2018 Audi SQ5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
4,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 24 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 29.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Electrical System: 8; Engine: 6; Power Train: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 2; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 11025105 · 2017-09-22 (September 22, 2017)
THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WITH THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN AND WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE DOWN A SMALL INCLINED DRIVEWAY, CROSSED THE STREET, AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED BACK INTO THE STREET AND STOPPED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI SOUTH COAST (1425 AU…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11119449 · 2018-08-12 (August 12, 2018)
BACKUP CAMERA DEFAULTS TO A BLACK GRAPHIC VIEW IN STEAD OF CAMERA. ALMOST IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AS I HAD TO SWITCH TO CAMERA AFTER EVERY START WHILE BACKING UP IN PARKING LOTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11119461 · 2018-08-12 (August 12, 2018)
AUDI'S MMI HAS A PARKING AID WHICH INCLUDES A 360 DEGREE TOP VIEW MODE. TOP VIEW MODE REVERTS TO "GRAPHIC VIEW" WITH EACH RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. TOP VIEW MODE SHOULD KEEP THE USER'S LAST SETTING WHICH IN MY CASE IS "CAMERA VIEW." CAMERA VIEW IS SAFER BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OBSTACLES RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CAR (E.G. CHILDREN) WHICH SENSORS COULD MISS. TO SWITCH TO CAMERA VIEW, THE DRIVER NEEDS TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD AND CLICK THROUGH THE MMI MENUS. IF PARKING WITH TRAFFIC, THIS IS A DISTRACTION AND ALSO NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140632 · 2018-10-16 (October 16, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI SQ5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (BELL AUDI, 782 US1, EDISON, NJ) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11266202 · 2019-10-04 (October 4, 2019)
I PURCHASED MY 2018 AUDI SQ5 BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2018. I BELIEVE THE PIRELLI TIRES THAT WERE PUT ON THE CAR DURING PRODUCATION ARE DEFECTIVE. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES CAME APART; THE NOISE CANCELLATION PADS CAME APART IN THE TIRE AND HAVE ROLLED UP. THEY WERE CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE WHEN I WOULD GO OVER 50+ MPH. THESE WERE UNSAFE TIRES TO BE DRIVING ON. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU INCASE YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THESE TIRES YET. THEY ARE UNSAFE TIRES TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. THE DOT NUMBER ON THESE PZ4 TIRES…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11266202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11269311 · 2019-10-18 (October 18, 2019)
I WAS STOPPED IN A DESIGNATED LEFT TURN LANE WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. AS THE LAST CAR WAS PASSING ME GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND MAKE MY LEFT TURN. THE AUDI PRE-SENSE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. SO NOW I'M IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH MY CAR TEMPORARILY DISABLED. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IF I HAD HAD MY DOG IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS, MY WIFE, FOR 48 AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11269311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353852 · 2020-09-08 (September 8, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING, THE 'STEERING MALFUNCTION' WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING SAID THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. ON THE SAME DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ASKEW AND WAS NO LONGER ALIGNED. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN IN JULY 2020. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 7/23/20. ON 9/5/20, THE SAME 'STEERING MALFUNCTION' WARNING LIGHT LIT UP. IT IS BACK WITH THE DEALER AS IF 9/8/20.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11404184 · 2021-03-22 (March 22, 2021)
MY CAR KEEPS SAYING PLEASE REDUCE OIL LEVEL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11404184 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.
18V369000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V277000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V416000 · Wheels:Hub
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V737000 · Structure:Body
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V947000 · Structure:Body | Electrical System:Body Control Module/Bcm
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