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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

What owners actually said

143 reports
94,000 miles · Dec 6, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT: NEW COUNTRY AUD…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT: NEW COUNTRY AUDI GREENWICH 181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11052854

98,000 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Engine

AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 8 DAYS I WENT IN GARAGE TO CRANK IT. THE CAR CRANKED BUT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RE CRANK IT BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED AUDI AND HAD IT TOWED IN. THEY TOLD ME THE "LIFETIME" TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $4,000 AND $7,00…

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AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 8 DAYS I WENT IN GARAGE TO CRANK IT. THE CAR CRANKED BUT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RE CRANK IT BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED AUDI AND HAD IT TOWED IN. THEY TOLD ME THE "LIFETIME" TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $4,000 AND $7,000 TO FIX. I DID SOME QUICK SEARCHING AND SAW OTHER FOLKS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. THE CAR HAS 98,000 MILES , ALWAYS SERVICED BY AUDI. I CALLED AUDI AND TOLD THEM THIS APPEARS TO BE A RE OCCURRING ISSUE AND I THOUGH THEY SHOULD HANDLE THE FIX. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD SPLIT THE COST. I TOLD THEM TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, THE FIRST WAS "OIL CONSUMPTION" WHICH THEY REPAIRED FOR FREE. ANOTHER $7,000 FIX. I JUST SAW A EPISODE ON "NEWS 5 INVESTIGATES" CHICAGO DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH A VW, AND ALSO LISTING AUDI'S 2011. ITS ON THEIR WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI #11051375

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. IT HAS TAKEN TOO LONG TO GET MY AIRBAGS AG. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS IT IS A HIGH RISH OF INJURY OR DEATH. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN AUGUST OF 2016. THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO WHEN I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE AIRBAGS REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #11047275

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL ISSUED IN 2016 BUT MY DEALER HAS BEEN WAITING OVER 6 WEEKS FOR PARTS TO DO THE INTERIM REPAIR. AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11046110

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2017
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL," DEALER IS UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IS NOT AVAILABLE. FEAR OF GETTING HURT. NO INCIDENT YET.

NHTSA ODI #11041906

60,400 miles · Oct 18, 2017
Exterior Lighting

RECEIVING LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH AUDI ACROSS MODEL RANGE POSSIBLY DUE TO DESIGN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11034313

103,000 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL CAMPAIGN NOT IMPLEMENTED ON MY VEHICLE YET. AUDI JUST PERFORMED AN AUDI RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IGNITER HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL. AUDI APPEARS TO BE TELLING CONSUMERS HOWEVER THAT IT DOES.

NHTSA ODI #11025274

85,000 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Power Train

WHILE TAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, THE AUDI Q5 3.2 TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE AUDI Q5 STALLED AND STOPPED AND WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY; HOWEVER, THE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE AUDI Q5 DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE "GEAR…

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WHILE TAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, THE AUDI Q5 3.2 TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE AUDI Q5 STALLED AND STOPPED AND WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY; HOWEVER, THE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE AUDI Q5 DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION; YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING (LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY)". AFTER REPEATEDLY RESTARTING THE AUDI Q5 AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION IT EVENTUALLY ENGAGED THE GEARS ALLOWING THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN OUT OF TRAFFIC. FROM THAT POINT ON, IT DISPLAYED THIS MESSAGE ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY, BEING THE WORST IN THE MORNING, ALSO LOSING REVERSE GEAR. I DO A LOT OF HWY DRIVING AND ALWAYS WORRY IF I WILL GET KILLED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS IT HAS STALLED ON ME WHILE ENTERING THE HWY ALSO. AUDI HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT IGNORANT, PRETENDING MY CAR IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ADMITTING TO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THIS IS THEIR FACTORY PROBLEM WHICH THEY QUOTE 10K TO FIX, 2X CARS TRADE IN VALUE OR WHOLESALE VALUE.

NHTSA ODI #11024538

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2017
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY VEHICLE WENT TO THE AUDI FIFE DEALERSHIP. ADVISED I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I TRIED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND I WAS ADVISED THAT MY CAR HAD -0-TRADE IN VALUE. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT ON A TRADE-IN. THEY SAID IT WAS WORTHLESS. I TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME AND I NOTICED ON MY PAPERWORK THAT THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETED "3" RECALLS WITH…

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MY VEHICLE WENT TO THE AUDI FIFE DEALERSHIP. ADVISED I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I TRIED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND I WAS ADVISED THAT MY CAR HAD -0-TRADE IN VALUE. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT ON A TRADE-IN. THEY SAID IT WAS WORTHLESS. I TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME AND I NOTICED ON MY PAPERWORK THAT THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETED "3" RECALLS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION OR KNOWLEDGE. I ASKED SERVICE WHY THEY COMPLETED THESE RECALLS ON A WORTHLESS VEHICLE THAT I HAD TO TOW HOME. A VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T WANT. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS DEALERSHIP IS COLLECTING OVER $14,000 FOR RECALLS THAT I DIDN'T AUTHORIZE ON A VEHICLE THAT THEY SAID WAS WORTHLESS. I CAN'T EVEN VERIFY IF THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY DID THE RECALLS. THIS IS AN UNETHICAL PRACTICE FOR THIS DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME MY VEHICLE IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT AN ENGINE; WON'T ACCEPT ON A TRADE; TOWED MY VEHICLE HOME BUT THEY COLLECT $14,000.

NHTSA ODI #11024123

41,000 miles · Sep 3, 2017
Air BagsCrash

TOOK SUV IN FOR RECALL X3 (2) SEPARATE DEALERS, WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART IN YET TO REPLACE IT. I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THIS PAST JANUARY 2017 THE AIR BAG DIDNT DEPLOIT.

NHTSA ODI #11021252

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.