MODELYEARINDEX

Which Audi Q5 years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2018, 2021 and 2019 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

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 owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2018 F 91 reports · median 9,500 mi

  1. Electrical 15

    Hey, im carmen, im german and I m diplomatic, I work at the permanent mission of germany for the united nations till march 2019. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 12

    My vehicle has a safety feature called audi presence. My new vehicle Q5 prestige (less than 150 miles, just 6 days old) had malfunctioned with an unexpected automatic break on jan 17th 2018 at around 7:29pm central time… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 7

    While driving down the expressway in chicago, transmission, and all safety features completely shut off. Pressing on accelerator had no effect, and with limited steering was able to pull to roadside barely missing… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

9 crash · 3 injuries

2021 F 79 reports · median 9,000 mi

  1. Electrical 20

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 13

    Water was spilled in the backseat of the car (less than 12 ounces of water). This caused a complete electrical failure impacting the engine and power steering. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 12

    When using cruise control, the vehicle suddenly brakes. If set a 70mph it will jam on the brakes and reset to 45 MPH. This has caused near rear collisions. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 4 injuries

The best year for the Q5

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring Q5 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 83.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.26× 13 B
2011 0.55× 20 B
2012 0.69× 32 C

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
22V742000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION 2021 170,296
18V082000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 162,782
16V660000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2010–2012 143,214
19V416000 WHEELS:HUB 2018, 2019 126,161

+ 19 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2018 were reported at a median of 9,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Audi Q5 years should you avoid?
2018, 2021, 2019 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Audi Q5 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Audi Q5?
2010 is the best-scoring Audi Q5 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 83.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Audi Q5 have?
31 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Audi Q5 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

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