Audi Q5 Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 257 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Audi Q5 across 14 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (85). The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (19% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Takata air bags: mentioned in 50 of 257 complaints (19%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 45 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles4 · 9%
10k–25k miles1 · 2%
25k–50k miles13 · 29%
50k–75k miles15 · 33%
75k–100k miles8 · 18%
100k–150k miles4 · 9%
150k+ miles0 · 0%

How serious are the reports?

Of 257 complaints, 19 mention a crash, 11 an injury.

Audi Q5 air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2012, with 85 complaints
2009: 162009162010: 502010502011: 672011672012: 852012852013: 1201312014: 3201432015: 2201522016: 5201652017: 3201732018: 132018132019: 3201932021: 1202112023: 4202342025: 420254

n = 257 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2025 Q549%—
2023 Q549%—
2021 Q511%—
2019 Q536%22,000
2018 Q5136%85,600
2017 Q537%51,600
2016 Q556%29,000
2015 Q522%30,000
2014 Q533%41,296
2013 Q511%—
2012 Q58551%50,000
2011 Q56747%55,000
2010 Q55050%70,000
2009 Q51652%54,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2016, with 90 complaints
2015: 1201512016: 902016902017: 812017812018: 322018322019: 122019122020: 4202042021: 3202132022: 7202272023: 4202342024: 6202462025: 8202582026: 920269

n = 257 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (9)

Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengerApr 3, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V251000 · 91 vehicles

Model years: 2023, 2024

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.

Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; electrical system: instrument cluster/panelJun 19, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V473000 · 28 vehicles

Model years: 2019

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.

Risk: A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleJan 30, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V082000 · 162,782 vehicles

Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Air bags:side/window; visibility:sun/moon roof assemblyJan 3, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V001000 · 234,057 vehicles

Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

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.

Seat belts:pretensioner; air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:side/window; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDec 29, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V955000 · 5,947 vehicles

Model years: 2018

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.

Air bags; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactiveMay 27, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V376000 · 8,381 vehicles

Model years: 2008, 2009

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.

Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleFeb 10, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V078000 · 659,493 vehicles

Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Air bags:side/windowJan 28, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V045000 · 734 vehicles

Model years: 2015

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).

Air bagsDec 18, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V484000 · 6,054 vehicles

Model years: 2009

Problem: Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 q5 passenger vehicles manufactured between november 25, 2008 and june 4, 2009. A left and/or right a-pillar trim cover clip may not have been manufactured correctly, allowing the a-pillar trim to become loose when the sideguard head protection airbags deploy during a crash.

Risk: If this happens, a loose trim piece could injure the front seat occupants of the vehicle.

Fix: Volkswagen will inspect the clip in the middle of the left and right a-pillar covers and replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on january 22, 2010. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-253-2834.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

While vehicle is in motion or parked driver side seat belt sign comes up followed by air bags on and off message. Seatbelt was fastened. Attached pictures are when vehicle is parked.

Received Oct 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770827

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…

Received Sep 22, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766103

Mileage at time of incident: Approximately 4,000 miles Date of incident: XXX Location: [XXX] Incident description: My vehicle was in neutral while going through an automatic car wash, as instructed. When the exit signal indicated it was clear to proceed, with my foot on the brake, I shifted into…

Received Aug 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11760006

Seat occupancy sensor, it's associated with code "B12251B".

Received Jun 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11746962

The airbag light and the driving assistance warning lights appeared on the dashboard randomly one day. I took the vehicle to the dealership (Audi of Columbia), where they kept it for a week and said the software needed to be updated. They updated it multiple times, but the car would not complete…

Received May 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11740423
Audi Q5
Audi Q5 GU 2.0 TDI in Filderstadt. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Audi Q5s have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 257 owner complaints about air bags for the Audi Q5. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the Audi Q5 air bags?

Yes: 9 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the Audi Q5?

The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 50 of 257 complaints.

Other Audi Q5 problems

See all Audi Q5 problems.