Owners have filed 203 complaints
about the 2012 Audi Q5 with NHTSA between 2012 and 2026.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 17 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 93
Against the median year of the Audi Q5. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 13
2.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 27
16% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
33.9%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
67.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
22.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
810.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
2228.6%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
1722.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1722.1%
150,000+ miles
22.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2012peak 11May 2026
Recalls on the 2012 Audi Q5
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2018635113 units in Canada
Fuel System
Certain vehicles with a cracked (but not leaking) fuel pump flange were repaired with butyl tape only under a previous recall (please see Transport Canada Recall 2016-443 / Audi campaign 20W9). This is because replacement fuel pump flanges were not available at the time of repair (the butyl tape was used an interim repair). If the fuel pump flange is not replaced, a fuel leak could still occur. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace fuel pump flange and reapply the protective butyl tape.
Recall 201805926,340 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, and the airbag assembly could be damaged, preventing proper function. These issues could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator. Note: Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk, and is expected to replace airbag inflators before their function would be affected. Additional Note: For the Audi A4, S4, A5 and S5 models, this campaign only affects the Cabriolet versions of these models. Also to Note: This recall supersedes the Audi brand vehicles subject to recall 2016-064 (Audi Recall 69N1) and 2016-065 (69N2). Audi brand vehicles completed under the previous 2016-064 and 2016-065 recalls require repair under this recall, as the previous recall remedy was an interim repair. Interim repair parts must be replaced with final repair parts.
Recall 201700336,349 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, if the water drainage system of the panoramic sunroof becomes damaged or impaired (such as during a repair), water could enter the side head curtain airbag canister. Due to a foam that is touching the airbag inflator, moisture could cause corrosion on the airbag inflator over time. If this happens, the airbag canister could be weakened. This could cause the airbag canister to fracture without airbag deployment and allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for evidence of water ingress, examine the drainage system, disassemble the headliner and trim, remove foam and inspect the side head curtain airbag canister for relevant corrosion. In cases where light surface corrosion is found, a wax will be applied to the inflator. In cases of more than light surface corrosion, the inflator will be replaced after a robustness check.
Recall 201644320,109 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain vehicles, the fuel pump flange may develop fine cracks or fissures, which could result in a fuel leak. Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will apply a butyl protective film to the fuel pump flange. If cracks are present, the fuel pump flange will be replaced.
Recall 201606464,660 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the front driver airbag inflator. Note: This campaign only affects the Audi A5 and Audi S5 Cabriolet models.
Recall 20121901,793 units in Canada
Other
On certain vehicles, the front sunroof may have been manufactured incorrectly and could fail during very cold weather conditions. Sunroof glass panel breakage, while the vehicle is in motion, could cause driver distraction, which could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Additionally, broken glass inside the vehicle poses a risk of injury to vehicle occupants. Correction: Dealers will replace the front sunroof glass panel.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Marana, AZ2 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON [XXX] AT [XXX], AT MY HOME, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN MY 2012 AUDI 2012 Q5, I DROVE THREE HOUSES DOWN, AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING SHATTERED GLASS ON MYSELF, MY THEN [XXX] SON, AND INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI FOR REPAIR, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 MONTH WAIT, ORDERED A ON REPAIRS. SO I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED MYSELF. ON [XXX] MY 2012 AUDI Q5, WOULD NOT START, DASH FAULT INDICATED CRANKCASE/ CAMSHAFT NOT ALINGED. PUT VEHICLE IN A AUDI REPAIR SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR REPAIRS. DAMAGE WAS CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER RESEARCH DONE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SIX RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE INVOLVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERING, AND THE OTHER INVOLVING THE CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TENSIONER. ON 04/15/2025 I CALLED AUDI AT 800-822-2834 ABOUT THE INCIDENTS, AND INQUIRING ABOUT THE SIX RECALLS, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DATES THAT A CASE WAS CLOSED BASED ON THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE, SHE STATED A CLAIM BEING CLOSED "USUALLY MEANT A REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP THAT OPENED THE CASE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION. I REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMATION, ADVISING THAT I WAS CONCERNED AS THUS FAR THE RECALL REPAIRS SEEM TO BE FAILING, AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DEATH IF DEPLOYED. I REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL BACK. ON 04/16/2025 I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM A SUPERVISOR NAME JUAN/ID 43248. