2010 Audi Q5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 99 complaints (50.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 19.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 50 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 28 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
Air Bags: 50; Fuel/Propulsion System: 28; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Power Train: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 54 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 26; 2017: 21; 2018: 14; 2019: 9; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10293752 · 2009-11-28 (November 28, 2009)
TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND " JERKING". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302595 · 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)
MY BRAND NEW 2010 AUDI Q5 EXHIBITED TWO DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP IN JANUARY 2010. BOTH ISSUES WERE INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. FIRST, UPON SLOWING TO A STOP, JUST PRIOR TO COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD ON ITS OWN WITH ALMOST ENOUGH FORCE TO OVERPOWER BREAKING IF YOU DIDN'T REACT QUICKLY BY APPLYING MORE BREAK PRESSURE. SECONDLY, THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE A LAG IN ENGAGING GEARS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR NEAR STOP. MY WIFE ALMOST GOT IN AN AC…
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324399 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
I HAVE A HESITATION/LACK-OF-ACCELERATION WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP OR FROM LOW SPEEDS. ESSENTIALLY, I'M EITHER MOVING VERY SLOWLY OR I HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION TO CHANGE GEARS, AND THEN THE CAR 'TAKES OFF'. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND (I.E. I CAN'T SIMPLY ACCELERATE 'NORMALLY'). IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING ON TO A HIGHWAY OR OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR SHOPPING CENTER AND ONTO A BUSY ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329087 · 2010-05-06 (May 6, 2010)
CAR SOMETIMES HAS A HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST AND A HARD UP SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. IT MAKES A CLUNK NOISE AND CAUSES TO CAR TO JERK AND OR LUNGE. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE AND I THINK I WAS SOLD THIS AUTO WITHOUT DISCLOSURE OF AN KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 218 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10366212 · 2010-11-14 (November 14, 2010)
VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES (APPROX 30 DEGREES F). STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS NO LONGER BLOWING HOT AIR INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, AND SOON THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT FLASHED. I PULLED OVER QUICKLY, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THERE WAS COOLANT SPREAD THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE BAY DUE TO THE WATER PUMP FAILING. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10366974 · 2010-11-20 (November 20, 2010)
2010 AUDI Q5 WITH CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE RESULTING IN THE EPC SYSTEM ENGAGING WHICH PUTS THE VEHICLE IN SAFE-MODE. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR FIXED NOTHING. AUDI DID NOT ALLOW THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE FAILED SENSOR ON THE FIRST REPAIR VISIT, RATHER THEY INSTEAD SWAP LIKE-SENSORS AROUND, THE SEEMING EQUIVALENT OF RE-ARRANGING A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB. IT IS QUITE FRIGHTENING WHEN THE EPC SYSTEM DEPLOYS, AND A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH FROM AUDI ON DEALING WITH THIS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM SHOULD BE MANDATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368429 · 2010-11-30 (November 30, 2010)
MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ITS COOLANT FLUID WITH ABOUT 15000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371227 · 2010-12-19 (December 19, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. PULLED OVER AND FOUND COOLANT ALL OVER THE ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371227 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V078000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V660000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2016-09-13 (September 13, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V082000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V818000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2018-11-19 (November 19, 2018)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
Consequence: The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.
NHTSA campaign record ↗