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Your vehicleHome›Audi›Q5› 2018
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Audi · Compact SUV

2018 Audi Q5

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
60 / 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.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints10 crash · 5 injured reported 208
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Audi Q5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV. The most efficient version, the Q5, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 208 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Audi Q5 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Audi Q5 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Q5GasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo232725$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38579.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Q53 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower252 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, 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: quattro Premium, quattro Premium Plus, quattro Prestige). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length183.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.4 in
Height65.4 in
Wheelbase111.0 in
Track, front63.8 in
Track, rear63.4 in
Curb weight4,045 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear53/47

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV. 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 Q5
Other years The 2026 Q5 Recalls Audi recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Audi Q5 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

Electrical System

90S9
288,991 vehicles 94% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V947000 reported Dec 8, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

66K8
174,278 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Nov 9, 2016 – Oct 16, 2019
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle. Risk The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash. Fix Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V737000 reported Oct 16, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Wheels

66K6/66K7
126,161 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Nov 9, 2016 – Dec 18, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach. Risk The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V416000 reported Jun 5, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

47O9
12,645 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Jul 18, 2018 – Nov 7, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short. Risk A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function. Fix Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V277000 reported Apr 8, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

47N8, 47N9, 47N6
Do not drive 10,225 vehicles 99% reported repaired built Mar 20, 2018 – May 12, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance. Risk A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
NHTSA campaign 18V369000 reported Jun 1, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

VW: 69P4; Audi 69P2
5,947 vehicles 86% reported repaired built Nov 9, 2016 – Jan 3, 2017
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly. Risk In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V955000 reported Dec 29, 2016 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 Q5

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 Q5, 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 Q5

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 Q5 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
208complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

18 per 10,000 built · Audi reported 114,076 Q5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 15 · 2019: 21 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 45 · 2024: 40 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 23

Most-cited components

Electrical System → 76
Unspecified 45
Engine 33
Suspension 25
Service Brakes 22
Structure 21

In depth: electrical problems →

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.

When depressing gas pedal from stopped (or near stopped) position, the vehicle fails to respond before moving forward. This most frequently occurs when pulling onto or crossing a street, and i'm concerned it will eventually be the cause of an accident.
Fuel/Propulsion System Jul 31, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11240812
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v416000 (wheels). The manufacturer was not notified. The dealer stated that the part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect
Wheels Jul 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11232579
Squealing brakes at slow speeds. Dealership able to replicate issue but unable to resolve adequately. They asking US to replace rotors and pads with several hundred dollar cost to US. Car is only 2 yrs old now. We bought cpo after car was used by dealer salesman for 6mo. Brakes have been squealing soon after we got the car
Service Brakes at 5,750 miles Jun 29, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11228337
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the instrument panel went blank without warning and the indicators and gauges could not be viewed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,392. The VIN was unknown
Electrical System at 4,392 miles May 2, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11205281
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact state that the vehicle indepently engaged the collision brake system on several occasions the first was the evening of february 12th at approximately 19:00 est.
Forward Collision Avoidance at 600 miles Mar 6, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11184641
As I was preparing to park at my local grocery store in an assigned space I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration. The front end slammed into a concrete retaining wall, causing major damage to both my vehicle and the retaining wall. The car was practically at a complete stop when this occurred.
Structure at 12,000 miles Jan 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11165262

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: 29 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 31 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 25 per 100,000 built. Every Q5 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 15k

miles, typically

Half the 62 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 55,000 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.

under 10k 22
10k–20k 10
20k–30k 7
30k–40k 3
40k–50k 3
50k–60k 3
60k–70k 4
70k–80k 2
80k–90k 3
90k–100k 0
100k–150k 2
150k + 3

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Electrical System1948,0002.13×
Unspecified136,500—

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: electrical system (2.13×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

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
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%

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 1,089
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1068 service bulletins, 17 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 Q5 failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 3.5%

failed emissions

4,128 initial inspections of 4,018 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 Q5Every 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.5%3.0%4,116
Failed the safety inspection1.6%1.9%4,128
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.22%4,128
Miles driven a year9,07310,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer74,95082,833odometer 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).

Q5 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 0 4 24 mpg2025 A 1 47 26 mpg2024 D 4 34 26 mpg2023 F 6 57 26 mpg2022 F 8 46 26 mpg2021 F 8 103 27 mpg2020 D 6 37 27 mpg2019 C 5 52 24 mpg2018 this page D 6 208 Do not drive2017 F 5 42 22 mpg2016 F 5 78 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Q5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Audi Q5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi Q5, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V369000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Audi Q5?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Audi Q5 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (60/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Audi Q5?

For the 2018 Audi Q5, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Audi Q5?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.5 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.4 in tall, on a 111.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,045 lb. 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 Q5?

Owners have filed 208 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi Q5, most often about electrical system, unspecified, engine. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 5 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 Q5?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Audi Q5 is 3 out of 10. 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, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Audi Q5?

The manufacturer has filed 1089 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Audi Q5, 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 Q5 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Audi Q5 failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (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 & configurations1 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates1 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 complaints208NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins1089NHTSA 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 2026 Q5 The Q5 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 Q5 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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