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2011 Audi Q5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Q5 years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Audi Q5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

68 reports with mileage · 75 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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2025
Electrical System

Rear driver side door will not unlock when keypad, nor inside unlock button is pressed. Once inside, door will not unlock in sequence with other doors when vehicle is shut off and it is time to exit the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11654307

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

Audi q5 shows no recalls on my vehicle. My car stops randomly while driving even while being on highways and interstates. As well as the passenger side leaking due to sunroof drainage coming to the inside (which may affect the air bags). This Car has not had any repairs on recalls that I know of personally.

NHTSA ODI #11636788

120,000 miles · May 12, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

MY CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE. THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. YESTERDAY MY SON THROUGH A FIT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND OPENED THE BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS GOING OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE DOOR LOCK LIGHT WAS LIT. I FEEL THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD IT BE POSSIBLE OF THE DOOR…

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MY CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE. THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. YESTERDAY MY SON THROUGH A FIT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND OPENED THE BACK DOOR WHILE I WAS GOING OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE DOOR LOCK LIGHT WAS LIT. I FEEL THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD IT BE POSSIBLE OF THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH AUDI CORPORATE BUT THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ME BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED THAN THE ISSUE ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324269

109,693 miles · Jun 9, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

WELL FIRST IT WAS THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, BUT THE ONE I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT IS THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND ALSO THE FUEL PUMP WIRING WHICH WAS ALSO REMOVED FROM OUR VEHICLE, AND WE'RE LIKE TWO ABOUT HOW IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP . ANYWAY I'VE ALREADY PUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS AND HOW IT HAS MALFUNCTIO…

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WELL FIRST IT WAS THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, BUT THE ONE I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT IS THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND ALSO THE FUEL PUMP WIRING WHICH WAS ALSO REMOVED FROM OUR VEHICLE, AND WE'RE LIKE TWO ABOUT HOW IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP . ANYWAY I'VE ALREADY PUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS AND HOW IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED OTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF OUR VEHICLE INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE WHICH WAS ALSO REPLACED COILS SPARK PLUGS SENSORS ETC. WHAT I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT NOW IS I'VE CONTACTED AUDI USA AND THEY HAVE STRING US ALONG FOR ALMOST A YEAR GOING BACK-AND-FORTH TO DIFFERENT AUDI DEALERSHIPS AND GETTING DIFFERENT RESPONSES OR DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. RECENTLY WE HAD OUR AUDI Q5 2011 FULLY DIAGNOSED AND NOW WE COME TO A WHOLE NEW DILEMMA AND MALFUNCTION OF OUR VEHICLE. WE KNEW THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE GOING BAD BECAUSE OF THE WIRING WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED FOR THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR ALSO TO GO BAD AND THE SENSORS AND NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. WE THOUGHT WE FINALLY WERE GOING TO GET OUR CAR FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO US EVEN THOUGH WE I KNEW THAT OUR WARRANTEE WAS OUTDATED, BUT WE THOUGHT MAYBE SINCE THE RECALL HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT AUDI WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL ALMOST A YEAR AND GUESS WHAT AUDI DECLINED THE WORK OF REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTORS. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE ME THE SAME RESPONSE WHICH I ALREADY KNOW, THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, WE WERE ONLY ASKING FOR THE RIGHT THING TO BE DONE AND WHAT SEEMS FAIR. LAST TIME I EVER BUY AN AUDI

NHTSA ODI #11218745

109,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY AUDI Q5 2011 CHECK ENGINE AND EPC LIGHT CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP MY DASH, VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP NOT ONCE NOT TWICE BUT MORE THAN THREE TIMES. CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME AND SIMILAR MISFIRES AND ACTUALLY SEEMS TO BE GETTING HOTTER THAN USUAL, THE ENGINE. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT RECALLS ON THE CO…

