Audi S5 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 142 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls on file for the Audi S5, across 17 model years (2008–2026). The 2018 model year has the most complaints (26). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Audi S5 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S5 year: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2025. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Audi S5 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 27 | 7 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 25 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 24 | 8 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Audi S5 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 S5 | 1 | 0 | — | Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| 2025 S5 | 11 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2024 S5 | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2023 S5 | 3 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2022 S5 | 1 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2021 S5 | 1 | 5 | — | Suspension | |
| 2020 S5 | 25 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 S5 | 6 | 4 | — | Engine | |
| 2018 S5 | 26 | 2 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 S5 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2015 S5 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2014 S5 | 6 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2013 S5 | 16 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 S5 | 10 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 S5 | 8 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2010 S5 | 20 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 S5 | 3 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Audi: all Audi models · Audi VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi S5 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2010 (20), 2012 (10), 2013 (16), 2018 (26), 2020 (25), 2025 (11) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S5 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Audi S5?
Power Train, with 27 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Audi S5 have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.