2018 Audi Q5

In early July, 2023 various warning and fault lights began to show on the dashboard: engine start system, brake lights, start/stop system, and others - indicating malfunctions with systems important to safety. Also, the car alarm system sounded without cause and key pods would not lock/unlock the doors electronically. These warning lights proliferated over several days. We took our car into our local Audi dealership. They diagnosed the problem as follows: "Performed GFF and found code for 3393 comfort system control module replacement. Control module faulty due to control unit being submerged in water and fried the control unit. Water leak due to rear drains clogged causing the water to overflow. Performed/fixed the water leak, cleaned out the pools of water that have accumulated, replaced the control unit 3393 comfort system control module, performed control unit replacement test plan and program keys." The Audi Q5 is well known to have design/parts problems in the sunroof drainage system. As has occurred in thousands of other Q5s, those issues caused the rear cargo area to flood, frying an important electronic component and activating warning/fault lights for a range of other systems. Malfunctions in several of those systems could have caused critical safety issues. We are fortunate because we decided to take our Audi directly to the dealership service center. Repairs cost several thousand dollars.

The sunroof draining is designed in such a way that if the holes get clogged, the water can back up and flood the comfort control module in the rear of the car rendering it useless. That module controls critical parts of the driving of the car like turn signals, the on/off starter motor, which if they fail while on the road make it incredibly dangerous to drive. Audi has already recalled the car to "enclose" the gateway control module but refuses to take responsibility for damage to the comfort control module caused by badly designed sunroof drainage. This incident caused a $9,000 repair that they refused to pay for.

The car is totalled. My car tripped 9+ malfunction warnings, after starting and driving. These included rear brake lights, directionals, start/stop system, and more. It appears that the sunroof leaks, and the roof drains were clogged (even though they were specifically checked and cleaned by the dealer 2 months earlier). This led to water accumulating in the areas under the back seat (a prior recall which allegedly had been addressed...NHTSA campaign number: 21V947000. Audi’s number for this recall is 90S9.), and in the rear wheel well area, where electronics control modules live. The car eventually had to be towed to the dealer. It was initially estimated to cost $9,500 to repair. But, after several weeks, more water was found and it was declared not worth repairing.

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle in a severe rainstorm, the vehicle experienced electrical failures, which included the head lights flashing and the horn activating before the vehicle suddenly became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who discovered that rainwater had leaked into the rear of the vehicle and the electrical components were submerged in water causing an electrical failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V947000 (Electrical System, Structure). The failure mileage was 53,000.

I WAS ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND I GOT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS. THE BRAKING/STOP START SYSTEM, LIGHTS AND A FEW OTHER LIT UP. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WATER (RAIN) GOT IN THROUGH MY SUNROOF AND SHORTED MY SYSTEM (WARRANTY WON'T COVER). THERE ARE SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS RE. THIS ISSUE ALREADY AND AUDI KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S NO RECALL AND CARS HAVE STOPPED SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

AS I WAS PREPARING TO PARK AT MY LOCAL GROCERY STORE IN AN ASSIGNED SPACE I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FRONT END SLAMMED INTO A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND THE RETAINING WALL. THE CAR WAS PRACTICALLY AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THIS OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY WHEN I REVERSED THE CAR IT ACCELERATED BACK AT A RAPID SPEED. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS INJURED OR WORSE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS OR FATAL SITUATION AND I FEEL THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRONIC FAILURE. CONSIDERING THE SAFETY RECORD ON THIS CAR I FELT VERY UNSAFE AND NOT IN CONTROL.

ON THREE OCCASIONS BEGINNING IN THE SPRING OF 2018, THE TAILGATE HAS RANDOMLY OPENED WITH NO COMMAND FROM THE OWNERS. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN IN OUR GARAGE AND WE HAVE BEEN ELSEWHERE. EACH TIME THE TAILGATE COLLIDED WITH THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN WE OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR WAS OPENED CAUSING BODY DAMAGE. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE AUDI Q5 AND OTHER MODELS AND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED OUTSIDE ON STREETS AND ROADS AS WELL AS INSIDE. THE DEALER SAID THAT AUDI HAS A PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO MAKE SOFTWARE CHANGES REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER THE SOFTWARE CHANGES, THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. AUDI HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE BODY WORK. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, I PAID FOR THE BODY WORK. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE DEALER PAID FOR THE BODY WORK AFTER AUDI REFUSED TO PAY. THE CAR IS NOW GOING INTO THE DEALER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD SO THAT THE DEALER CAN WORK WITH AUDI ENGINEERS TO HOPEFULLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. IF THE TAILGATE OPENS ON A HIGHWAY AND LUGGAGE FALLS OUT, SOMEONE COULD BE HURT OR KILLED.