2019 Audi SQ5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 20 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other SQ5 years
Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi SQ5. That ranks 2nd out of 14 SQ5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 25%), typically at around 10,300 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

Audi SQ5
Audi SQ5 Sportback GU in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2019 Audi SQ5 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine5 · ~10,300 mi
Service Brakes4
Electrical System3 · ~2,900 mi
Exterior Lighting3 · ~2,900 mi
Air Bags2 · ~4,000 mi
Structure2 · ~31,450 mi
Visibility/wiper2
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Fuel/propulsion System1
Power Train1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine525%10,300——
Service Brakes420%———
Electrical System315%2,900——
Exterior Lighting315%2,900——
Air Bags210%4,000——
Structure210%31,450——
Visibility/wiper210%———
Forward Collision Avoidance15%———
Fuel/propulsion System15%———
Power Train15%———
Steering15%———
Suspension15%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2020, with 5 complaints
2019: 1201912020: 5202052022: 1202212023: 3202332024: 3202432025: 3202532026: 420264

n = 20 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2019 Audi SQ5 recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Structure:body; electrical system:body control module/bcmDec 8, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V947000 · 288,991 vehicles

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.

Structure:bodyOct 16, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V737000 · 174,278 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.

Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.

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

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.

Wheels:hubJun 5, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V416000 · 126,161 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.

Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinderApr 8, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V277000 · 12,645 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Risk: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.

Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.

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.

Engine rocker arm failed, per audi tech metal shavings in oil.

Engine · received Oct 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770864

Piston skirt extended warranty calls for replacement of the pistons. This does NOT fix the issue if the vehicle was driven long term with damaged pistons. In my case the vehicle started knocking 1000 miles after replacement. Unsafe to drive and I now how to pay for a new engine on my own.

Engine · received Sep 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11762508

Brake booster issue

Service Brakes · received May 28, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11740518

There’s a knocking noise coming from the engine that could lead to potential engine failure. There is a known manufacturers defect in these engines. Audi has extended a warranty, but not all cars are eligible. This should be a recall because if the engine fails on a high speed through a highway…

Engine · received Jan 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11711317

Piston skirt recall and warranty. Bulletin number AWA-25-08. Needs investigated. Based off average Audi owner statistics along with NHTSA statistics, when this bulletin was released in August of 2025, over 60% of vehicles with this 3.0T engine code EA839 would be disqualified from repairs for under…

Engine · received Dec 17, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11705497

Other Audi SQ5 years

← 2018 SQ5 · 2020 SQ5 →

See all Audi SQ5 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Audi SQ5?

Owners most often report engine, service brakes, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 5 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2019 Audi SQ5?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2019 Audi SQ5 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SQ5 model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.