MODELYEARINDEX

Audi Q5

724 complaints across 12 scored model years and 31 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Audi Q5 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2018 vs model median 2.5×
Model median3× median
Electrical 15
Brakes 12
Driver Assist 7
Avoid

2018 · 2021

Best

2010 · 2011

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.26× 13 B
2011
0.55× 20 B
2012
0.69× 32 C
2013
1.00× 42 C
2014
1.06× 43 C
2015
0.99× 42 C
2016
1.38× 40 D
2017
0.99× 34 C
2018
2.49× 91 F
2019
1.66× 39 D
2020
0.91× 25 C
2021
2.24× 79 F
2022 P
0.99× 26 C
2023 P
2.39× 71 F
2024 P
0.72× 31 B
2025 P
2.03× 96 D

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG26
City / Highway23 / 29
Engine2L, 4 cyl
DriveAll-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,900

Recalls

31 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V078000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 659,493
17V002000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 2013–2017 342,867
18V229000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 2013–2017 342,867
21V947000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM 2018–2021 288,991
17V298000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2013–2017 240,487
17V001000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY 2011–2017 234,057
17V622000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2013–2016 216,913
19V737000 STRUCTURE:BODY 2018–2020 174,278

+ 23 further campaigns

Others in Compact SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura RDX
20192020
C
Audi SQ5
none flagged
C
BMW X3
20132019
C
Buick Envision
2017
C
Cadillac SRX
2013
C
Cadillac XT5
2017
C
Chevrolet Blazer
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Equinox
2011
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2018 Q5
Complaints in window
91
Severity-weighted
137.5
Model median (weighted)
55
vs model median
2.49×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
0
Score 22.8 F