NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
12 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 21, 2025
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control
I drive an 2019 Audi A5 and there is a terrible Auto start/stop malfunction and cruise control malfunction that has made this car unsafe to drive. The Auto start is featured on the A5 to "save gas," but however malfunctions and cuts off while driving or coming to a stop. Tonight on 1/21/2025 at 1:44 am it did just that. While si…
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I drive an 2019 Audi A5 and there is a terrible Auto start/stop malfunction and cruise control malfunction that has made this car unsafe to drive. The Auto start is featured on the A5 to "save gas," but however malfunctions and cuts off while driving or coming to a stop. Tonight on 1/21/2025 at 1:44 am it did just that. While sitting at the light it stalled out, manually crank it up attempt to get thru the light and it cuts off leaving my son and I stranded dead center of the intersection leaving the two of us sitting ducks. I look and there is traffic coming and we were nearly taken out by an oncoming vehicle after my 5th attempt to start up the car before finally pulling off. Prior I was alone in traffic where the auto stop again malfunctioned, cut off, and caused me to roll backwards almost hitting a vehicle behind me. The cruise control also malfunctions at random. This vehicle has become not only a high risk but a danger to operate on any highway at this point and I've only had it 2 years. It is an extremely beautiful car, but is not worth my life, my son's, or anyone else sitting in the car.
NHTSA ODI #11637225
25,000 miles · May 8, 2024
Back Over PreventionElectrical System
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse(R), the message "SOS System Deactivated" was displayed, and the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact shifted to park(P) and shifted back to reverse(R); however, the failure persisted. The contact stated upon restart…
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The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse(R), the message "SOS System Deactivated" was displayed, and the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact shifted to park(P) and shifted back to reverse(R); however, the failure persisted. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle and shifting to reverse(R), the rearview camera became operable, but the message "SOS System Deactivated" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while his wife was at a complete stop two weeks later, the Audi pre-sense warning light illuminated, and an alarm sounded. The windows rolled up independently, and the front driver's side seat belt tightened around the waist of the contact's wife. The contact stated that the seat belt untightened, and his wife was able to drive to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
NHTSA ODI #11587709
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2023
Steering
Hello, I was driving down highway at 55mph when my Electric Power steering Failed suddenly. I almost crashed to the barrier as I was in the passing lane. My steering failure message popped up on my instrument cluster and steering wheel became stiff. I had my mom and niece in the vehicle with me. This vehicle could had hurt all t…
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Hello, I was driving down highway at 55mph when my Electric Power steering Failed suddenly. I almost crashed to the barrier as I was in the passing lane. My steering failure message popped up on my instrument cluster and steering wheel became stiff. I had my mom and niece in the vehicle with me. This vehicle could had hurt all three of us. It is difficult to turn the steering wheel now. Failure message is still active.
NHTSA ODI #11500191
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2022
Air BagsSeats
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V874000 (Seats, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact s…
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The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V874000 (Seats, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI #11470284
20,000 miles · Jun 2, 2022
Latches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, all four doors of the vehicle locked independently while she was outside of the vehicle and in possession of the keys. The contact was unable to unlock the door of the vehicle using the key fob or the keys manually. There wa…
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The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, all four doors of the vehicle locked independently while she was outside of the vehicle and in possession of the keys. The contact was unable to unlock the door of the vehicle using the key fob or the keys manually. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son who was occupying the vehicle assisted her in unlocking the doors. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her two-year-old daughter was in the car seat on the rear passenger’s side. The contact was unable to unlock the door of the vehicle using the key fob or the keys manually. The contact was finally able to unlock the vehicle with the assistance of the fire department. Additionally, the contact stated that the child safety lock of the vehicle was manual and would unlock inadvertently while driving, which made it possible for her daughter to open the door. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #11467198
17,000 miles · Jan 3, 2022
Steering
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Steering Malfunction" message displayed on the instrument panel and continued flashing. Moments later the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who discov…
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The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Steering Malfunction" message displayed on the instrument panel and continued flashing. Moments later the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who discovered that the power steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 17,000.
