2009 Audi A5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 18.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Structure:Body: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10300371 · 2010-01-19 (January 19, 2010)
THE WATER PUMP BROKE CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE "STOP ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT SOME WATER IN THE EMPTY COOLANT TANK - BUT ALL OF THE LIQUID LEAKED THROUGH. STEAM WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT I PUT WATER IN THE COOLANT TANK AND DRIVE TO THE FACILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (IT WAS ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY.) THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED WATER PUMP, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK DUE TO THE PRESSURE. APPARENTLY FIVE OTHER VEHICLES (AUDI A5 AND Q5)…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376784 · 2011-01-15 (January 15, 2011)
OCTOBER 2010 SEVERE WOBBLING OF STEERING WHEEL, AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINT WITH DEALER THEY HAVE TO CARRY OUT FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT TOOK 3 ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY. THIS SAME COMPLAINT HAS NOW STARTED AGAIN ALTHOUGH ONLY A PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY AUDI DEALER AND WHEEL CAMBER APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WOULD NOT RECTIFY FAULT UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS IS ACCORDING TO THEM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE, I HAVE DONE 2.5K MILES SINCE ALL 4 WHEELS WERE DONE AND I HAVE NOT HIT OR DAMAGED MY WHEELS ALIGNM…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380268 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ENGINE SURGE WHEN STARTING COLD (HEATED GARAGE 45) AND MOVING APPROX 50 TO 75 FEET. THE RPM SURGES FROM 500 TO 1800RPM SEVERAL TIMES AND WILL OCCASIONALLY DIE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH VARIOUS BRANDS OF PREMIUM FUEL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE ADDED A FUEL CONDITIONER, REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE STILL SURGES AT VARIOUS TIMES. IT HAS DIED AFTER LEAVING AN ON STREET PARKING SPOT IN TRAFFIC. IT DOES NOT SURGE ON SUBSEQUENT STARTS WITHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637342 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)
AUDI A5 3.0L DIESEL QUATTRO EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY HAD JUST COME TO A HALT. ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART. TURNS OUT THE FAILURE OF MAIN THE MAIN DIESEL PUMP DESTROYED ENTIRE FUEL LINE SYSTEM! AUDI QUOTED 13,000K REPLACEMENT COST TO CHANGE ALL 3 PUMPS, ALL 6 INJECTORS AND CLEAN FUEL TANK! I AM SHOCKED. AUDI DEALER SAID QUITE A FEW CASES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644665 · 2014-10-14 (October 14, 2014)
WATER PUMP COOLANT CAMPAIGN MY AUTO BODY SHOP SAID MY CAR IS LEAKING COOLANT AND THERES A CAMPAIGN OUT ON THE WATER PUMP. I'M ASKING IF YOU COULD PUSH THE CAMPAIGN THROUGH AND RECALL THE WATER PUMPS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS I'M AFRAID MY CAR WILL BREAK DOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10644665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644971 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
AFTER LETTING MY CAR SIT FOR 8+ HOURS, EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AND PUT IT INTO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT PULLS HARD AS IF I'M PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN I'M NOT. IN ORDER TO NOT LET IT ACCELERATE, I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE QUITE HARD. THIS FINALLY GOES AWAY AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671991 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)
KEYLESS DOOR SENSORS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK VEHICLE WHEN TOUCHED. BROUGHT PROBLEM TO ATTENTION OF DEALERSHIP, WHICH STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND THEREBY REFUSED TO FIX ISSUE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THE COST HAS TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THESE KEYLESS DOOR SENSOR FAILURES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10671991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10748220 · 2015-08-12 (August 12, 2015)
AUDI A5 2009 IS NOT A RELIABLE CAR I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI PRODUCT IN MY LIFETIME. I CANT BELIEVE HOW I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE WITH THE MISFIRE ISSUE AND I FIND IN MY RESEARCH THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES FOR VARIOUS MODELS UNBELIEVABLE. HAD I SEARCH THIS PRODUCT, WOULD HAVE BEEN MY ONLY WISH. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START UP TODAY. HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 8 MONTHS. AT 45,000...
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748220 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V376000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags
Reported: 2016-05-27 (May 27, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