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2016 Audi Q5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Audi Q5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model 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

24 reports with mileage · 53 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

4 reports
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29,000 miles · Nov 16, 2020
Air BagsVisibility/wiper

THERE IS A LEAK FROM THE PANORAMA SUNROOF INTO REAR SIDE CABINET OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL #17V001000 BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL DESCRIPTION. THE LEAK CAN POTENTIAL CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE SIDE REAR AIRBAG SO IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. HOWEVER, THE CAUSE…

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THERE IS A LEAK FROM THE PANORAMA SUNROOF INTO REAR SIDE CABINET OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL #17V001000 BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL DESCRIPTION. THE LEAK CAN POTENTIAL CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE SIDE REAR AIRBAG SO IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. HOWEVER, THE CAUSE IS REALLY A DEFECTIVE DRAIN HOSE CONNECTING TO THE SUNROOF DRAIN THAT IS NOT SECURELY ATTACHED OR MAYBE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11374832

40,000 miles · Sep 4, 2019
Visibility/wiperCrash

FIRST OF ALL I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WITH 35 YEARS OF SERVICE..TWENTY FIVE YEARS AS A CERTIFIED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR. MY EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY HAZARDS IN REFERENCE TO MOTOR VEHICLES I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON THE Q5 (2016)ARE WAY TOO BIG AND OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISUAL FIIELD ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE MIR…

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FIRST OF ALL I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WITH 35 YEARS OF SERVICE..TWENTY FIVE YEARS AS A CERTIFIED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR. MY EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY HAZARDS IN REFERENCE TO MOTOR VEHICLES I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON THE Q5 (2016)ARE WAY TOO BIG AND OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISUAL FIIELD ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS BLIND SPOT ALMOST INVOLVED MYSELF IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11253302

4,900 miles · Jul 3, 2016
Air BagsVisibility/wiperCrash

"TAKATA RECALL" AND VISIBILITY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 6/30 DRIVING 2016 AUDI Q5 TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. BEFORE MAKING THE TURN I ENSURED NO ONE WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I HAD A SOLID GREEN LIGHT. WHEN I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THEN SUDDENLY A CAR FROM NO WHERE CAME AND HIT MY CAR ON T…

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"TAKATA RECALL" AND VISIBILITY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 6/30 DRIVING 2016 AUDI Q5 TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. BEFORE MAKING THE TURN I ENSURED NO ONE WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I HAD A SOLID GREEN LIGHT. WHEN I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THEN SUDDENLY A CAR FROM NO WHERE CAME AND HIT MY CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN A SPEED OF AT LEAST 45 MPH. MY CAR WAS DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL METERS AND FINALLY STOPPED ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT PART IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY FRONT LIGHTS AND HOOD ARE TOTALLY DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI #10882324

2,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016
Visibility/wiperCrash

THE MIRRORS ON MY AUDI Q5 ARE TOO HIGH AND BIG. THEY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCT MY VIEW WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. I EITHER HAVE TO LOOK BELOW OR ABOVE THEM SOMEHOW TO SEE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/11/2016. I STOPPED AT 4 WAY STOP AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT. I HIT A SMALL SPORTS CA…

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THE MIRRORS ON MY AUDI Q5 ARE TOO HIGH AND BIG. THEY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCT MY VIEW WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. I EITHER HAVE TO LOOK BELOW OR ABOVE THEM SOMEHOW TO SEE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/11/2016. I STOPPED AT 4 WAY STOP AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT. I HIT A SMALL SPORTS CAR THAT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED FROM MY VIEW. DID NOT SEE THE CAR UNTIL HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE TO BRAKE AND I HIT HIM. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE CAR FROM BEING SEEN. THIS COULD BE MUCH WORSE AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK. AUDI NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10836266

Official recalls

5

18V229000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.