2018 Audi Q5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Q5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi Q5. That is the most of any Q5 model year in the database (19 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (74 complaints, 36%), typically at around 31,900 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 5 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 207owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 74 | 36% | 31,900 | “control module” (28%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 44 | 21% | 6,250 | — | — |
| Engine | 31 | 15% | 27,260 | — | — |
| Suspension | 25 | 12% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 11% | 7,375 | — | — |
| Structure | 21 | 10% | 32,827 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 9% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 7% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 6% | 85,600 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 6% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 5% | 5,650 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 5% | 4,600 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 3% | 31,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% | 13,400 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 4,600 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 1% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 1% | 80,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 1% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 27,260 | — | — |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Audi Q5 recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Structure:body; electrical system:body control module/bcm
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
Structure:body
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
Wheels:hub
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
Risk: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliperDo not drive
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
Seat belts:pretensioner; air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:side/window; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
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.
After one year of use, the car seat developed a sudden defect. An internal rod slid out of place, protruding from the side of the car seat by about an inch. I reported the issue to Graco, and they confirmed this car seat defect is a child safety risk, and in fact the car seat is no longer safe for…
Driving through the expressway a metal noice from the bottom of my car. One of the coil spring was out of the base and the other was broken. As the Audi dealer, the extended warranty doesnât want to paid due to a corrosion on the bottom of the car. Iâm live and drive close to the beach. They…
The sunroof drainage system on my 2018 Audi Q5 failed to properly channel water away from the vehicle, resulting in significant water intrusion and approximately $6,000 in damage. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Audi dealership after the vehicle was brought in for inspection in August…
I have a 2018 Audi Q5, VIN [XXX]. I am reporting a water intrusion/electrical defect involving the rear trunk area and the Comfort Control Module. My vehicle is within the model range affected by the water-intrusion recall 90S9. I want Audi to investigate whether the water intrusion that damaged my…
Multiple electrical failures that control numerous safety systems, such as airbags, Collision avoidance, speed control, etc. Airbags will not activate in a collision. Vehicle will shut off at highway speeds, resulting in loss of steering control. The vehicle has been inspected by an Audi dealer…
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 | 207 | 6 |
| 2017 Q5 | 42 | 5 |
| 2016 Q5 | 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 2018 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 2018 Audi Q5?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 74 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Audi Q5?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.