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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Audi Q5: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

77 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

36,244 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 77 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1215.6%
Braking behavior911.7%
Fuel system concerns56.5%
Transmission and shifting22.6%
Engine operation22.6%
Electrical and battery issues11.3%

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.

Engine
26
Unknown Or Other
11
Electrical System
10
Steering
10
Fuel/Propulsion System
9
Air Bags
5
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Service Brakes
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine26
Unknown Or Other11
Electrical System10
Steering10
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Air Bags5
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Service Brakes4

Engine: 26; Unknown Or Other: 11; Electrical System: 10; Steering: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Service Brakes: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 53 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.

2015
1
2016
5
2017
1
2018
11
2019
7
2020
6
2021
3
2022
8
2023
15
2024
6
2025
7
2026
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20151
20165
20171
201811
20197
20206
20213
20228
202315
20246
20257
20267

2015: 1; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 11; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 8; 2023: 15; 2024: 6; 2025: 7; 2026: 7

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10794647 · 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)

WHEN STARTING NEW 2016 Q5 PREMIUM PLUS, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT REAR HATCH IS OPEN, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION AND DOOR LOCK SIGNAL NOT TO SOUND. DEALER REPLACED REAR HATCH LATCH AND COMFORT CONTROL UNIT J393, AFTER THE THIRD VISIT TO THEM FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794647 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10836266 · 2016-02-15 (February 15, 2016)

THE MIRRORS ON MY AUDI Q5 ARE TOO HIGH AND BIG. THEY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCT MY VIEW WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. I EITHER HAVE TO LOOK BELOW OR ABOVE THEM SOMEHOW TO SEE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/11/2016. I STOPPED AT 4 WAY STOP AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT. I HIT A SMALL SPORTS CAR THAT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED FROM MY VIEW. DID NOT SEE THE CAR UNTIL HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE TO BRAKE AND I HIT HIM. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE CAR FROM BEING SEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836266 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10882324 · 2016-07-03 (July 3, 2016)

"TAKATA RECALL" AND VISIBILITY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 6/30 DRIVING 2016 AUDI Q5 TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. BEFORE MAKING THE TURN I ENSURED NO ONE WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I HAD A SOLID GREEN LIGHT. WHEN I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THEN SUDDENLY A CAR FROM NO WHERE CAME AND HIT MY CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN A SPEED OF AT LEAST 45 MPH. MY CAR WAS DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL METERS AND FINALLY STOPPED ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT PART IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DE…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10915100 · 2016-10-10 (October 10, 2016)

SIDE MIRRORS TOTALLY BLOCK VISION AT CERTAIN ANGLES. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A DOWNTOWN STREET. LIGHT CHANGED AND I MADE A LEFT TURN AND CRASHED RIGHT INTO A CAR THAT WAS TOTALLY BLOCKED FROM VIEW BY THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. IT SEEMS I WAS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LANE LINE, WHICH I COULDN'T SEE EITHER UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF MY CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS BEING UNABLE TO SEE LANE LINES AND ON COMING CARS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS OVER $10,000. I AM …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10915100 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10916059 · 2016-10-14 (October 14, 2016)

ON AUGUST 11, 2016 I PURCHASED FROM AUDI TYSONS CORNER, LOCATED AT 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA 22182, A 2016 AUDI QUATTRO FOR $42,040.00 [EXHIBIT F]. I TRADED IN MY 2007 BMW X3 [EXHIBIT I] FOR $5,000 (I SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO AUDI TYSONS CORNER ON SAME DATE) WITH A REMAINING BALANCE FOR THE AUDI TO BE PAID IN CASH $39,425.92; WHICH I PAID IN FULL BY PERSONAL CHECK ON SAME DATE [EXHIBIT E]. THE AUDI HAD 10,376 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE [EXHIBIT H] AND LO JACK [EXHIBIT G]. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916059 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10926196 · 2016-11-15 (November 15, 2016)

I HAVE A 2016 AUDI Q5 AND RECENTLY WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS SINGLE-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND MOVED MY FOOT TO BRAKE WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD OVER A COUPLE OF BOULDERS THROUGH THE TREES FLIPPING ONCE AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. I, MIRACULOUSLY, CAME OUT OF THE INCIDENT UNSCATHED. THREE WEEKS EARLIER MY BROTHER-IN-LAW BORROWED MY CAR AND SAID I SHOULD HAVE THE CAR CHECKED BECAUSE IT SURGED FORWARD ON HIM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN HE WENT TO BRAKE. I DISMISSED HIS COMMENTS, THINKING HE WAS NOT USED TO MY CAR. TURNS OUT…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926196 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10939122 · 2017-01-02 (January 2, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL: THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLAINT NO. 10939120 I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND OPERATED IN FLORIDA FROM APPROXIMATELY 3/15/2010 UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 8/15/2012. IT WAS, THEREFORE EXPOSED TO TYPE A HEAT AND HUMIDITY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS SUCH EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOW OPERATED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLANT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN FLORIDA CANNOT BE RULED OUT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10939122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11101816 · 2018-06-14 (June 14, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI GREENVILLE, 200 DUVALL DR., GREENVILLE, SC 29607, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11101816 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

17V001000 · Air Bags:Side/Window | Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

Reported: 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V002000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Reported: 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.

Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V298000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2017-05-03 (May 3, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that 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 replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V622000 · Electrical System:Wiring

Reported: 2017-10-05 (October 5, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.

Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V229000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Reported: 2018-04-11 (April 11, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

NHTSA campaign record ↗