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Your vehicleHome›Audi›A5› 2018
Audi · Convertible

2018 Audi A5

Gas
Subcompact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 6
Complaints2 crash · 2 injured reported 38
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Audi A5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible 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 D. Owners have filed 38 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Audi A5 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Audi A5 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A5 Cabriolet quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$3,050
A5 Sportback quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$3,050
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$3,050
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$3,050

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

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
A5 Cabriolet quattro, A5 Sportback quattro, A5 quattro5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
A5 quattro3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleConvertible/Cabriolet
Doors2
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower252 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity4 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: S Line quattro Premium, S Line quattro Premium Plus, S Line quattro Premium Plus, S Line quattro Progressiv (Canada), quattro Premium Plus). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length183.9–186.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.4–72.8 in
Height53.9–54.3 in
Wheelbase108.7–111.4 in
Track, front62.6 in
Track, rear61.8 in
Curb weight3,605–3,990 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44 to 57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 2-door Convertible, 2-door Coupe, Sportback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2018 A5
Other years The 2027 A5 Recalls Audi recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Audi A5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seats

74E3
208,332 vehicles 84% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen 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. Risk A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Dealers 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V874000 reported Nov 10, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

74D9
145,337 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Feb 7, 2017 – Jul 26, 2018
Problem Volkswagen 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. Risk A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Audi 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V547000 reported Jul 24, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

40O2
36 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Sep 11, 2018 – Sep 18, 2018
Problem Volkswagen 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. Risk A loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V893000 reported Dec 17, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69Y4
12 vehicles 75% reported repaired built Apr 4, 2017 – Oct 20, 2017
Problem Volkswagen 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. Risk If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury. Fix Volkswagen 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V836000 reported Nov 27, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69T7
8,037 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Nov 17, 2016 – Dec 14, 2017
Problem Volkswagen 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." Risk In 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. Fix Audi 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V822000 reported Dec 20, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Structure

70G6
31,323 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Feb 7, 2017 – Sep 28, 2017
Problem Volkswagen 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. Risk The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. Fix Audi 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V675000 reported Oct 25, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific A5

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Audi publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Audi’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Audi A5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 Audi A5

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this A5 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
38complaints filed

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

8.2 per 10,000 built · Audi reported 46,188 A5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

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

Most-cited components

Engine 9
Unspecified 8
Service Brakes 4
Visibility/Wiper 4
Structure 4
Electrical System 4

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

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 of cars.
Engine Jul 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11676163
I am writing to formally bring to your attention a potential violation of federal vehicle safety reporting requirements by Audi regarding an Electronic Control Unit (ECU)/Comfort Control Module failure in my 2018 Audi A5.
Electrical System Feb 8, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11641542
I was driving along the express way when I heard a loud explosion, I look up to see my sunroof exploded and there was glass all over the kids and I. The explosion was so loud I lost control of the car and almost veered off the road. It was terrifying. It happened last year in the winter then happened this year as well.
Structure Jan 10, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11635186
Previous recall 19V-547 and 74D9 impacting the passenger air bag turning off even when a passenger is in the vehicle was repaired improperly, and the problem is still happening
Air Bags Sep 23, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11615967
Malfunctioning sunroof: I was the only vehicle on a flat paved road, partly cloudy skies and 65°. I had issues last summer, where when the sunroof was in the tilted position, it would not close securely.
Visibility/Wiper Oct 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11487743
Audi pre sense, the new technology Audi uses for predictive safety. I have experienced several Audi pre sense braking malfunctions. The Audi pre sense in my vehicle will abruptly & violently come to a full stop, with no obstructions or hazards anywhere near the vicinity of the car.
Service Brakes at 3,500 miles Dec 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11288922

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.

Reported by Audi itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 11 per 100,000 built. Every A5 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 16k

miles, typically

Half the 12 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 4,000 and 30,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 12 on file: 6 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 1 30k–40k, 2 60k–70k, 1 90k–100k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

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

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 2,153
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 2116 service bulletins, 35 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Unknown Or Other, Engine.

  • TSB_2083409_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
  • TSB_2052680_2 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
  • TSB_2074846_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Steering
  • This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
  • TSB_2020552_15 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Visibility/Wiper
  • This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
  • TSB_2078648_4 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Structure — Body
  • This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
  • TSB_2030471_9 Service bulletin
    2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
  • TSB_2068999_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
  • This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
  • TSB_2051095_12 Service bulletin
    2026-09-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Audi A5 failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 2.9%

failed emissions

1,284 initial inspections of 1,254 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 A5Every 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.9%3.0%1,283
Failed the safety inspection1.7%1.9%1,284
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.47%0.22%1,284
Miles driven a year7,81710,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer64,83382,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

A5 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 26 mpg2026 A 0 1 26 mpg2025 B 2 9 29 mpg2024 A 0 8 30 mpg2023 A 0 8 28 mpg2022 A 2 7 29 mpg2021 C 5 8 28 mpg2020 C 4 60 27 mpg2019 B 3 12 27 mpg2018 this page D 6 38 27 mpg2017 D 3 2 26 mpg2016 D 3 7 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 A5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Audi A5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi A5. The most serious on file is 21V874000, covering Seats. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Audi A5?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Audi A5 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Audi A5?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Audi A5, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Audi A5?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.9–186.6 in long, 72.4–72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 53.9–54.3 in tall, on a 108.7–111.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,605–3,990 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Audi A5?

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi A5, most often about engine, unspecified, service brakes. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Audi A5?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Audi A5 runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Audi A5?

The manufacturer has filed 2153 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Audi A5, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Audi A5 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Audi A5 failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints38NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins2153NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 A5 The A5 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Audi recall on file All campaigns filed against Audi vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this A5 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

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

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