TAKATA RECALL MILDEW ODOR RESULTING FROM WATER LEAKING IN
2014 Audi Q5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Q5 years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Audi Q5 are substantially higher than 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
53 reports with mileage · 52 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
105 reportsINTERIOR SURFACE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COVERS (LENSES) SHOWED SIGNIFICANT PITTING AND HAZING, AS IF IT HAD BEEN SANDBLASTED, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE PLASTIC HAD DEGRADED ENOUGH TO REDUCE VISION FROM HEADLIGHTS. THESE ARE SEALED ASSEMBLIES AND THERE WAS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE. MY SUSPICION IS THAT THE UV G…
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INTERIOR SURFACE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COVERS (LENSES) SHOWED SIGNIFICANT PITTING AND HAZING, AS IF IT HAD BEEN SANDBLASTED, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE PLASTIC HAD DEGRADED ENOUGH TO REDUCE VISION FROM HEADLIGHTS. THESE ARE SEALED ASSEMBLIES AND THERE WAS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE. MY SUSPICION IS THAT THE UV GENERATED BY THE LED HEADLIGHT PROJECTORS IS SO HIGH THAT IT IS ATTACKING THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE PLASTIC. DEALER REMARKED THAT THEY HAD SEEN "A NUMBER" OF THESE. Q7 OWNERS WITH SIMILAR LED HEADLAMPS HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS ONLY REALLY VISIBLE TO OWNER IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, AND THE OWNER HAPPENS TO BE LOOKING AT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHILE NOT DRIVING.
THE WIPER PULLS BACK WATER TO THE WINDSCREEN THAT IMPACTS VISIBILITY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND VIDES WERE SHOWN. BRAND NEW WIPER BLADES WERE INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $80. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS BY DESIGN. HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL Q5'S AND SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD IS DEFINITELY N…
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THE WIPER PULLS BACK WATER TO THE WINDSCREEN THAT IMPACTS VISIBILITY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND VIDES WERE SHOWN. BRAND NEW WIPER BLADES WERE INSTALLED AT THE COST OF $80. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS BY DESIGN. HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL Q5'S AND SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD IS DEFINITELY NOT BY DESIGN. VIDEOS ARE POSTED ON THE AUDI FACEBOOK PAGE. NO RESPONSE OR ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE.
UNIVERSAL JOINTS RUBBING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY AND NO RECALL BY AUDI. PAYING OVER $800 FOR THIS REPAIR. POWER STEERING IMPAIRED 04/27/18*JB *TR
2014 AUDI Q5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ARM REST ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ARMREST DOES NOT LOCK IN POSITION AND SLIDES OVER THE CUP HOLDER WHEN MOVED TO THE FORWARD POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IF THERE IS A CONTAINER OF HOT LIQUID IN THE CUP HOLDER AND SOMEONE LEANS ON THE ARMREST, IT EASILY SLIDES …
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2014 AUDI Q5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ARM REST ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ARMREST DOES NOT LOCK IN POSITION AND SLIDES OVER THE CUP HOLDER WHEN MOVED TO THE FORWARD POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IF THERE IS A CONTAINER OF HOT LIQUID IN THE CUP HOLDER AND SOMEONE LEANS ON THE ARMREST, IT EASILY SLIDES FORWARD AND PUSHED INTO THE CONTAINER WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOT LIQUID IN ALL DIRECTIONS. *JB
THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP OR JUST ABOUT A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THERE IS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING AS EXPECTED. IS THE ABS SYSTEM CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE? THE CAR IS 'DEAD' FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS AND THEN POWER IS RESTORED. I WAS ALMOST H…
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THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP OR JUST ABOUT A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THERE IS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING AS EXPECTED. IS THE ABS SYSTEM CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE? THE CAR IS 'DEAD' FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS AND THEN POWER IS RESTORED. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. REPORTEDLY, THIS IS APPARENTLY WIDELY DOCUMENTED AND ONGOING SINCE AT LEAST THE YEAR 2000, AND NOT SPECIFIC TO AUDI...WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING ABOUT THIS??? *TR
DROVE ON HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD CLOSE TO TORRANCE BOULEVARD LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR START TO SHAKE AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ASIDE AND AFTER FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS WORKING FINE BUT A MESSAGE ON THE BOARD MENTIONING THE AUTO STOP START FUNCTION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE …