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE ISSUE WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALLS FAILING AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, AND ASKED FOR THE DEALERSHIP NAME AND NUMBER THAT DID THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION SIGHTING IT CONTAINED INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I SEEK TO CONFIRM THAT THESE REPAIRS WERE ACTUALLY DONE IN FEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, AND IF A AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED I AND PASSENGERS MAY END UP DEAD AS A RESULT. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
NHTSA complaint #11655139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ2 injured
ENGINE
ON [XXX] AT [XXX], AT MY HOME, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN MY 2012 AUDI 2012 Q5, I DROVE THREE HOUSES DOWN, AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING SHATTERED GLASS ON MYSELF, MY THEN [XXX] SON, AND INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI FOR REPAIR, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 MONTH WAIT, ORDERED A ON REPAIRS. SO I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED MYSELF. ON [XXX] MY 2012 AUDI Q5, WOULD NOT START, DASH FAULT INDICATED CRANKCASE/ CAMSHAFT NOT ALINGED. PUT VEHICLE IN A AUDI REPAIR SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR REPAIRS. DAMAGE WAS CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER RESEARCH DONE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SIX RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE INVOLVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERING, AND THE OTHER INVOLVING THE CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TENSIONER. ON 04/15/2025 I CALLED AUDI AT 800-822-2834 ABOUT THE INCIDENTS, AND INQUIRING ABOUT THE SIX RECALLS, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DATES THAT A CASE WAS CLOSED BASED ON THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE, SHE STATED A CLAIM BEING CLOSED "USUALLY MEANT A REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP THAT OPENED THE CASE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION. I REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMATION, ADVISING THAT I WAS CONCERNED AS THUS FAR THE RECALL REPAIRS SEEM TO BE FAILING, AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DEATH IF DEPLOYED. I REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL BACK. ON 04/16/2025 I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM A SUPERVISOR NAME JUAN/ID 43248. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE ISSUE WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALLS FAILING AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, AND ASKED FOR THE DEALERSHIP NAME AND NUMBER THAT DID THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION SIGHTING IT CONTAINED INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I SEEK TO CONFIRM THAT THESE REPAIRS WERE ACTUALLY DONE IN FEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, AND IF A AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED I AND PASSENGERS MAY END UP DEAD AS A RESULT. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
NHTSA complaint #11655139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, SCCrash
AIR BAGS
I had an accident on 4/15/2024. I blacked out and ran into an oak tree but none of my airbags deployed.
NHTSA complaint #11586039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesThreeehold, NJCrash
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER BECAME DISTRACTED AND CRASHED ONTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11064590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Porte, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK (SLOWING DOWN, STEPPING ON BRAKE) WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. I PRESSED HARD ON THE ON BRAKE, IT WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS BUCKING LIKE A BRONCO. IT WENT OVER THE CURB, ACROSS THE SIDEWALK. BY THEN I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. IT TOOK OUT A 3-FT. TALL LIGHT ON THE LAWN BEFORE I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED IT.
NHTSA complaint #11062177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Dayton, OH
AIR BAGS
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11737442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OH
SUSPENSION
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11737442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11737442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle sunroof exploded. On March 10th at approximately 12:15pm, while driving down the road from my residence in my 2012 Audi Q5, the sunroof blew up, without warning, causing shattered glass to fall inside the cab of the vehicle onto myself, and my then nine year old son, causing minor cuts, and small pieces of glass to be lodged into the skin of our arms, chest, and head . I called the Audi service ref repairs, and was told it would take three months, before the service department could look at and repair my vehicle, as they were backed up with repairs. I ordered a new sunroof windshield and did a self repair and calibration. I followed up with Audi, advising of the incident, and was told the SUNROOF was under a recall, but their records, this item had been address on my vehicle, no further assistance was offered.
