2016 Audi A5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A5 years
- Not enough data 15th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A5. That ranks 15th out of 19 A5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 43%), typically at around 35,000 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 7owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Audi A5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 43% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 29% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Audi A5 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Risk: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Immediately after taking it home from a dealership, I noticed the MMI system wasnât turning on. I figured it would fix itself, but itâs been 4 days and nothing has happened. The screen stays black when starting the car. When I reset the MMI by holding the volume knob for 10 seconds, it briefly…
On August 3, 2025, my wife and I came home from dinner and I couldnât get out of the driverâs side door. I took it to Naples Audi where I bought the car and delt with its Assistant Service Manager and Service Advisor. Audi estimated the repair to be over $1,300. I called Audi USA Regional…
Car went into limp mode and check engine light came on.
Electromechanical steering rack has gone out. Had this completely failed while driving myself and others could be put in serious harm of a collision or crash. There are many online complaints and issues with the audi steering racks. No other warnings then it just went out at the same time it tells…
The drive chain broke, causing permanent damage to the engine which requires a complete engine replacement. The car was 5 + years old with 38,000 miles on it and well maintained.
Other Audi A5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 A5 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 A5 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 A5 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 A5 | 7 | 2 |
| 2021 A5 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020 A5 | 60 | 4 |
| 2019 A5 | 12 | 3 |
| 2018 A5 | 38 | 6 |
| 2017 A5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 7 | 3 |
| 2015 A5 | 8 | 3 |
| 2014 A5 | 28 | 3 |
| 2013 A5 | 35 | 3 |
| 2012 A5 | 22 | 0 |
| 2011 A5 | 25 | 0 |
| 2010 A5 | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 A5 | 11 | 1 |
| 2008 A5 | 5 | 1 |
See all Audi A5 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A5?
Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Audi A5?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Audi A5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A5 model years, the 2016 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.