2014 Audi SQ5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 41.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Steering: 3; Suspension: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 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 (5). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2019: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10568570 · 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)
RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR STEERING LOCKED, LIKE IT'S LOST POWER BOOST, WITH A MESSAGE "STEERING FAILURE". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669585 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)
WE HAVE A 2014 AUDI SQ-5 THAT SURGES INTERMITTENTLY FROM A FEATHERED THROTTLE. THIS IS A VERY STRONG FORWARD LURCH THAT MAKES THIS CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN TIGHT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OR IN A PARKING LOT OR ANY TIME YOU DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF ROOM IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS LESS THAN 1/100 FEATHERED THROTTLE SITUATIONS. WE FOUND THIS OCCURS IN A ALL POSITIONS OF DRIVE SELECT BUT LESS IN THE COMFORT SETTING. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO RECTOR AUDI ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR THIS BUT THEY FOUND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670983 · 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A TAPPING / KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER AND FASTER THEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BOOM, WHITE SMOKE PLUME AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. MEANWHILE THE SMELL OF OIL ENTERED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND IT COASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON AN EXIT RAMP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822587 · 2016-01-27 (January 27, 2016)
THIS IS MY SECOND FAILURE EVENT LOOSING STEERING ON MY 2014 SQ5. TWO YEARS AGO I POSTED THE 1ST EVENT. THE DEALER ORDERED NEW RACK AND PINION FROM GERMANY WHICH FIXED IT....TEMPORARILY. HERE TWO YEARS LATER NOW JANUARY 2016, THIS 2ND EVENT I WAS NOT DRIVING. UPON STARTING THE CAR THE DISPLAY LIT UP RED "DO NOT DRIVE STEERING FAILURE". THE AUDI FOLKS HAD FLATBED TRUCK COME. AT THIS MOMENT A 2ND NEW RACK AND PINION IS COMING FROM GERMANY. IN 2015 I RCV'D THE RECALL NOTICE AND HAD AUDI DO THE UPDATE FIRMWARE FIX. OBVIOUSLY MY 1ST REPLACED R&P PLUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10845767 · 2016-03-09 (March 9, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND TRAVELED DOWN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO OBJECT ENCOUNTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE MATERIAL WAS NOT STURDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10845767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190936 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V452000 (STEERING). WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI BEVERLY HILLS (2340 S FAIRFAX AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90016) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221899 · 2019-06-22 (June 22, 2019)
UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES DRIVING TO OR FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX, THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT STARTS AGAIN AFTER VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. THE FIRST TIME IT SHUT DOWN AT BLYTHE CALIFORNIA AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER IN RANCHO MIRAGE. DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED NO ISSUES WITH PUMP. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 6/21/2019 WHILE DRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX. IT SHUT DOWN ON THE I-17 FREEWAY (I-17 AND JEFFERSON STREET). LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE DURING AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY TO EXIT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245409 · 2019-08-21 (August 21, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V452000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245409 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V452000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2015-07-20 (July 20, 2015)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Audi SQ5 vehicles manufactured May 22, 2013, to April 14, 2015. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering assist system that may shut down in cold temperatures due to a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48M1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