Audi Q5: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Audi Q5 problems by model year, from 1,155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (80%, 44 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (76%, 65 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (59%, 23 drivetrain complaints). 10 of the 13 Audi Q5 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (22%), 2023 (28%) and 2020 (31%). 2023 and 2020 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (59%) to 2018 (22%), down 37 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (65 of 450 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Audi Q5 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Q5 | very high | 80% | 44 | 100 | 1/13 | 4 |
| 2011 Q5 | very high | 76% | 65 | 143 | 2/13 | 5 |
| 2012 Q5 | too few to score | – | 2 | 4 | – | 6 |
| 2013 Q5 | high | 45% | 40 | 92 | 7/13 | 5 |
| 2014 Q5 | high | 50% | 50 | 106 | 6/13 | 5 |
| 2015 Q5 | high | 56% | 53 | 99 | 5/13 | 6 |
| 2016 Q5 | high | 58% | 41 | 77 | 4/13 | 5 |
| 2017 Q5 | high | 59% | 23 | 42 | 3/13 | 5 |
| 2018 Q5 | no elevated signal | 22% | 40 | 207 | 13/13 | 6 |
| 2019 Q5 | elevated | 34% | 14 | 52 | 10/13 | 5 |
| 2020 Q5 | no elevated signal | 31% | 11 | 37 | 11/13 | 6 |
| 2021 Q5 | high | 40% | 41 | 103 | 8/13 | 8 |
| 2022 Q5 | elevated | 35% | 17 | 50 | 9/13 | 4 |
| 2023 Q5 | no elevated signal | 28% | 11 | 43 | 12/13 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Audi Q5 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Audi Q5 engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Audi Q5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 29 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2016 | 16V660000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V002000 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 2013–2017 |
| May 2017 | 17V297000 | power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl) | 2017 |
| May 2017 | 17V298000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2013–2017 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V229000 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 2013–2017 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V818000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V753000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021 |
| May 2025 | 25V294000 | engine | 2022–2023 |
21 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2016 | 16V045000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V078000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V955000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2018 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V001000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V622000 | electrical system: wiring | 2013–2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V082000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V369000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V277000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2018–2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V416000 | wheels: hub | 2018–2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V473000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V737000 | structure: body | 2018–2020 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V505000 | seats | 2020 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V295000 | suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V606000 | seat belts: rear/other: retractor | 2021 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V947000 | electrical system: body control module/bcm | 2018–2021 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V034000 | tires | 2020–2021 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V742000 | back over prevention: display function | 2021 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V842000 | electrical system: propulsion system: charging: cable/cord: onboard | 2020–2023 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V251000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2023 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V898000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V080000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2021–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Audi Q5
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Audi Q5
What are the worst years for the Audi Q5?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Audi Q5 years are the 2010 (80% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2011 (76% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2017 (59% of relevant complaints, high). 10 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Audi Q5?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Audi Q5 years are the 2018 (22%), the 2023 (28%) and the 2020 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Audi Q5 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 450 of 991 relevant NHTSA complaints (45%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Audi Q5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 10 of 13 Audi Q5 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 45% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Audi Q5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Audi Q5 years we track, out of 29 in total: 18V818000 (Nov 2018, 2010–2011), 22V753000 (Oct 2022, 2021), 25V294000 (May 2025, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.