IllustrationThe recalls were not completed and the dealership is charging for recall work.
2013 Audi Q5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Audi Q5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Q5 years →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
170–25K
1025–50K
1550–75K
1075–100K
10100–150K
0150K+
62 reports with mileage · 27 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.
- Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsCOOLANT PUMP BECAME BLOCKED IN MY 3.0 ENGINE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. THIS MAY BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE 2.0 VEHICLE, FOR WHICH THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 RECALLS. MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED BLOWING FUSES REPEATEDLY (DAILY TO WEEKLY) LAST YEAR AND THE MECHANIC THINKS IT MAY BE A RELATED ISSUE.
My daughter drove her car to Hobby Lobby in Opelika, AL. After being in the store for about 7 minutes they announced over the intercom for the owner of a black audi to come to the front. They told her that her car was on fire. She went outside and black smoke and fire was coming from the hood. A lady had already called 911. …
Read full complaint
My daughter drove her car to Hobby Lobby in Opelika, AL. After being in the store for about 7 minutes they announced over the intercom for the owner of a black audi to come to the front. They told her that her car was on fire. She went outside and black smoke and fire was coming from the hood. A lady had already called 911. While waiting, flames started coming from the bottom of the car. The police arrived and started trying to put the fire out, then firefighters arrived and put the fire out. After the fire was put out, the car kept trying to start itself so they had to locate the battery to disconnect it. Luckily the firefighters were a few stores down and was able to get to it quick. The car is available for inspection and we feel that this is some type of malfunction that we shouldn't be responsible for. A fire is very dangerous and could have hurt or killed my daughter if it had caught fire with her in it and also it catching fire around other cars that put others in danger or if it would have been at night at home under our carport and ended up catching our house on fire! The car has not been inspected by anyone. We didn't have full coverage insurance since I had just changed our policy since where I worked closed down so in the meantime of going from full coverage insurance to liability for a month and a half, this happened. So now we don't really know what to do, as we feel this isn't something we should have to pay for. We feel that Audi should be responsible for this malfunction/defect. No warnings and we have our vehicles maintenanced regularly.
1. ADAPTIVE LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING. WARNING LIGHT FLASHING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. " ADAPTIVE LIGHT DEFECTIVE" SYMBOL FLASHING. 2. AC/HEATING FAN "SQUEALING" LOUDLY. BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
COOLANT PUMP BECAME BLOCKED IN MY 3.0 ENGINE VEHICLE, MEANING AT RISK FOR OVERHEATING. THIS MAY BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE 2.0 VEHICLE, FOR WHICH THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 RECALLS.
NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED.....YET. THIS IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP. 19N4. NOTICE RECEIVED 6/22/18.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE WAS SEEN UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, WHICH WERE EXTINGUISHED BY…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE WAS SEEN UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, WHICH WERE EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V622000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *JS
AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAR WAS PARKED. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES (VERY SMALL). WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT WITHOUT VEHICLE DAMAGE. TOWED TO DEALER AND AM AWAITING RESULTS FROM AUDI
THE SPEAKERS IN THE AUDIO SYSTEM RANDOMLY EMIT A VERY LOUD POP! THIS NOISE HAPPENS EVEN WITH THE VOLUME OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RADIO OR ANY AUDIO IS PLAYING. THE NOISE IS VERY STARTLING! *TR
Official recalls
518V229000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Apr 11, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
17V622000 · Electrical System:wiring
Oct 5, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
17V298000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 3, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that 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 replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.
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.
17V002000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Jan 3, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.