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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Audi S5: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

26 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

4,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 26 complaints (34.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior311.5%
Transmission and shifting27.7%
Engine operation27.7%
Electrical and battery issues27.7%
Steering behavior13.8%

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
9
Unknown Or Other
8
Air Bags
3
Visibility/Wiper
3
Electrical System
2
Parking Brake
2
Power Train
2
Seat Belts
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine9
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags3
Visibility/Wiper3
Electrical System2
Parking Brake2
Power Train2
Seat Belts2

Engine: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Electrical System: 2; Parking Brake: 2; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 18 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.

2018
5
2019
5
2020
1
2022
2
2023
4
2024
3
2025
6
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20185
20195
20201
20222
20234
20243
20256

2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 6

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 11067158 · 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)

FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM (PRE SENSE CITY) DID NOT WORK TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A CAR THAT WAS STATIONARY. NO WARNING OR ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE CAR. POLICE REPORT ATTACHED.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11084352 · 2018-04-10 (April 10, 2018)

THE SUNROOF ON MY BRAND NEW 2018 AUDI S5 EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE PIECES OF GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF DAMAGED THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK-LID AS THEY BLEW BACK DURING THE INCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084352 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11119453 · 2018-08-12 (August 12, 2018)

MY CAR HAS A "TOP VIEW" REAR CAMERA SYSTEM TO AID IN REVERSING. THIS SYSTEM FAILS AND IS IN AN UNPREDICTABLE STATE ON THE SCREEN EVERY TIME I REVERSE, NOT SHOWING THE VIEW AROUND MY CAR. THIS IS DISTRACTING, AND LEADS TO PROBLEMS IN TRYING TO SWITCH MY TOP-VIEW CAMERA ON (IT REQUIRES A COMPLEX SERIES OF 8 BUTTON PRESSES WHILE IN REVERSE!) WHILE BACKING UP. I HAVE NEARLY HIT OBJECTS AND PEDESTRIANS DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT, AND IT DIMINISHES MY ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE MY VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REVERSING. THIS SAME DEFECT AFFECTS ALL AUDI MODELS …

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11119956 · 2018-08-14 (August 14, 2018)

MY S5 SPORTBACK'S TOP VIEW CAMERA DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. IT REVERTS BACK TO "GRAPHIC" MODE EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. "GRAPHIC" MODE IS SIMPLY A BLACK SCREEN WITH A CARTOON CAR IN THE MIDDLE, AS OPPOSED TO THE ACTUAL "CAMERA" MODE THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT SURROUNDS YOUR VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DUE TO THE DISTRACTING NATURE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE STATE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA, AS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF BUTTON PRESSES TO GET THE CAMERA VIEW, WHICH MIGHT BE DANGEROUS IN A REAL-LIFE SETTING. THIS AFFECTS NEAR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11119956 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11122842 · 2018-08-27 (August 27, 2018)

BANG AND OLFISEN SYSTEM SPEAKERS RATTLES A LOT AT VOLUME OVER 50 PERCENT AND SOUNDS VERY DISTORTED AT LOUDER VOLUMES SYSTEM ONLY PLAYS WELL AT 50 PERCENT AND LOWER VOLUME

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11122842 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11164757 · 2019-01-03 (January 3, 2019)

MAXIMUM OIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT, REDUCE OIL LEVEL, SINCE PURCHASED. GASOLINE GETTING INTO OIL. REMOVED 9 QUARTS OF GASOLINE SATURATED OIL OUT OF CAR. AUDI SAYS I NEED TO DRIVE CAR MORE. AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED OIL & FILTER AND SAID TO MONITOR . DROVE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE, WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, CHECKED ENGINE WITH AFTER MARKET OIL DIP STICK, STONE SMELL OF GAS IN OIL. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11164757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11194999 · 2019-04-09 (April 9, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARBOX AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI GREENWICH (181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMA…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194999 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11251967 · 2019-08-28 (August 28, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDED EVEN WITH THE SEAT BELT ENGAGED AND IN USE. THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AUDI BIRMINGHAM MICHIGAN (34602 WOODWARD AVE, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009, [phone removed]) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,300.

Owner-reported narrative. 36,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11251967 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

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 ↗