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2018 Audi A5

Gas
Subcompact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
52 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA37
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Audi A5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A5 Cabriolet quattro, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 37 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A5 Cabriolet quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$2,850
A5 Sportback quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$2,850
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$2,850
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$2,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38570, 38576, 38571, 38580.

Factory warranty running out?

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seats

74E3
208,332 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.RiskA disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixDealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
NHTSA campaign 21V874000reported Nov 10, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

74D9
145,337 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.RiskA disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
NHTSA campaign 19V547000reported Jul 24, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Suspension

40O2
36 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.RiskA loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40O2.
NHTSA campaign 18V893000reported Dec 17, 2018Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
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Air Bags

69Y4
12 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.RiskIf the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.
NHTSA campaign 18V836000reported Nov 27, 2018Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
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Air Bags

69T7
8,037 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."RiskIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69T7.
NHTSA campaign 17V822000reported Dec 20, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
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Structure

70G6
31,323 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.RiskThe sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.
NHTSA campaign 17V675000reported Oct 25, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
37complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Unspecified8
Engine8
Service Brakes4
Structure4
Electrical System4
Visibility/Wiper3

What owners describe

“The water pump failed on my vehicle. Initially reported 2/2025 at Authorized Audi Service Center. They claimed it was normal for coolant to dip. Audi USA Confirmed I have a settlement class vehicle in 03/2025. Mentioned an 80K Mileage limit. (Car only had 69K miles at the time) When the issue persisted I reached out fo…”Sep 8, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The vehicle has 36000 miles on it and the oil cooler has failed. The car is meticulously maintained. This failure compromises the ability for the engine to cool properly. Because of the failure, coolant is then forced into the engine oil potentially destroying the engine. Engine replacements are 10,000 for these types …”Jul 25, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Engine shuts off occasionally whilst cornering at very low speed. No warning. Been happening for several years.”Jun 25, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Other A5 model years

A

2027 Audi A5

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Audi A5

0 recalls · 1 complaints

B

2025 Audi A5

2 recalls · 9 complaints

A

2024 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2023 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

B

2022 Audi A5

2 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2021 Audi A5

5 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2020 Audi A5

4 recalls · 60 complaints

C

2019 Audi A5

3 recalls · 12 complaints

D

2017 Audi A5

3 recalls · 2 complaints

F

2016 Audi A5

3 recalls · 7 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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