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MY AUDI Q5 2011 CHECK ENGINE AND EPC LIGHT CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP MY DASH, VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP NOT ONCE NOT TWICE BUT MORE THAN THREE TIMES. CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME AND SIMILAR MISFIRES AND ACTUALLY SEEMS TO BE GETTING HOTTER THAN USUAL, THE ENGINE. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT RECALLS ON THE COOLANT PUMP,TIMING CHAIN, FUEL PUMP FLANGE, FUEL PUMP, WIRING SENSORS, EPC LIGHT BALL JOINTS, AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHAT HAS ME MOSTLY CONCERN IS THE RECALLS FOR ALL THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FOR EXAMPLE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES LIKE THE EGR FUEL CAP FUEL GAUGE SENDER, FEEL INJECTION SYSTEM FUEL LEAKS STALLING AND HESITATION , HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING ONE OR ACTUALLY A COUPLE WHERE A FIRE WAS INITIATED WHILE PEOPLE WERE IN THE CAR . THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHO DRIVES THE CAR PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY IT SEEMS THAT EVEN DOOR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AUDI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS AND RECALLS AND AND MAKE IT RIGHT ON THEIR PART . IF WE WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS CAR WAS GOING TO GIVE US THAT MUCH TROUBLE AFTER BUYING IT FROM A CERTIFIED DEALER, WE WOULD'VE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OR IMAGINED OF DRIVING A LEMON . AFTER THIS UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE AND STILL ONGOING ONE, AND THE WAY AUDI REALLY DOESN'T TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THE SAFETY OF ITS CLIENTELE, OR ITS FAMILIES, I WILL NEVER TAKE IN CONSIDERATION OF BUYING ANOTHER AUDI IN MY LIFE .

NHTSA ODI #11192829

109,000 miles · Mar 29, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I AM EMAILING THIS LETTER AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL RESPOND TO MY REQUEST OF REOPENING MY CLAIM REGARDING MY 2011 AUDI Q5'S RECENT AND PATTERN LIKE PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY THE REFERENCE NUMBER ABOVE SHOWS MY CARS HISTORY AND EXPLAINS HOW IT'S ALL GOTTEN TO ME ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AGAIN. AROUND THAT TIME WAS WHEN WE WERE HAVING…

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I AM EMAILING THIS LETTER AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL RESPOND TO MY REQUEST OF REOPENING MY CLAIM REGARDING MY 2011 AUDI Q5'S RECENT AND PATTERN LIKE PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY THE REFERENCE NUMBER ABOVE SHOWS MY CARS HISTORY AND EXPLAINS HOW IT'S ALL GOTTEN TO ME ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AGAIN. AROUND THAT TIME WAS WHEN WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUDI SERVICE DEPT IN CHANDLER AZ, THE FACT THAT WE WERE LIED TO BY THE SUPERVISOR WHEN HE STATED THAT CHANGING THE WIRING WAS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FLANGE, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS NOT. TWO OF THE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS FOR OUR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE REGULATOR, THREE TIMES WE TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. THAT IS NOT INCLUDING ALL THE OTHERS THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING, AND MAJOR PARTS OF THE ENGINE. RECENTLY WE TOOK OUR AUDI TO THE SERVICE DEPT IN SCOTTSDALE AZ , FOR THE RECALL OF THE AIR CANISTER AND ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS BEGINNING TO SMELL LIKE GAS AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND TROUBLE WITH THE STARTUP OF OUR VEHICLE. HAD IT CHECKEDOUT BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHICH TOLD ME IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. I HAD JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW GEL BATTERY AT AUTOZONE, DIDNT WANT THE BAD ALTERNATOR TO DRAIN MY NEW BATTERY SO SINCE I KNEW IT HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE BY AUDI IN CHANDLER, I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IT WAS BAD, AND IF HE COULD PLEASE CHECK AND REPLACE. BEFORE THAT I ALSO HAD IT RECHECKED AT AUTOZONE AND ORIELLYS AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING, BAD ALTERNATOR....HOPEFULLY YOU SEE WHERE I'M GETTING AT. I'M TRYING TO BE AS DETAIL AS POSSIBLE, SO SORRY FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS LETTER. TO NO SURPRISE OF MINE THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLS ME BACK AND TELLS ME THAT MY FUEL INJECTORS ARE GOING BAD, WHATTT

NHTSA ODI #11192324

82,000 miles · Oct 10, 2018
Electrical SystemService BrakesStructureCrash

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 ON THE HIGHWAY, A LIGHT CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT SAID 'PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION!' MOMENTS LATER MY 2011 AUDI Q5 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING A 3 CAR PILE UP. MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED IN JUNE AND GOTTEN NEW BRAKES AT THAT TIME AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11139404

35,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015
Electrical System

IN DECEMBER 2014 CLIMAT CONTROL MOTOR AND MODULE BLOW OUT ,2 MONTH LATER MMI SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING .IT 'S ONLY 36 000 MILES . VERY DISAPOOINTED WITH THIS CAR .

NHTSA ODI #10690803

Official recalls

5

18V818000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 19, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.

18V082000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 30, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

17V001000 · Air Bags:side/window; Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jan 3, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:side/window

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

16V660000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Sep 13, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.

16V078000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

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.