2018 Audi S5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
4,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 26 complaints (34.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.8% |
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 | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Engine: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Electrical System: 2; Parking Brake: 2; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 |
2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 6
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 11194999 · 2019-04-09 (April 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARBOX AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI GREENWICH (181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11324352 · 2020-05-13 (May 13, 2020)
THE CAR'S OVERALL ELECTRONIC RELIABILITY AND SAFETY ARE HUGE AREAS OF CONCERN. REARVIEW CAMERA AND SENSORS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPERATE WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION BUT IT WILL BLACK OUT WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO REVERSE AND AVOID ANY OBJECTS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HIGH-FOOT TRAFFIC AREA LIKE SHOPPING MALL. IN ADDITION, THE CAR'S LANE ASSISTANCE MECHANISM IS NOT ACCURATE AT TIMES AND COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SENSOR SOMETIMES WILL MIS-DETECT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289072 · 2019-12-14 (December 14, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING ON A BIG HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 75MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN FOR NO REASON I GET A BIG PRESENSE WARNING FLASH ON MY CONSOLE, THEN A TRANSMISSION ERROR, THEN TIRE PRESSURE ERROR, THEN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ALL IN A ROW AND MY CAR JUST TOTALLY SHUTS OFF AND I HAD TO COAST OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. I'M HONESTLY JUST SHOCKED I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT BY SOMEONE. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT SEEMS TO BE OKAY OTHER THAN THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MIL LIGHT IS STILL ON. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER SEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164757 · 2019-01-03 (January 3, 2019)
MAXIMUM OIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT, REDUCE OIL LEVEL, SINCE PURCHASED. GASOLINE GETTING INTO OIL. REMOVED 9 QUARTS OF GASOLINE SATURATED OIL OUT OF CAR. AUDI SAYS I NEED TO DRIVE CAR MORE. AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED OIL & FILTER AND SAID TO MONITOR . DROVE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE, WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, CHECKED ENGINE WITH AFTER MARKET OIL DIP STICK, STONE SMELL OF GAS IN OIL. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11164757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11699716 · 2025-11-16 (November 16, 2025)
VEHICLE Year: 2018 Make: Audi Model: S5 Prestige Trim: 3.0 TFSI (EA839 V6 Turbo) Mileage: 86,000 Engine Code: CWGD COMPLAINT TITLE Latent Engine Failure – EA839 Piston Skirt + Rocker Arm Defects – Dealer Broke Engine Cover, Left Wiring Harness Dangling – Audi Denies Despite Having DIY Receipts For Maintenance DESCRIPTION At 86,000 miles, my 2018 Audi S5 Prestige suffered internal engine failure from metal debris and cylinder wall scoring. Dealer borescope showed: Metal in oil filter (bearing + non-ferrous “other metal”) Deep scoring on mul…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11699716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11703772 · 2025-12-08 (December 8, 2025)
Component/System: Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) / Airbag system , Recall 74E3 / NHTSA 21V874. What Happened: The passenger airbag may switch off even when the seat is occupied due to a faulty PODS wiring connection. The warning message “Passenger Airbag Off” appears with a chime. This is an active safety recall that was issued before I purchased the vehicle, but the recall was not disclosed at the time of sale. Safety Risk: If the system shuts off the airbag incorrectly, the passenger may have no airbag protection in a crash, cre…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11703772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474677 · 2022-07-19 (July 19, 2022)
The lever that locks and unlocks the steering column for proper driving position fell off. The single bolt holding the lever fell out followed by the lever. This occurred when the driver utilized the lever to reposition the steering wheel. The steering wheel was not locked into position when the lever fell off, so the steering wheel was subject to movement while driving.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11474677 at NHTSA ↗