{"id":"2018_audi_sq5","make":"Audi","make_slug":"audi","model":"SQ5","model_slug":"sq5","year":2018,"url":"/audi/sq5/2018/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":38587,"model":"SQ5","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S8)","cyl":6,"displ":3.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":19,"hwy":24,"comb":21,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":434,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":3700,"save_spend":-7250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Mon Feb 19 00:00:00 EST 2018"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","recalls":[{"campaign":"21V947000","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2021-12-08","owner_notified":"2022-01-21","units":288991,"summary":"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.","consequence":"A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"90S9","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V737000","component":"STRUCTURE:BODY","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-10-16","owner_notified":"2019-11-01","units":174278,"summary":"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.","consequence":"The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"66K8","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V416000","component":"WHEELS:HUB","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-06-05","owner_notified":"2019-07-26","units":126161,"summary":"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.","consequence":"The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"66K6/66K7","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V277000","component":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-04-08","owner_notified":"2019-05-03","units":12645,"summary":"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.","consequence":"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.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"47O9","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V369000","component":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2018-06-01","owner_notified":"2018-06-29","units":10225,"summary":"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.","consequence":"A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":true,"mfr_campaign":"47N8, 47N9, 47N6","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"}],"recall_count":5,"critical_count":1,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":true,"score":53,"grade":"F","complaints":{"count":24,"crash":1,"fire":0,"injured":2,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Electrical System",8],["Engine",6],["Forward Collision Avoidance",5],["Power Train",4],["Unspecified",3],["Exterior Lighting",3]],"by_year":{"2017":1,"2018":3,"2019":2,"2020":1,"2021":3,"2022":1,"2023":5,"2024":6,"2026":2},"excerpts":[["2026-08-09","Engine","I purchased my 2018 Audi SQ5 on September 12, 2025, from Audi Denver (McDonald Automotive Group). On XXX, at 114,145 miles, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving on the highway near [XXX], caused by defective rocker arm needle bearings in the 3.0T EA839 V6 engine. \u00e2\u20ac\u2039The early-design \u2026"],["2026-07-05","Engine","While driving a 2018 Audi SQ5 with the EA839 3.0T engine, a coolant warning light activated and engine temperatures began rising to 210-215\u00c2\u00b0F. The vehicle was pulled over immediately. Upon inspection the coolant reservoir was found to be nearly empty with dried coolant residue on the exterior indicating an active leak\u2026"],["2024-12-29","Electrical System","Heavy rain leaked into the cabin of my SUV,and damaged the module, no controls worked through the key fob, no start . I keep my SUV under cover 90% of the time. A recent wind storm damaged my car port that I usually keep it under, so lately it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been outside more often, especially if wind is in the forecast. I still \u2026"]]},"investigations":[],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":null,"frontal":null,"side":null,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.163,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":21,"ncap":null,"complaints":24},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}