2016 Audi Q5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Q5 years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi Q5. That ranks 8th out of 19 Q5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (26 complaints, 34%), typically at around 38,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 77owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Audi Q5 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 | 26 | 34% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 14% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 10 | 13% | 21,591 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 13% | 90,721 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 12% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 10% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 6% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 5% | 20,200 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 5% | 16,950 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 4% | 30,744 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 36,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Audi Q5 recalls (5)
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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.
Air bags:side/window; visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
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.
Driving on May 20, 2026 near my home in Florida, power steering assist failed suddenly making it very difficult to steer. Red light on dashboard lit up indicating steering failure. According to a search of the NHTSA records, this is a known issue with these cars. (NHTSA Campaign 15V452000, Audi…
1) Rear subframe supports differential, axels, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires 2) If rear suspension fails , above noted assemblies will fall out of the car 3) Yes, dealer and independent garage have inspected and condemned 4) Manufacturer is aware of the problem, 5) No warnings or messages…
My Q5 failed inspection due to a rusted subframe, so badly there is a huge hole in it. The dealership sent photos and notes to Audi but the dealership claims Audi denied my warranty claim (12 Year Corrosion Warranty) because it's not a body panel (the verbiage used in the warranty). However, Audi…
Mechanic was checking the car and noticed subframe is rusted through underneath the plastic cladding. Audi dealers should cover this under warranty as itâs a safety issue. This happened due to poor designing.
I am reporting a safety issue involving my 2016 Audi Q5. The vehicle previously underwent recall 20Z8/20W9, which addresses fuel pump flange cracking that can cause fuel leaks and fuel vapor odors. Despite this recall repair being marked as completed, I am now experiencing a strong gasoline smell…
Other Audi Q5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 Q5 | 42 | 1 |
| 2024 Q5 | 20 | 4 |
| 2023 Q5 | 44 | 5 |
| 2022 Q5 | 22 | 4 |
| 2021 Q5 | 74 | 8 |
| 2020 Q5 | 25 | 6 |
| 2019 Q5 | 52 | 5 |
| 2018 Q5 | 207 | 6 |
| 2017 Q5 | 42 | 5 |
| 2016 | 77 | 5 |
| 2015 Q5 | 99 | 6 |
| 2014 Q5 | 105 | 5 |
| 2013 Q5 | 89 | 5 |
| 2012 Q5 | 168 | 6 |
| 2011 Q5 | 143 | 5 |
| 2010 Q5 | 100 | 4 |
| 2009 Q5 | 31 | 6 |
| 2008 Q5 | 0 | 1 |
See all Audi Q5 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
Embed this 2016 Audi Q5 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi Q5?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Audi Q5?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Audi Q5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Q5 model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.