2018 Audi Q5
Common Problems
Ranked from 75 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
17 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Water Intrusion into Electrical Components
19complaintsHigh severityElectricalWater ingress from sunroof drainage system damages electrical components, leading to multiple system failures.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 2
Rear Suspension Coil Spring Failure
10complaintsMedium severitySuspensionThe rear suspension coil spring breaks unexpectedly, leading to uneven tire wear and potential loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Steering Issues
7complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel seized or became difficult to steer, often accompanied by traction warnings.
- 4
Stop/Start System Failure
6complaintsMedium severityElectricalStop/Start system malfunctions, causing unexpected engine shutdowns and loss of vehicle control.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V947000
- 5
Unintended Acceleration
6complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe car accelerated unexpectedly, even when the driver was not pressing the gas pedal.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 6
Defective Sunroof Drainage System
5complaintsHigh severityOtherSunroof drainage system defects allow water to enter the vehicle, damaging electrical and mechanical components.
- 7
Engine Stall and Power Loss
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine suddenly stalled and lost power, displaying multiple warning lights and requiring immediate roadside assistance.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Inappropriate Activation of Pre-Sense System
5complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe pre-sense system activated without any imminent collision, causing sudden braking.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 9
Faulty Suspension Springs
4complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension coil springs break unexpectedly, posing a safety risk due to potential loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Sunroof Drain Failure Causing Electrical System Short
4complaintsHigh severityElectricalWater from sunroof drain floods the rear electrical components, causing a complete electrical system failure.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 11
Unexplained Sudden Stops
4complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe vehicle stopped suddenly without any apparent cause, leading to potential accidents.
Related recalls: 18V369000, 19V277000
- 12
Brake Booster Failure Requiring Frequent Replacement
2complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe brake booster fails frequently, requiring repeated replacement and posing a safety risk.
$500–$1,300est. brake booster replacement · 2–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 18V369000, 19V277000
- 13
Engine Mount Issues
2complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine mounts begin to fail, causing engine movement and potential engine damage or loss of control.
$250–$700est. engine mount replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Faulty Rear Cross-Traffic Assist
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe rear cross-traffic assist system triggered erroneously, engaging the parking brake.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 15
Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe forward collision avoidance system unexpectedly activated, reducing vehicle speed and then returning to normal functionality.
- 16
Gateway Control Module Failure
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe gateway control module failed due to water intrusion, leading to loss of steering and brake assist warnings.
Related recall: 21V947000
- 17
Pre-Sense Sensor Malfunction Leading to Uncontrolled Braking
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe pre-sense sensor malfunctions, causing uncontrolled braking and loss of control, posing a significant safety risk.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.