2018 Audi Q5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
201 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
15,142 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 201 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 49 | 24.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.0% |
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 | 70 |
| Unknown Or Other | 44 |
| Engine | 31 |
| Suspension | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
Electrical System: 70; Unknown Or Other: 44; Engine: 31; Suspension: 24; Service Brakes: 22; Structure:Body: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Air Bags: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 137 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 45 |
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 | 16 |
2018: 15; 2019: 21; 2020: 10; 2021: 10; 2022: 15; 2023: 45; 2024: 40; 2025: 29; 2026: 16
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 11088565 · 2018-04-17 (April 17, 2018)
SINCE WE LEASED THIS CAR LAST YEAR IN APRIL, WE HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE PRE-SENSE PREMATURELY GOING OFF IN THE LATE SETTING ( AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO PREVENT REAR COLLISIONS. THERE HAVE MANY TIMES WHERE MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND EVEN IN THE LATE SETTING IT PICKED UP VEHICLES FROM THE OPPOSITE LANE AND ABRUPTLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, SCARING MY WIFE. ONE OF THESE TIMES WHEN IT DID THIS, IT CAME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO WHERE BY THE TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL , ENGAGING IT IN DRIVE SHE WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE BA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11088565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102227 · 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND I WAS INTENDING TO TURN LEFT AT A SIGNAL LIGHT. WHEN THE SIGNAL CHANGED FOR ME TO PROCEED I ACCELERATED INTO MY LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED ON ITS OWN AND PULLED ME BACK INTO THE SEAT. THE AUDI SENSE INDICATOR CAME ON BEING ACTIVATED AS IF IT SENSED I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE TURNING LEFT AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME NOR ANY OTHER VEHICLES OPPOSITE OF MY LANE OF TRAVEL SO THERE WERE NO VEHICLES ANYWHERE NEAR MY VICINITY THAT SHOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11416186 · 2021-05-11 (May 11, 2021)
I WAS ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND I GOT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS. THE BRAKING/STOP START SYSTEM, LIGHTS AND A FEW OTHER LIT UP. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WATER (RAIN) GOT IN THROUGH MY SUNROOF AND SHORTED MY SYSTEM (WARRANTY WON'T COVER). THERE ARE SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS RE. THIS ISSUE ALREADY AND AUDI KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S NO RECALL AND CARS HAVE STOPPED SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440144 · 2021-11-11 (November 11, 2021)
Panoramic sunroof leaked water into the car's electrical system during a rainstorm (despite being closed tight), resulting in a total failure of the car's electrical system, potentially a catastrophic occurrence. Fortunately the electrical failure happened when the car was stationary.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076013 · 2018-03-02 (March 2, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO, TRANSMISSION, AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT, AND WITH LIMITED STEERING WAS ABLE TO PULL TO ROADSIDE BARELY MISSING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC. EXPRESSWAY ROADSIDE IS NARROW, SO WAS NEARLY HIT BY MANY CARS WHILE WAITING FOR TOW SERVICE. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WITH FULL ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, NO ABILITY TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL. AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE DID NOT PROVIDE TIMELY TOW SERVICE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083569 · 2018-04-06 (April 6, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI EAU CLAIRE (5201 FAIRVIEW DR, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11588755 · 2024-05-14 (May 14, 2024)
On May 3, 2024, while driving to work, the vehicle acutely started to make a loud clicking noise in the engine compartment. I parked the vehicle and looked for a warning light indicator on the dashboard to determine the problem, but no indicator light emerged. I then called Audi Omaha and spoke with the Service Manager who kindly arranged to have my vehicle picked up and a loaner dropped off. I did ask at that time whether it was safe to have somebody drive my vehicle to Audi given the severity of the noise and I was told that since there wa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11588755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11650481 · 2025-03-25 (March 25, 2025)
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally with the message "Engine Fault Detected" displayed. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle stalled and was unable to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the connecting rod bearings, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle w…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11650481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11427158 · 2021-07-30 (July 30, 2021)
It says driver system malfunction. Day before that it says Auto Start and Stop malfunction failure. When you are the traffic light and slow down and take a turn then the car gives kinds of couple of pushes as if the It gearbox is not able to adjust the speed automatically . You need to accelerate to keep the balance of the Car. Every passenger of the car feel the same. After 2 days I started getting Driver system malfunction warning. The car is not safe to drive on highways or local road as gearbox has some issues. There is a class action laws…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11427158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415004 · 2021-05-03 (May 3, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AS THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ENGINE FAILURE - CONTACT DEALER, MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AUDI TULSA (4208 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74145) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENSOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THE FUEL TANK AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11660676 · 2025-05-13 (May 13, 2025)
Fuel pump has been recalled on other models but not mine. I have a 2018 audi q5. It had a warranty extension but the previous owner never claimed but if it would have been a recall then I wouldnt be having this problem . Now I have to replace the water pump and pay almost $2k for something that wasn't a recall.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11660676 at NHTSA ↗