2021 Audi SQ5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SQ5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi SQ5. That ranks 3rd out of 14 SQ5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 38%), typically at around 2,400 miles. Complaints mention 1 injury. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Audi SQ5 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 | 5 | 38% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 31% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 23% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 8% | 10,715 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Audi SQ5 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention:display function
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
Tires; suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
Structure:body; electrical system:body control module/bcm
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.
Seat belts; seat belts:rear/other:retractor
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
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.
I noticed my car started to lose coolant, I checked my water pump and I saw there was a leak on of the hoses. Once I discovered that I also heard a tapping noise coming from the engine. I took it to my local Audi shop, and they discovered that my pistons were going bad. They told me I qualified for…
The engine water pump on this vehicle is leaking both internally and externally. This vehicle uses the 3.0T (EA839) engine, which uses a vacuum-actuated water pump with a shroud sleeve mechanism. A licensed repair facility diagnosed the failure and estimated repair cost at approximately $5,500. The…
While driving at normal operational speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, un-commanded, and catastrophic loss of motive power while navigating a live traffic intersection. The transmission completely disengaged all gears without warning, rendering the vehicle entirely stationary and immobilized in…
My car has a known issue with a piston skirt defect that can cause engine failure. Audi of America acknowledged this issue with the EA839 and only warranted an 80k mile warranty. I am outside of that warranty and in risk of catastrophic engine failure that could lead to safety issues on the road. I…
The contact owns a 2021 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for routine service at the dealer, and the contact was informed that the coolant pump was starting to fail. The contact was advised that the mechanic found coolant running through the vac lines. The contact was informed…
Other Audi SQ5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 SQ5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 SQ5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 SQ5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 SQ5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 SQ5 | 5 | 2 |
| 2021 | 13 | 5 |
| 2020 SQ5 | 8 | 4 |
| 2019 SQ5 | 20 | 5 |
| 2018 SQ5 | 24 | 5 |
| 2017 SQ5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 SQ5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 SQ5 | 9 | 1 |
| 2014 SQ5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2013 SQ5 | 1 | 0 |
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 2021 Audi SQ5?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Audi SQ5?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 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 2021 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.