NHTSA ODI #11445976
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2021
SteeringSuspensionWheelsCrash
I was driving when the rear of my car began vibrating, then fishtailing and I lost control and hit a curb resulting in mostly forward damage. In reviewing the Preliminary Estimate from the auto-shop and insurance adjuster, there was quite a bit of damage to the Rear Suspension including a broken Trailing arm lock nut, washer, an…
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I was driving when the rear of my car began vibrating, then fishtailing and I lost control and hit a curb resulting in mostly forward damage. In reviewing the Preliminary Estimate from the auto-shop and insurance adjuster, there was quite a bit of damage to the Rear Suspension including a broken Trailing arm lock nut, washer, and bolt, as well as the Protector lining, lower control arm, its lock nut and the control arm mount bolt. The broken rear axle components caused me to lose control of my vehicle resulting in forward impact with a curb. My car was deemed a total loss with $28K in estimated repairs.
NHTSA ODI #11436024
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance
On three different occasions, I have experienced automatic emergency braking of the car which, rather than keeping me safe, placed me in a very dangerous situation. Each time, I was in a controlled intersection on a green light and in the left turn lane, with oncoming traffic also having a green light. When it was amply safe to …
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On three different occasions, I have experienced automatic emergency braking of the car which, rather than keeping me safe, placed me in a very dangerous situation. Each time, I was in a controlled intersection on a green light and in the left turn lane, with oncoming traffic also having a green light. When it was amply safe to make the left turn, with oncoming traffic at a safe distance from the intersection, I began my left turn. Just as my car was turning in front of that oncoming traffic, and just as I needed to proceed safely and promptly through the intersection, the Pre-Sense system jammed on the brakes, stopping my car in the path of oncoming traffic. In the time it took to get over the shock of that happening and finish the turn, and if the oncoming traffic had not been paying attention, serious accidents could have resulted. Please note that all three of these incidents occurred with the Pre-Sense system set at its least sensitive position. I have since turned the system off completely. I have not contacted the dealer or the manufacturer.
NHTSA ODI #11432815
15,000 miles · May 3, 2021
Structure
WATER IS COLLECTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WELL OR THE DOOR SILL. WATER SLOSHING IS HEARD WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING FROM STOP. PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE AFTER RAINS OR CAR WASHES.
NHTSA ODI #11415053
7,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
ON TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM DETECTED AN ONCOMING CAR WAY TOO EARLY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD JUST AS I WAS WELL INTO THE TURN AND NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I BECAME A DANGER TO THE ONCOMING CAR. THIS PUT ME INTO A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROU…
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ON TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM DETECTED AN ONCOMING CAR WAY TOO EARLY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD JUST AS I WAS WELL INTO THE TURN AND NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I BECAME A DANGER TO THE ONCOMING CAR. THIS PUT ME INTO A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM AWARE THAT THE SENSITIVITY CAN BE ADJUSTED BUT, IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS NO DANGER AT ALL UNTIL MY CAR BRAKED SUDDENLY AS I WAS TRYING TO COMPLETE MY TURN SAFELY. THAT ACTUALLY CREATED A HAZARD. AS WITH OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT, I BELIEVE THAT THE SOFTWARE IS STILL SOMEWHAT IMPERFECT. I HAVE SINCE SELECTED THE LEAST SENSITIVE SETTING AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM HAS ALSO BRAKED HARD SEVERAL TIMES WHEN BACKING UP EVEN THOUGH ANY POTENTIAL DANGER WAS STILL WELL AWAY FROM MY CAR. THE BRAKING IS SO HARSH AND STARTLING, THAT ALONE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
NHTSA ODI #11298504
Official recalls
3Jan 26, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Tires
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.
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly
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.
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Nov 10, 2021
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
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.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Seats
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.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Apr 26, 2021
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