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2019 Audi Q5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
14 of 41 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 Audi Q5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 27%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Audi Q5 have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (9). For comparison, the 2018 scores 22% and the 2020 scores 31%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
52
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
5 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 23%
ENGINE9 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES7 · 13%
STEERING7 · 13%
POWER TRAIN6 · 12%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5 · 10%

The years either side

2010
80%
44 of 100
2011
76%
65 of 143
2012
too few complaints
2013
45%
40 of 92
2014
50%
50 of 106
2015
56%
53 of 99
2016
58%
41 of 77
2017
59%
23 of 42
2018
22%
40 of 207
2019
34%
14 of 52
2020
31%
11 of 37
2021
40%
41 of 103
2022
35%
17 of 50
2023
28%
11 of 43

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE09/16/2026
Received a malfunction drive train alert on a 2019 Audi with approximately 66,000 miles at the time. Took it in to have it addressed and was advised it needed a new Turbo. The turbo has since been replaced. However, a vehicle with very low miles should not be having any drive train issues. There is a class action lawsu…
POWER TRAIN09/16/2026
The vehicle is experiencing an issue withe the All-Wheel Drive system where its function is affected by an issue Audi calls Shutter or Shudder. The degradation in this system's performance is characterized by drive system torque oscillations when the steering wheel is turned. A hazardous condition is introduced when th…
ENGINE04/18/2026
A failed (frozen) Turbocharger Wastegate Actuator. An engine warning light came on and engine had less power. It had to be replaced. There was a settled law suit for the same issue covering this item in previous vehicles settled in 2025.

Three of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi Q5 (5)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
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 …
WHEELS:HUB
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Audi Q5

Questions people ask about the 2019 Audi Q5

Does the 2019 Audi Q5 have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Audi Q5?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi Q5. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Audi Q5 years are better?

Among the Audi Q5 years we track, the 2018 (22%), the 2023 (28%) and the 2020 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Audi Q5?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Audi Q5 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.