NHTSA complaint #11691013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Darien, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The oil has been leaking for some years. I have taken it in several times, to be fixed and it is still leaking
NHTSA complaint #11685033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Darien, IL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The oil has been leaking for some years. I have taken it in several times, to be fixed and it is still leaking
NHTSA complaint #11685033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesLynwood, CA
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Audi Q5. The contact purchased the vehicle at an auction, and while leaving the auction site and driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact jumped-started the vehicle, and after entering the freeway, the vehicle vibrated and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted until the contact arrived at the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle remained unrepaired for several days. The contact went to pick up the vehicle, and the independent mechanic stated that the vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that a week later, while diving at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the spark plugs had failed and caused the engine to fail. The contact stated that the independent mechanic had replaced the spark plugs and that the vehicle had been repaired. The contact was unsure if the spark plugs had been replaced. The independent mechanic refused to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11679877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ2 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON [XXX] AT [XXX], AT MY HOME, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN MY 2012 AUDI 2012 Q5, I DROVE THREE HOUSES DOWN, AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING SHATTERED GLASS ON MYSELF, MY THEN [XXX] SON, AND INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI FOR REPAIR, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 MONTH WAIT, ORDERED A ON REPAIRS. SO I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED MYSELF. ON [XXX] MY 2012 AUDI Q5, WOULD NOT START, DASH FAULT INDICATED CRANKCASE/ CAMSHAFT NOT ALINGED. PUT VEHICLE IN A AUDI REPAIR SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR REPAIRS. DAMAGE WAS CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER RESEARCH DONE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SIX RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE INVOLVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERING, AND THE OTHER INVOLVING THE CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TENSIONER. ON 04/15/2025 I CALLED AUDI AT 800-822-2834 ABOUT THE INCIDENTS, AND INQUIRING ABOUT THE SIX RECALLS, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DATES THAT A CASE WAS CLOSED BASED ON THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE, SHE STATED A CLAIM BEING CLOSED "USUALLY MEANT A REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP THAT OPENED THE CASE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION. I REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMATION, ADVISING THAT I WAS CONCERNED AS THUS FAR THE RECALL REPAIRS SEEM TO BE FAILING, AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DEATH IF DEPLOYED. I REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL BACK. ON 04/16/2025 I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM A SUPERVISOR NAME JUAN/ID 43248. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE ISSUE WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALLS FAILING AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, AND ASKED FOR THE DEALERSHIP NAME AND NUMBER THAT DID THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION SIGHTING IT CONTAINED INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I SEEK TO CONFIRM THAT THESE REPAIRS WERE ACTUALLY DONE IN FEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, AND IF A AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED I AND PASSENGERS MAY END UP DEAD AS A RESULT. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
NHTSA complaint #11655139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ2 injured
ENGINE
ON [XXX] AT [XXX], AT MY HOME, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN MY 2012 AUDI 2012 Q5, I DROVE THREE HOUSES DOWN, AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING SHATTERED GLASS ON MYSELF, MY THEN [XXX] SON, AND INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI FOR REPAIR, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 MONTH WAIT, ORDERED A ON REPAIRS. SO I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED MYSELF. ON [XXX] MY 2012 AUDI Q5, WOULD NOT START, DASH FAULT INDICATED CRANKCASE/ CAMSHAFT NOT ALINGED. PUT VEHICLE IN A AUDI REPAIR SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR REPAIRS. DAMAGE WAS CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER RESEARCH DONE FOUND THAT THERE WAS SIX RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE INVOLVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERING, AND THE OTHER INVOLVING THE CRANKCASE, TIMING CHAIN, AND TENSIONER. ON 04/15/2025 I CALLED AUDI AT 800-822-2834 ABOUT THE INCIDENTS, AND INQUIRING ABOUT THE SIX RECALLS, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DATES THAT A CASE WAS CLOSED BASED ON THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE, SHE STATED A CLAIM BEING CLOSED "USUALLY MEANT A REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP THAT OPENED THE CASE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION. I REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMATION, ADVISING THAT I WAS CONCERNED AS THUS FAR THE RECALL REPAIRS SEEM TO BE FAILING, AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DEATH IF DEPLOYED. I REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL BACK. ON 04/16/2025 I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM A SUPERVISOR NAME JUAN/ID 43248. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE ISSUE WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALLS FAILING AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, AND ASKED FOR THE DEALERSHIP NAME AND NUMBER THAT DID THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION SIGHTING IT CONTAINED INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I SEEK TO CONFIRM THAT THESE REPAIRS WERE ACTUALLY DONE IN FEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN, AND IF A AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED I AND PASSENGERS MAY END UP DEAD AS A RESULT. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
NHTSA complaint #11655139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Verona, VA
POWER TRAIN
Low oil pressure
NHTSA complaint #11649062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Verona, VA
POWER TRAIN
Oil leaking excessively + low oil pressure.
