Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 24 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 4 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
24 reports
1,500 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Forward Collision Avoidance
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI SQ5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI SQ5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (BELL AUDI, 782 US1, EDISON, NJ) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
NHTSA ODI #11140632
10 miles · Aug 12, 2018
Visibility/wiper
AUDI'S MMI HAS A PARKING AID WHICH INCLUDES A 360 DEGREE TOP VIEW MODE. TOP VIEW MODE REVERTS TO "GRAPHIC VIEW" WITH EACH RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. TOP VIEW MODE SHOULD KEEP THE USER'S LAST SETTING WHICH IN MY CASE IS "CAMERA VIEW." CAMERA VIEW IS SAFER BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OBSTACLES RIGHT UP AGAINS…
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AUDI'S MMI HAS A PARKING AID WHICH INCLUDES A 360 DEGREE TOP VIEW MODE. TOP VIEW MODE REVERTS TO "GRAPHIC VIEW" WITH EACH RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. TOP VIEW MODE SHOULD KEEP THE USER'S LAST SETTING WHICH IN MY CASE IS "CAMERA VIEW." CAMERA VIEW IS SAFER BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OBSTACLES RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CAR (E.G. CHILDREN) WHICH SENSORS COULD MISS. TO SWITCH TO CAMERA VIEW, THE DRIVER NEEDS TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD AND CLICK THROUGH THE MMI MENUS. IF PARKING WITH TRAFFIC, THIS IS A DISTRACTION AND ALSO NOT SAFE. THIS DEFECT IN THE SOFTWARE ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED BY AUDI IN A TIMELY FASHION - IT'S BEEN PRESENT FOR OVER A CALENDAR YEAR. NEW AUDI VEHICLES APPARENTLY INCLUDE A LATER MMI VERSION WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS BUG BUT THEY HAVE NOT DISTRIBUTED A FIX TO EXISTING VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #11119461
10 miles · Aug 12, 2018
Electrical System
BACKUP CAMERA DEFAULTS TO A BLACK GRAPHIC VIEW IN STEAD OF CAMERA. ALMOST IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AS I HAD TO SWITCH TO CAMERA AFTER EVERY START WHILE BACKING UP IN PARKING LOTS.
NHTSA ODI #11119449
500 miles · Sep 22, 2017
Parking BrakePower TrainCrash
THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WITH THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN AND WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE DOWN A SMALL INCLINED DRIVEWAY, CROSSED THE STREET, AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHIC…
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THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WITH THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN AND WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE DOWN A SMALL INCLINED DRIVEWAY, CROSSED THE STREET, AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED BACK INTO THE STREET AND STOPPED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI SOUTH COAST (1425 AUTO MALL DR, SANTA ANA, CA 92705 (714) 973-7766) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure:body
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
Electrical System:body Control Module/bcm
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
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.
2018 Audi SQ5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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