2018 Audi A5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
7,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
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 | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Engine: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Air Bags: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Power Train: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 10; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 11000302 · 2017-06-20 (June 20, 2017)
CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND TIGHT TO THE CURB. SOMEHOW THE CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE TOOK PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR SHOWING BOTH THE IN PARK LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. THERE IS NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 360 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032604 · 2017-10-09 (October 9, 2017)
VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078576 · 2018-03-11 (March 11, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET (APPROX. 4500 MILES) ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION WHEN DRIVING THIS MORNING HEADED INTO THE RISING SUN. AS THE SUN SHIFTED FROM IN FRONT OF ME TO MY LEFT SIDE, I RELEASED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE CLIP AND MOVED IT TO THE LEFT SIDE TO BLOCK THE SUN. THE ARM OF THE SUN VISOR, ATTACHED TO THE CAR JUST ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD, BROKE AWAY FROM THAT ATTACHMENT AND FELL INTO MY LAP (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO P3110021). THIS LEFT ME WITH NO PROTECTION FROM THE INTENSE SUNLIGHT…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120661 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
TOP VIEW CAMERA CHANGING TO GRAPHIC MODE ON ITS OWN. (1) THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DUE TO THE DISTRACTING NATURE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE STATE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA, THE COGNITIVELY COMPLEX AND DISTRACTING STEPS NEEDED TO CHANGE TO CAMERA VIEW WHILE BACKING UP, AND THE SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY NOT HAVING THE CAMERAS WORK PROPERLY; (2) THIS AFFECTS NEARLY EVERY AUDI WITH THIS OPTION SOLD IN THE 2018 MODEL YEAR; AND (3) AUDI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS SAFETY ISSUE BUT HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY SOLUTION FOR OVER A YEAR -- AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130023 · 2018-09-17 (September 17, 2018)
CLICKING AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288922 · 2019-12-13 (December 13, 2019)
AUDI PRE SENSE, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AUDI USES FOR PREDICTIVE SAFETY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL AUDI PRE SENSE BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUDI PRE SENSE IN MY VEHICLE WILL ABRUPTLY & VIOLENTLY COME TO A FULL STOP, WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 405 HIGHWAY HEADING NORTH ON OCTOBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR NO DRIVERS ANYWHERE IN MY VICINITY. THE ROAD WERE WET FROM HEAVY RAINFALL EARLIER IN THE EVENING. THE CAR COMES …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288926 · 2019-12-13 (December 13, 2019)
AUDI PRE SENSE, IS THE TECHNOLOGY AUDI USES FOR PREDICTIVE SAFETY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL AUDI PRE SENSE BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUDI PRE SENSE IN MY VEHICLE WILL ABRUPTLY & VIOLENTLY COME TO A FULL STOP, WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 405 HIGHWAY HEADING NORTH ON SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 24TH ST IN REDMOND, HEADING NORTH ON NOVEMBER 27TH AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 33 MPH..THE ROADS WERE CLEAR NO DRIVERS ANYWHERE IN MY VICINITY. THE ROAD W…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319824 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT SECTION OF I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH, MY 2 YEAR OLD 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIO'S DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY BROKE OFF AT ITS BASE AND LANDED WITH FORCE ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I'D MOVED THE VISOR INTO THE UP POSITION, FLUSH WITH THE FRAME, AND IN DOING SO, THE VISOR BROKE OFF AT THE BASE. I HAD NOT, NOR HAD I EVER, MOVED THE VISOR WITH A LOT OF FORCE. EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, THE VISOR HAD ALWAYS BEEN TOO TIGHT, TOO SHORT, AND DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE RESULTANT DISTRACTION OF A HEAVY VISOR DROPPING ONTO MY STEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,809 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319824 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V675000 · Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
Reported: 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Consequence: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V822000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2017-12-20 (December 20, 2017)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69T7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V836000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-11-27 (November 27, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V893000 · Suspension:Front
Reported: 2018-12-17 (December 17, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
Consequence: A loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40O2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V547000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2019-07-24 (July 24, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V874000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Seats
Reported: 2021-11-10 (November 10, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
NHTSA campaign record ↗