NHTSA complaint #11649063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Verona, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oil leaking excessively + low oil pressure.
NHTSA complaint #11649063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columnia, MD
SUSPENSION
The Audi technician discovered that the rear subframe had rusted through completely, which they deemed very unsafe and recommended replacing the subframe.
NHTSA complaint #11645696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Great Falls, VA
STRUCTURE:BODY
I found out this past summer that my rear subframe on my Audi Q5 (2012) had rusted out to the point of being dangerous to drive. Looking into it, this is apparently a common problem due to the 1st and 2nd generation design of the Q5 where they placed a wind deflector over the rear subframe. In doing so, that wind deflector collected and held moisture and corrosive agents against the frame to the point where it was completely rusted through. I was told my Q5 was not safe to drive until I got the rear subframe replaced. The Audi dealership that I ordered the subframe from (Rockville Audi) said they have been increasing the number of subframes on order as this is becoming a consistent problem. When I spoke with Audi of America about it, they said they did not believe it was an issue beyond regular aging of the vehicle but I disagree as I have other vehicles with many more years that do not have complete sections of the frame rusted/rotted out.
NHTSA complaint #11637004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
ENGINE
December 17, 2024 2012 Q5 Audi Complaint- Purchased at Steve White Greenville, S.C VIN# [XXX] Dear Audi leaders, (and Michele) Thanks for replying to my request and your (brief) follow-up. I know selling cars is your main concern. I learned through years of working for tech companies such as Oracle and HP that it cost a significant more to get a new customer than to retain an old one. I expected at the very least was to lob a phone call to me, instead of pretending to- even more humiliating. The Audi Q5 was the biggest, most dangerous and worst purchase I’ve ever made. It is also the most expensive car I’ve ever maintained. I didn’t realize how many people literally got “burned” on this engine debacle that Audi created. Audi dealerships around the globe forced loyal customer who purchased this vehicle to jump through hoops to prove a very apparent engine flaw. It was like watching the Hindenburg crash, but in slow motion. Upon further research, the level of owners problems varied by engine; some were perfectly fine but most were faced with a ticking time-bomb. Audi seemed to take no blame, instead profiting on an “oil program”, expensive for the consumer and also time consuming, to solve the issue. As time has a way of flushing out the truth, a class action lawsuit quietly arose was settled in 2014. Audi shamelessly offered to cover 40% on certain cars-soon having a class action lawsuit on their hands. At that time, my Q5 had 99,000 miles on it. Because of Audi’s foot-dragging, my Q5 was too old to fix which seemed a little too well orchestrated and that is wrong. Currently, my vehicle is worth nothing and I feel 100% that it was intentionally motivated. I now have a hunk of metal that Audi refuses to fix which is not only frustrating- but is a danger to me and cars around me- It is unsafe. I was going to give it to my [XXX] daughter, but after having it looked over, it was too dangerous-at best. I was never notified by Audi when the recall was ann INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
NHTSA complaint #11634185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, SC
ENGINE
• Excessive oil consumption • Engine knocking • Illumination of the check engine light, possibly for cylinder misfire • Engine stalling- • the pistons unexpectedly fail, drivers may also experience a sudden loss of engine power while operating their vehicles. This can pose a safety risk as it may become difficult for drivers to brake, accelerate or control the steering wheel. Drivers are believed to have experienced problems with the pistons well before they should, with some seeing engine failure before the 75,000- mile mark. Audi Vehicles Burning Too Much Oil A number of Audi drivers have posted complaints online that their Q5 vehicles are burning more oil than they should, an issue attorneys suspect could be related to a defect in the pistons. A sample of these complaints can be found below [sic throughout, emphasis ours]: My Audi Q5 2012, like all suffers from excessive mass oil consumption. A Dealer did the oil consumption test and said the piston and rings need to be replaced. I ve Already spent over $1K on crankshaft repairs etc. Will AoA to pay for new piston and rings? Its a $6K repair that I am unwilling to pay because it should not be going through this crap for such an expensive car.” This "benefit" likely won't me customers due to the age of the vehicles and they don’t seem to care. Not to mention owners will still be stuck with paying a percentage for repairs. I bought a 2012 Audi Q5 in in 2015…For the first 20,000 miles of owning this car, it was my dream car and was all I had hoped for. Then, the check engine and oil light game started. At first, adding oil meant that it would it go another 1500-2000 miles without issue. Then, around 75k, it went to 500 to 750 miles. Once it hit 95k, it dropped to every 400 to 600 miles that it needed oil. I am at 118k and desperately want to dump this lemon. Unfortunately, I have payments on this garbage car. I've spoken with a local mechanic about it and he says the fix is replacing the engine.
