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2010 Audi A5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2020
Engine

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE AND TO START PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL 1QT OF OIL ON EVERY 1000 MILES...NOW FEW MINTS LATER I HAVE TO DO THAT MORE OFTEN ON EVERY 500MILES... AND RECENTLY I HAD TO ADD COOLING AND NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN NEW ISSUE... MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MY CAR AND H…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE AND TO START PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL 1QT OF OIL ON EVERY 1000 MILES...NOW FEW MINTS LATER I HAVE TO DO THAT MORE OFTEN ON EVERY 500MILES... AND RECENTLY I HAD TO ADD COOLING AND NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN NEW ISSUE... MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MY CAR AND HE IS SURPRISED AUDI HASN'T DONE A RECALL ON IT. MY CAR IS UNDER 90K AND MAY REQUIRE AN ENGINE CHANGE FOR OVER $3-4K. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!

NHTSA ODI #11361935

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

CAR RUNS OUT OF ENGINE OIL WITHIN 2 TO 3 WEEKS OF OIL CHANGE, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL THREE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2.5 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11290000

115,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Engine

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK I NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WITH MY CAR, WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR TO PULL UP IN A GARAGE I FELT THE CAR LOOSING POWER AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO GO OFF, I WILL THEN HAVE TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GIVE IT POWER AND KEEP IT GOING WHICH WAS NOT THE SAFEST, KNOWING THAT I SHOULD BE DE…

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IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK I NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WITH MY CAR, WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR TO PULL UP IN A GARAGE I FELT THE CAR LOOSING POWER AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO GO OFF, I WILL THEN HAVE TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GIVE IT POWER AND KEEP IT GOING WHICH WAS NOT THE SAFEST, KNOWING THAT I SHOULD BE DECELERATING IN SUCH INSTANCES. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, AND THEN 3 DAYS LATER AFTER PARKING IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 12 MINUTES, I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND IT NOT STARTING UP. IT WILL BEGIN TO CRANK BUT NEVER STARTED. I TRIED TO JUMP START IT WITH A POWER STARTUP BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAULT WITHIN THE ENGINE. THIS WILL TAKE SOME DAYS TO REPAIR AND I HAVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE FOR WORK. I WAS TOLD THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR MY CAR MAKE/MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #11191567

55,000 miles · Mar 2, 2018
Engine

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY GARAGE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAY IT IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" AND I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN MADE A RECALL. IT IS $2,000 AND THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS; IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DON'T WANT TO BE WRITING IN AFTER A CATASTROPHE SO I AM WRITING P…

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I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY GARAGE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAY IT IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" AND I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN MADE A RECALL. IT IS $2,000 AND THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS; IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DON'T WANT TO BE WRITING IN AFTER A CATASTROPHE SO I AM WRITING PREEMPTIVELY: PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL!!!

NHTSA ODI #11075975

80,300 miles · Feb 14, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR (2010 AUDI A5), THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A STATE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO AUDI OF NEW ORLEANS WHERE I LATER FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TURBO, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER A…

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR (2010 AUDI A5), THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A STATE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO AUDI OF NEW ORLEANS WHERE I LATER FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TURBO, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AT A COST JUST OVER $4300. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE TYPE OF ENGINE THAT I HAVE. IT SEEMS THAT IT OCCURS IN THE 2.0T AUDI/VW AROUND APPROXIMATELY 80K MILES. MY CAR HAD JUST TURNED OVER 80K. I ALSO LEARNED THAT HAD I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DAMAGED THE PISTONS, CAUSING THE CAR TO POSSIBLY NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR ALSO CONSUMES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.

NHTSA ODI #11072850

115,000 miles · May 23, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR UNDER MANUFACTURER REFERENCE NUMBER: 170626336. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE CRANK SHAFT SEALS AND TURBO CHARGER IN JANUARY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT 110,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10991127

76,336 miles · Sep 8, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, EPC, AND ENGINE OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, EPC, AND ENGINE OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,336.

NHTSA ODI #10904826

67,000 miles · Jan 20, 2016
Air BagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIR BAGS AND THE PISTONS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIR BAGS AND THE PISTONS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821299

67,713 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY UPON STARTING AND WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THE OIL AND ELECTROMAGNETIC PARKING SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL AND OIL FILTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY UPON STARTING AND WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THE OIL AND ELECTROMAGNETIC PARKING SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL AND OIL FILTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE CHASSIS NEEDED TO BE LUBED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT MAY HAVE NEEDED TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,713. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,473. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. UPDATED 11/10/14

NHTSA ODI #10596048

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.