Audi Q5 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 327 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Audi Q5 across 18 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (47). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (16% of reports).
- 327engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $7,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%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.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 53 of 327 complaints (16%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 33 of 327 complaints (10%)
- Coolant pump: mentioned in 18 of 327 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Audi Q5 at $7,800, and half of them between $6,150 and $10,500.
Based on 27 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 137 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 327 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 4 an injury.
Audi Q5 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q5 | 1 | 33% | — |
| 2025 Q5 | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2024 Q5 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2023 Q5 | 7 | 16% | — |
| 2022 Q5 | 4 | 18% | — |
| 2021 Q5 | 17 | 23% | 9,000 |
| 2020 Q5 | 4 | 16% | — |
| 2019 Q5 | 9 | 17% | — |
| 2018 Q5 | 31 | 15% | 27,260 |
| 2017 Q5 | 19 | 45% | 53,000 |
| 2016 Q5 | 26 | 34% | 38,000 |
| 2015 Q5 | 38 | 38% | 68,500 |
| 2014 Q5 | 36 | 34% | 64,683 |
| 2013 Q5 | 33 | 37% | 75,000 |
| 2012 Q5 | 47 | 28% | 80,400 |
| 2011 Q5 | 42 | 29% | 84,000 |
| 2010 Q5 | 5 | 5% | 77,000 |
| 2009 Q5 | 2 | 6% | 76,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Engine
Model years: 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Q5 Quattro and Q5 Sportback Quattro vehicles. The cylinder head cover screws may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: The screws can loosen, allowing oil to leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the screws as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 15ZK.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2021
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
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.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Received a malfunction drive train alert on a 2019 Audi with approximately 66,000 miles at the time. Took it in to have it addressed and was advised it needed a new Turbo. The turbo has since been replaced. However, a vehicle with very low miles should not be having any drive train issues. There is…
Ever since I have purchased the vehicle it has consumed alot of engine oil. I have to add engine oil every two months. I have reached out to Audi regarding the issue with no response or help.
While driving the vehicle after a bump in a pot-hole there was loud clunking noise from the engine compartment and car stopped suddenly. There was a risk of getting hit by the car from behind. Car was towed to Audi Service Center and found to have a Connecting Rod Bearing Failure damaging the whole…
On July 23, 2026, my 2023 Audi Q5 suddenly lost power while I was driving on the highway, with no prior symptoms before the incident. The vehicle began stuttering, entered limp mode, displayed multiple drive-system malfunction warnings, and developed a loud knocking sound from the engine area. The…
My 2018 Audi Q5 experienced significant water intrusion due to a failure of the panoramic sunroof drain system. Water entered the vehicle interior and traveled down into the electrical compartment, submerging the comfort module and damaging multiple wiring harnesses. This caused the vehicle to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi Q5s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 327 owner complaints about engine 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 engine?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Audi Q5?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,800 (half paid between $6,150 and $10,500), from 27 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Audi Q5?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 53 of 327 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (33).
Other Audi Q5 problems
See all Audi Q5 problems.