NHTSA complaint #11628723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesMedfield, MA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2012 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the rear end of the vehicle was swaying from side to side and was very unstable. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear subframe had sustained severe rusting and corrosion, and there were holes present in the sub frame. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #11604773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Islip Terrace, NY
ENGINE
2012 Audi Q5 2.0 engine failure 72,000 miles The dealership performed a tear down of my engine and had an inspector from Audi care come to inspect the damaged engine. It was determined the tensioner /timing chain caused the engine failure. Prior to the inspection, I did research and informed the service manager at the dealership that there was a known issue regarding this exact problem. He said he would have to perform The tear down to determine the cause. He contacted me to confirm it was indeed the cause. Now after more research, I saw there was a class action lawsuit regarding this exact issue. It was settled in 20/& or 2019 , I believe I bought my car in 2020, from an Audi dealership. Who I now assume should have been aware of this known issue and class action settlement. I would like to report this past known issue to the NTSBA. I am being told I will have to pay a large amount of money after my extended warranty will only cover a portion of the repair. This was a known problem which could have put me in danger of the engine seizing will operating the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11592604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, SCCrash
AIR BAGS
I had an accident on 4/15/2024. I blacked out and ran into an oak tree but none of my airbags deployed.
NHTSA complaint #11586039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bergenfield, NJ
ENGINE
Too many engine issues/misfire/oil leaks on coils, air intake issues- hard to find the issue, engine burns/consumes way too much oil. Had gasket cover, PCV valve replaced, all coils replaced on 2 occasions due to oil leakage, spark plugs replaced, fuel pump replaced, intake valve replaced, water pump replaced, mass airflow sensor replaced, electric throttle body module replaced and I’m still experiencing misfires etc.
NHTSA complaint #11564343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sussex, WI
ENGINE
I have a one family, mother-in-law former owner 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T and unfortunately like others have the issue of excessive oil consumption. This started at about 75,000 miles and now at 79,000 miles it is using about 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Of course dealers have their talking points saying this is normal. No, excessive oil consumption is not normal! Too bad Audi is not doing anything about this known problem. NAA (Never Again Audi).
NHTSA complaint #11531320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Broadlands, VA
STRUCTURE:BODY
The Rear Subframe was found to have two significant holes that would not allow the car to pass a safety inspection, and I was told a significant hazard that required immediate repair. This is the only part on the vehicle with rust and is the same issue of rear subframe rust that Mercedes Benz is covering under warranty on the same-year cars due to a manufacturing defect. Audi Tysons had serviced the vehicle since new but was negligent in warning me of the extreme rust or safety hazard that had developed. The first inspection by an independent shop found this issue and said it is common on Audi Q5 manufactured in this time frame. According to the repair shop, the part has a plastic protective cover that allowed water to stay trapped and is the main contributing factor. Audi refused any warranty coverage stating the warranty only covers "vehicle body sheet metal panels," but the Owner's Manual for Warranty Coverage states "-- a defect in manufacturer's material and workmanship that will result in rust perforation of the vehicle body". The Q5 is a low-mileage (87,500) vehicle that has been garaged for ~50% of its life in Northern Virginia. In summary, this is a know critical safety issue due to a manufacturing/design defect that Audi is not addressing.
NHTSA complaint #11516211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesBaltimore, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2012 Audi Q5. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injection intake valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The oil warning light, the EPS warning light, TIPM warning, and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel intake valve and the oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
NHTSA complaint #11510646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesBaltimore, MD
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Audi Q5. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injection intake valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The oil warning light, the EPS warning light, TIPM warning, and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel intake valve and the oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
NHTSA complaint #11510646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tioga, TX
ENGINE
I have maintained the car well returning to Audi dealerships for all servicing. I’m able to pull into any Audi dealership to top off my oil due to a known issue with excessive oil consumption for Q5s. At 108,000 miles, the consumption is progressively worsening requiring 1 quart of oil every 500 miles. There’s no oil drippings on my garage floor.
NHTSA complaint #11506727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.