2018 Audi Q5: complaints, problems and recalls

MY VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY FEATURE CALLED AUDI PRESENCE. MY NEW VEHICLE Q5 PRESTIGE (LESS THAN 150 MILES, JUST 6 DAYS OLD) HAD MALFUNCTIONED WITH AN UNEXPECTED AUTOMATIC BREAK ON JAN 17TH 2018 AT AROUND 7:29PM CENTRAL TIME WHILE ON SERVICE ROAD OF HIGHWAY 114 GOING TOWARDS WEST (STRAIGHT ROAD IN MOTION) BEFORE REACHING THE INTERSECTION OF FREEPORT IN IRVING, TX. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE STREET THAT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AS AN OBJECT THAT WOULD CAUSE A COLLISION OR ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE SUDDEN BREAK REALLY CAUSED A MENTAL SHOCK TO ME. I WAS LUCK…

Owner-reported narrative. 140 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064060 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO, TRANSMISSION, AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR HAD NO EFFECT, AND WITH LIMITED STEERING WAS ABLE TO PULL TO ROADSIDE BARELY MISSING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC. EXPRESSWAY ROADSIDE IS NARROW, SO WAS NEARLY HIT BY MANY CARS WHILE WAITING FOR TOW SERVICE. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WITH FULL ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, NO ABILITY TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL. AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE DID NOT PROVIDE TIMELY TOW SERVICE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076013 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 4/21/2017, I WAS SOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ON THE ADVERTISED SAFETY FEATURE CALLED THE AUDI PRE SENSE. AUDI PRE SENSE DETECTS COLLISION HAZARDS ALL AROUND THE CAR AND INITIATES SPECIFIC PREVENTIVE MEASURES. ON 1/20/2018 AT 9AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 10-15 MPH, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS DRIVING OFF FROM THE INTERSECTION DUE TO THE GLARE IN MY EYES I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A CEMENT PILLAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR COLLIDED AND THERE THE ENTIRE FRONT WAS SMASHED I…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076352 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI EAU CLAIRE (5201 FAIRVIEW DR, EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083569 at NHTSA ↗

SINCE WE LEASED THIS CAR LAST YEAR IN APRIL, WE HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE PRE-SENSE PREMATURELY GOING OFF IN THE LATE SETTING ( AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO PREVENT REAR COLLISIONS. THERE HAVE MANY TIMES WHERE MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND EVEN IN THE LATE SETTING IT PICKED UP VEHICLES FROM THE OPPOSITE LANE AND ABRUPTLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, SCARING MY WIFE. ONE OF THESE TIMES WHEN IT DID THIS, IT CAME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO WHERE BY THE TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL , ENGAGING IT IN DRIVE SHE WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE BA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11088565 at NHTSA ↗

I AM WRITING TO FORMALLY REPORT AN INCIDENT OF CONCERN. I PARKED MY AUDI Q5 IN MY DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY, LEAVING MY (VERY MINIMAL, NO METAL, JUST FLANNEL) POCKETBOOK IN THE CAR WITH THE AUDI FOB. IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I BROUGHT MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 4 DOWN TO THE CAR AND STRAPPED HER IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE CAR LOCKED UP. IT STAYED LOCKED. NONE OF THE DOORS OR THE HATCHBACK WOULD OPEN. THE KEYS WERE INSIDE. FORTUNATELY, MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS 4 AND CAN UNDERSTAND COMMANDS. S…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088963 at NHTSA ↗

HEY, IM CARMEN, IM GERMAN AND I M DIPLOMATIC, I WORK AT THE PERMANENT MISSION OF GERMANY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TILL MARCH 2019. MY QUESTION IS, I WANT TO BRING A AUDI Q5 , BRAND NEW MODEL , A GERMAN MODEL, FROM GERMANY TO NEW YORK. AND AFTE MY JOB IN 2019, I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO GERMANY. IS THERE ANY PROBLEM?? MUST I CHANGE ANY STUFF BECAUSE OF OTHER SAFETY RULES OR SOMETHING? OTHER LIGHTS, MILES PER HOUR, ELECTRICITY?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11092612 at NHTSA ↗

2018 AUDI Q5 PRESTIGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE HEADS UP DISPLAY FUNCTION ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SUN REACHED A CERTAIN ANGLE, A WHITE SOLID REFLECTION BOX APPEARS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CREATED A VISIBILITY ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11096268 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-12-29 (December 29, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.

Reported: 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Consequence: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.

Reported: 2019-06-05 (June 5, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.

Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.

Reported: 2019-10-16 (October 16, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.

Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.

Reported: 2021-12-08 (December 8, 2021)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.

Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.