2018 Audi S5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi S5. That is the most of any S5 model year in the database (17 years). The most reported problem area is engine (9 complaints, 35%). Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 26owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Audi S5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 35% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 31% | 1,350 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 12% | 15 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 8% | 18,155 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 8% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8% | 36,300 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 4% | 10 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | 200 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Audi S5 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; seats
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
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.
An Audi dealer has just diagnosed my 2018 S5 Cabriolet Prestige with vacuum system contamination caused by water pump failure. I had requested the diagnostic due to small coolant leaks on the engine and loss of coolant in the expansion tank. No warning lights and no overheating yet. Not yet aware…
Component/System: Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) / Airbag system â Recall 74E3 / NHTSA 21V874. What Happened: The passenger airbag may switch off even when the seat is occupied due to a faulty PODS wiring connection. The warning message âPassenger Airbag Offâ appears with a chime…
VEHICLE Year: 2018 Make: Audi Model: S5 Prestige Trim: 3.0 TFSI (EA839 V6 Turbo) Mileage: 86,000 Engine Code: CWGD COMPLAINT TITLE Latent Engine Failure â EA839 Piston Skirt + Rocker Arm Defects â Dealer Broke Engine Cover, Left Wiring Harness Dangling â Audi Denies Despite Having DIY…
Vacuum line has coolant due to water pump failure and over heating of engine. Whole water pump and coolant reservoir plus hoses need to be replaced before additional damage to vehicle.
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report a mechanical issue with my 2018 Audi S5 Sportback. Around 57,000 miles, the engine began making a noticeable ticking noise, which I have been advised is due to failing rocker arms. This issue has raised serious concerns, as it can…
Other Audi S5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 S5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 S5 | 11 | 2 |
| 2024 S5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 S5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2022 S5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021 S5 | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 S5 | 25 | 4 |
| 2019 S5 | 6 | 4 |
| 2018 | 26 | 2 |
| 2016 S5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 S5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 S5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 S5 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 S5 | 10 | 1 |
| 2011 S5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2010 S5 | 20 | 0 |
| 2008 S5 | 3 | 0 |
See all Audi S5 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi S5?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Audi S5?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Audi S5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S5 model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.