WITH EYE AND ABDOMINAL INJURIES FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED CONCUSSION FROM STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO SHATTER IT, PLUS SUSTAINING NUMEROUS MUSCLE AND JOINT SPRAINS FROM IMPACT WITH DASHBOARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794647 · 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)
WHEN STARTING NEW 2016 Q5 PREMIUM PLUS, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT REAR HATCH IS OPEN, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION AND DOOR LOCK SIGNAL NOT TO SOUND. DEALER REPLACED REAR HATCH LATCH AND COMFORT CONTROL UNIT J393, AFTER THE THIRD VISIT TO THEM FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10836266 · 2016-02-15 (February 15, 2016)
THE MIRRORS ON MY AUDI Q5 ARE TOO HIGH AND BIG. THEY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCT MY VIEW WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. I EITHER HAVE TO LOOK BELOW OR ABOVE THEM SOMEHOW TO SEE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/11/2016. I STOPPED AT 4 WAY STOP AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT. I HIT A SMALL SPORTS CAR THAT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED FROM MY VIEW. DID NOT SEE THE CAR UNTIL HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE TO BRAKE AND I HIT HIM. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE CAR FROM BEING SEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442651 · 2021-12-04 (December 4, 2021)
On Wednesday, December 1, 2021 I filled my car up with gas. Shortly after I noticed a fuel smell from the outside and on the inside of the car. On Thursday, December 2, 2021 I drove to Jupiter fl approx a two hour car drive it smelled like gas the whole entire drive there on the inside of the car and even worse on the outside. When I got home on Friday night December 3, 2021 it was still just as bad. I took my car to the mechanic today Saturday, December 4, 2021 and upon the mechanic putting it on the lift you could see two leaks on the gas tan…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11645256 · 2025-02-27 (February 27, 2025)
Back in 2017 there was a recall on my 2016 Audi Q5 regarding the fuel pump. Audi's solution to this recall was to replace the fuel pump if it had any cracks, but if there weren't any cracks their protocal was to just put a protective shield on the fuel pump. Since my car was only a year old, all that Audi did was the protective shield. A few weeks ago, my car started smelling like leaking fuel. After a couple days I took it to Audi since there had been a recall. My car has less than 63,000 miles on it and according to service persons that have …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11645256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11258747 · 2019-09-28 (September 28, 2019)
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS I DID SO, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD STRIKING A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR WAS WRITTEN OFF BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAD NOTICED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP, BUT HAD NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,488 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11647069 · 2025-03-07 (March 7, 2025)
The vehicle had a oil leak that began in 2022 right after I bought the vehicle used. The light continued to come on indicating low oil. Eventually, they found a leak in the pistons. They were replaced. Again in 2023 a leak was found near and around the upper timing gasket and vacuum pump. Now 2025, a new leak is found transmission line and the dipstick.!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11647069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11477317 · 2022-08-03 (August 3, 2022)
Audi Q5 is consuming oil and requiring it to be filled every 300 to 500 miles. It is unsafe for people to continually be pulling over over the side of the road. Audi will not fix, even if car fails oil consumption test. Price to fix is around 9K. The problem is also causing loss of power, which is not safe, especially while driving on the highway. Audi acknowledges the problem and states "they do that".
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11477317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11539102 · 2023-08-17 (August 17, 2023)
Engine shuts off while driving at highway speeds. No engine warning light comes on, just complete lack of power. Need to pull off, put car in park and restart. Happens more often in colder weather, but is very sporadic. Audi said it was fuel issue. It is not. Jundreds of gas fill-ups with all different brands. This has been happening for years, and began within months of purchasing the car. It is getting more and more frequent. There is no fault code associated with it when I've brought it in for diagnostics. Very disconcerting when dr…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11539102 at NHTSA ↗