The Lemon Index

All cars · Audi Q5 · 2018

2018 Audi Q5. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index93100 = average car
Complaints66NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold69,978U.S. model year
Per 100K sold94complaints
Year rank#4 of 5#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S7)AWD23 / 27 / 25Premium$3,100
3.0L 6-cyl turboAuto (AM-S8)AWD19 / 24 / 21Premium$3,700

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 3,200 and 52,000 miles. Median 13,400, from 72 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Electrical31,9004,400–73,90019
Engine27,3002,300–52,0005
Brakes9,0002,500–12,70011
Body structure32,80016,000–70,5009
Wheels12,0006,000–20,9005

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical23%
Brakes18%
Wheels9%
Body structure8%
Speed control8%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
2321105016

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 6

  • 21V947000 Dec 2021 Electrical System / Body Control Module/Bcm

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 19V737000 Oct 2019 Structure / Body

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 19V416000 Jun 2019 Wheels / Hub

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 19V277000 Apr 2019 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Master Cylinder

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 18V369000 Jun 2018 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Caliper

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.

    Risk. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volksw

  • 16V955000 Dec 2016 Seat Belts / Pretensioner

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

    Risk. In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy. Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Manufacturer communications 1157

Audi filed 1157 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • This technical service bulletin provides troubleshooting for the battery for a condition that…
  • This technical service bulletin provides troubleshooting for brake noise
  • This bulletin advises to replace the Brake Servo Unit in instances where squeaking noises are…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Audi Q5 SUV AWD Later Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Audi Q5 SUV AWD Early Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2017412557,640Engine
2018936669,978Electrical
2019382667,516Steering
2020482450,435Automatic emergency braking
20211207060,301Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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