2018 Audi Q5 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2018 Audi Q5, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 31,900 miles. The words owners use most often: “control module” (28% of reports).
- 74electrical system complaints
- 31,900median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Control module: mentioned in 21 of 74 complaints (28%)
- Water intrusion: mentioned in 9 of 74 complaints (12%)
- Sunroof drain: mentioned in 8 of 74 complaints (11%)
- Start stop: mentioned in 7 of 74 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 74 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Audi Q5 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q5 | 2 | 50% | — |
| 2025 Q5 | 19 | 43% | 10 |
| 2024 Q5 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2023 Q5 | 10 | 23% | — |
| 2022 Q5 | 7 | 32% | 23,000 |
| 2021 Q5 | 27 | 36% | 12,500 |
| 2020 Q5 | 8 | 32% | 1,225 |
| 2019 Q5 | 12 | 23% | 22,000 |
| 2018 Q5 | 74 | 36% | 31,900 |
| 2017 Q5 | 4 | 10% | — |
| 2016 Q5 | 10 | 13% | 21,591 |
| 2015 Q5 | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2014 Q5 | 9 | 9% | 59,000 |
| 2013 Q5 | 9 | 10% | 47,000 |
| 2012 Q5 | 5 | 3% | 63,000 |
| 2011 Q5 | 8 | 6% | 109,000 |
| 2010 Q5 | 7 | 7% | 75,000 |
| 2009 Q5 | 1 | 3% | 47,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Audi Q5s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 74 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2018 Audi Q5 (36% of the 208 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Audi Q5 electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 31,900 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2018 Audi Q5?
The most frequent phrase is “control module”, in 21 of 74 complaints, followed by “water intrusion” (9).
See all 2018 Audi Q5 problems or electrical system problems across all Q5 years.