What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Audi Q5

No clear pattern

20.9% of complaints about the 2021 Audi Q5 arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2021 vehicle, but with only 110 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is electrical system (26 complaints), typically at 2.1 yr or about 20,000 miles.

Complaints
110
Median age at failure
2.8 yr
Median mileage
9,000 n=19
Crash / fire / tow
11.8% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
26 reports · 20,000 mi
2.1 yr
7.7%
Engine
17 reports · 9,000 mi
2.4 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

25V080000 2025-02-12
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.

A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

23V842000 2023-12-13
Electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:onboard

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat.

An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.

22V753000 2022-10-07
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.

A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.

22V742000 2022-10-05
Back over prevention:display function

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to compl

A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

22V034000 2022-01-26
Tires

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V947000 2021-12-08
Electrical system:body control module/bcm

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.

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

21V606000 2021-08-05
Seat belts:rear/other:retractor

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fa

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

21V295000 2021-04-26
Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.

A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 600 mi 3 mo in service
Q5 HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, THAT IS, THERE IS A GATEWAY MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT CUSHION/CUP HOLDER. ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TO ALL THE CONTROLLERS GO THROUGH THIS LITTLE BOX. IF WATER SPILLS, IT COLLECTS AROUND THE GATEWAY AND CORRODES IT, WHICH WILL SHUT DOWN THE CAR. THIS SHUTDOWN OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY. LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, EVERYTHING. BARELY COASTED OUT OF THE ROADWAY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW TO LOCATE THIS SENSITIVE MODULE UNDERNEATH REAR CUP HOLDERS AND WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE CAR.
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service
Vehicle control module failed while driving. All car functions failed. Had a difficult time pulling off the road safely. Car towed to dealer. Found the module wet. However area around module was dry. They don’t know where the water is coming from. Audi is aware of the issue and is replacing the part free of charge. If we were on a highway when the module failed it could have been disastrous.
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service
While driving on the road, multiple warning and error messages suddenly appeared on dashboard. Entire car shut down in very short time left no time for driver to safely pull over. The car cannot move in the middle of the road and put the driver, passengers and surrounding vehicles at risk. The car was towed to a dealer and they confirmed the gate way module under rear seat is wet and shorted.
Engine 600 mi 3 mo in service
Q5 HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, THAT IS, THERE IS A GATEWAY MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT CUSHION/CUP HOLDER. ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TO ALL THE CONTROLLERS GO THROUGH THIS LITTLE BOX. IF WATER SPILLS, IT COLLECTS AROUND THE GATEWAY AND CORRODES IT, WHICH WILL SHUT DOWN THE CAR. THIS SHUTDOWN OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY. LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, EVERYTHING. BARELY COASTED OUT OF THE ROADWAY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW TO LOCATE THIS SENSITIVE MODULE UNDERNEATH REAR CUP HOLDERS AND WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE CAR.

Other Q5 model years

20252024202320212018201720162015201420132012201120102009

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