2013 Audi S5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 16 complaints (62.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 62.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 10 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Power Train: 10; Engine: 3; Steering: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10558045 · 2013-12-31 (December 31, 2013)
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND A MESSAGE CAME UP "STEERING DEFECTIVE. DO NOT DRIVE". THE DEALER PICKED UP THE CAR AND AFTER RESEARCHING INFORMED ME THE POWER STEERING MODULE HAD FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THEY NEED TO ORDER PARTS FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS. TODAY IS THE START OF THE 3RD WEEK AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10562801 · 2014-02-03 (February 3, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS RESISTANCE AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION IN THE STEERING. THIS RESISTANCE CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THE 'NOTCH' FEELING IN THEN ELECTRIC STEERING TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11112801 · 2018-07-21 (July 21, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND FELT JERKY MOVEMENTS I HAD TO PULL OVER. OBVIOUSLY I HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND GEARBOX MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. THE PROBLEM TURNS OUT TO BE A MECHATRONIC ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE THERE'S A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT TSB NUMBER IS 10054213-2278. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO OPEN A CASE WITH AUDI USA. MY CASE GOT DENIED BECAUSE THEY STATED THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE VEHICLE MODEL. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WARRANTY PART BUT TO SAY THAT IS NOT A KNOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151115 · 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
AFTER ~106,000 MILES, AN ERROR CODE 'TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. YOU CAN KEEP DRIVING', WITH ERROR CODE P179D00 (PER DEALER). CAR HAS HESTITATION AT LOW RPM OR WHILE STOPPED (AS AT A LIGHT OR HEAVY TRAFFIC) AND OCCASIONALLY JERKS FORWARD, DESPITE BRAKES BEING FIRMLY APPLIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184369 · 2019-03-05 (March 5, 2019)
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITH EITHER WATER INFILTRATION INTO THE CONTROLLER, OR WITH SEVERE COLD WEATHER. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY AUDI USA BY THEY ARE REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IN MN IN THE MONTH OF 2/2019 3 AUDI DEALERS EACH TOLD ME THAT THEY EACH REPLACED 20+ STEERING RACKS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE CAUSE THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING TO FAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE ALL POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING YOUR POWER STEERING TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SERVICE ADVISER …
Owner-reported narrative. 93,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203344 · 2019-04-24 (April 24, 2019)
VEHICLE IS THROWING TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES, SHIFTING AS IF THE TRANS IS IN LIMP MODE, WHEN STOPPED AND THEN GOING, THE TRANS BOGS, AS WELL AS BETWEEN SHIFTS. DOESN'T GO INTO MANUAL MODE EITHER FOR THE DSG TRANS MY CAR HAS. A SHOP SAID THE METATRONIC UNIT NEEDS REPLACEMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203350 · 2019-04-24 (April 24, 2019)
TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE POPPED UP. TRANS BOGS WHEN TRYING TO START, ALMOST IN A LIMP MODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CODE COMES ON AND OFF SOMETIMES, AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO GO INTO MANUAL MODE. THE TRANS IS A DSG, AND IS ACTING VERY WEIRD. MECHATRONIC WAS TOLD TO BE REPLACED BY A EUROPEAN AUTO SHOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11235288 · 2019-07-27 (July 27, 2019)
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A P…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11235288 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.