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Your vehicleHome›Audi›Q5› 2021
Audi · Compact SUV

2021 Audi Q5

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
51 / 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.
Recalls2 critical 8
Complaints2 crash · 3 injured reported 103
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Audi Q5 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Q5, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 103 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 / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Q5Plug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 105kW AC Induction252927 (37 MPGe blended)19 mi electric442.4 h$3,050
Q5HybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 40V Li-Ion232825———$3,300
Q5 SportbackHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 14V Li-Ion232825———$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43424, 43276, 43647.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Q57 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Q5, Q5 Sportback5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 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 Output

Horsepower261 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds7

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

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
Length184.3–184.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.4 in
Height65.4 in
Wheelbase111.0 in
Track, front63.8 in
Track, rear63.4 in
Curb weight3,913–4,694 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 3 configurations: 4-door SUV, Sportback 4-door SUV, Tfsi E 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 2021 Q5
Other years The 2026 Q5 Recalls Audi recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Audi Q5 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module 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 →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (8)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

93AA
20,201 vehicles 85% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat. Risk A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehicles in which online data is unavailable, owners are advised not to charge their batteries until the final remedy becomes available. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This will be a Phased recall. Phase 1 will include Interim letters 2022-2023 model
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V080000 reported Feb 12, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

93U6/93U8
93,196 vehicles 89% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat. Risk An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's numbers for this recall are 93U6 and 93U8.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V842000 reported Dec 13, 2023 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

VW: 13i4, Audi: 13i5
76,515 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure. Risk A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V753000 reported Oct 7, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DZ
170,296 vehicles 95% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V742000 reported Oct 5, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Suspension

42L5
31,058 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed. Risk Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V034000 reported Jan 26, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲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

Seat Belts

69CR, 69CS
45,496 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Cr Risk An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. 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 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V606000 reported Aug 5, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

42L1
40,993 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion. Risk A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V295000 reported Apr 26, 2021 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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
103complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

16 per 10,000 built · Audi reported 63,145 Q5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 25 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 22

Most-cited components

Electrical System 33
Engine 23
Power Train 22
Forward Collision Avoidance 19
Unspecified 13
Fuel/Propulsion System 9

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.

I and my wife were emerging from an intetstate highway entrance ramp when our car suddenly and completely lost power. A "Transmission Malfunction" warning suddenly (and for the first time) appeared on the dashboard. We had just completed a merge with heavy traffic going 70-75 miles per hour.
Power Train Jun 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11742774
Vehicle has an issue with the transmission control, it will not reliably shift into the appropriate gears as it gains speed, often slipping & shuddering, sometimes even slamming into a higher gear.
Engine May 18, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11738560
Charging socket lock errors out. Disables charging and inhibits the vehicle’s electric drivability. The vehicle displays the following error: Could not execute action. Locking error in charging system
Electrical System Apr 26, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11519000
The warning lite for the low tire pressure comes on randomly and consistently. I've taken it in about 5 times and have been told the tire pressure is fine and it is just a built in defect. I am concerned because I can't check my tires constantly and especially when I am on the freeway.
Wheels Apr 21, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11732886
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5 E. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions. The dealer inspected the tires while the warning light was illuminated, and the dealer informed the contact that no failure was found; however, the failure persisted.
Tires at 13,000 miles Mar 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11650499
I have had three occurrences where the Automatic Emergency Braking system and Forward Collision system have been activated for no reason. In one case the Q5 braked suddenly, and the seat belts tightened to the point that it made my passengers back sore. Fortunately, no vehicle was following close behind to cause a rear end collision.
Forward Collision Avoidance May 25, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11590726

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: 15 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 16 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 24 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 11k

miles, typically

Half the 15 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 9,000 and 37,000 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 15 on file: 6 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 1 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 1 100k–150k.

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, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

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 2,453
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 2399 service bulletins, 51 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Structure, 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_2083393_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Engine
  • This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off.
  • TSB_2052680_2 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
  • TSB_2083385_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-23 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin provides information when there is a warning message in the instrument cluster about external sound.
  • TSB_2074846_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Steering
  • This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
  • TSB_2065871_4 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Steering
  • This bulletin provides informaiton when DTC B200FF0 is stored.
  • 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.

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.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0BBD
P0BBD on Audi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
P2004
P2004 on Audi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2006Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2014Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2015
P2015 on Audi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

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 2021 Audi Q5 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 1.3%

failed emissions

2,858 initial inspections of 2,802 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 Q5Every 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.3%1.9%2,849
Failed the safety inspection1.1%1.5%2,858
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.21%0.19%2,858
Miles driven a year9,11410,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer48,15854,681odometer 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 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 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 this page F 8 103 27 mpg2020 D 6 37 27 mpg2019 C 5 52 24 mpg2018 D 6 208 Do not drive2017 F 5 42 22 mpg2016 F 5 78 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Q5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Audi Q5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2021 Audi Q5, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V080000, covering Electrical System. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Audi Q5?

NHTSA gave the 2021 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 F (51/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Audi Q5?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Audi Q5, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Audi Q5?

Transport Canada measured it at 184.3–184.6 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.4 in tall, on a 111.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,913–4,694 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 2021 Audi Q5?

Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi Q5, most often about electrical system, engine, power train. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 3 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 2021 Audi Q5?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Audi Q5 runs 5 to 7 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 SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Audi Q5?

The manufacturer has filed 2453 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Audi Q5, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. 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 2021 Audi Q5 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Audi Q5 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). 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 & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls8NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints103NHTSA 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 bulletins2453NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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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