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DROVE ON HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD CLOSE TO TORRANCE BOULEVARD LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR START TO SHAKE AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ASIDE AND AFTER FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS WORKING FINE BUT A MESSAGE ON THE BOARD MENTIONING THE AUTO STOP START FUNCTION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE ASSOCIATED SYMBOL TURNED ON THE DASH. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRM THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000 KM , WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE WERE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND THAT WORE OUT THE BRAKES . BRAKES WE PULSATING AND GRINDING . INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ROTORS WERE HOT SPOTTED AND A LOT OF MATERIAL WORN OFF THE ROTORS AND PADS . WE ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS A…
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BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000 KM , WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE WERE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND THAT WORE OUT THE BRAKES . BRAKES WE PULSATING AND GRINDING . INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ROTORS WERE HOT SPOTTED AND A LOT OF MATERIAL WORN OFF THE ROTORS AND PADS . WE ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS AND TREATED THE CAR WITH UTMOST RESPECT . AUDI MADE US PAY FOR NEW ROTORS AND PADS . AUDI SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . I DRIVE A GM THAT HAS NEVER NEEDED BRAKES BEFORE 100,000 KM .AUDI NAILED US FOR 400.00 FOR 2 ROTORS AND PADS . *TR
THIS IS BRAND NEW AUDI Q5 I PURCHASED ROUGHLY A MONTH EARLIER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MULTIPLE CARS BEGAN HONKING AND WAVING AT US. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT BLACK SOME WAS APPEARING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ISSUE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEA…
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THIS IS BRAND NEW AUDI Q5 I PURCHASED ROUGHLY A MONTH EARLIER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MULTIPLE CARS BEGAN HONKING AND WAVING AT US. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT BLACK SOME WAS APPEARING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ISSUE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE CREW DID CONFIRM AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. A WEEP HOLE WAS FOUND ON SIDE OF TRANSMISSIONS THAT WAS LEAKING OIL WHICH CAUSED BLACK SMOKE TO APPEAR FROM THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE TEAM ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR
FUEL TANK LEAK. WENT FOR A NORMAL UNEVENTFUL DRIVE FROM HOWARD COUNTY MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA SUBURBS AND CAME HOME BACK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE ON FRIDAY THE 13TH!. WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO A GARAGE THAT SMELLED VERY HEAVILY LIKE GAS. LOOKED BELOW THE AUDI Q5 AND SAW A SMALL PUDDLE OF GAS. PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND C…
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FUEL TANK LEAK. WENT FOR A NORMAL UNEVENTFUL DRIVE FROM HOWARD COUNTY MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA SUBURBS AND CAME HOME BACK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE ON FRIDAY THE 13TH!. WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO A GARAGE THAT SMELLED VERY HEAVILY LIKE GAS. LOOKED BELOW THE AUDI Q5 AND SAW A SMALL PUDDLE OF GAS. PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND ASKED TO CALL AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ASKED ME TO CALL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED AFTER THE LOCAL FIRE DEPT. MADE SURE THIS IS NOT A FIRE HAZARD WHILE BEING TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME TODAY (MONDAY THE 16TH OF JULY 2014) TO TELL ME THAT THE GAS TANK WAS HIT BY SOME ROAD DEBRIS AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE SOME SCRATCHES IN THE FUEL TANK AND WAS NOT SURE WHY THE LEAK IS OCCURRING. EVEN THOUGH THE BRAND NEW Q5 IS JUST 2 WEEKS OLD, THE REPAIRS WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ITS APPROX. $5,000 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM AT THIS TIME. I'M ALSO FILING THE COMPLAINT HERE SINCE THIS ISSUE SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. HOW COULD A LEISURELY UNEVENTFUL DRIVE IN A BRAND NEW SUV ON THE FREEWAY LEAD TO THE FUEL TANK BEING RUPTURED OR CRACKED FROM ROAD DEBRIS! THIS JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. SINCE IT WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN A CLOSED GARAGE I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS PARKED IN THE ROAD THAT MAY NOT FIND THE ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHILE ON THE MOVE OR IT COULD BURN DOWN THE HOUSE IF PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. *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.
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