2018 Audi Q5 Complaints

Carry Handle, Shell, Base,Other/I am not sure — Filed 09/20/2026

After one year of use, the car seat developed a sudden defect. An internal rod slid out of place, protruding from the side of the car seat by about an inch. I reported the issue to Graco, and they confirmed this car seat defect is a child safety risk, and in fact the car seat is no longer safe for use. According to the Graco Consumer Care representative: "I do apologize, but the rod protruding from the car seat is not normal and presents a safety hazard. Unfortunately, this is not a replaceable part, and the issue cannot be repaired without replacing the entire car seat." I have a friend who experienced the same issue, and worry that the Graco Turn2Me is prone to sudden safety defects. We have kept the broken car seat and it is available for inspection. The car seat has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or anyone else.

SUSPENSION — Filed 08/23/2026

Driving through the expressway a metal noice from the bottom of my car. One of the coil spring was out of the base and the other was broken. As the Audi dealer, the extended warranty doesn’t want to paid due to a corrosion on the bottom of the car. I’m live and drive close to the beach. They gave me thousands excuses to not fix it. My car has 60,000 miles and is from 2018. I was reading that those car may not be coated with special wax for corrosion.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 08/28/2026

The sunroof drainage system on my 2018 Audi Q5 failed to properly channel water away from the vehicle, resulting in significant water intrusion and approximately $6,000 in damage. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Audi dealership after the vehicle was brought in for inspection in August 2026. I am concerned that this represents a design or engineering defect in the sunroof drainage system rather than ordinary wear. A drainage system intended to remove water should not allow water to enter areas of the vehicle where it can damage electrical components or other systems. Water intrusion into these areas could potentially create electrical failures or other safety-related problems. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Audi dealer, and Audi of America was contacted regarding the issue. Audi declined to cover the repairs. There were no clear warning lights or messages alerting me that the drainage system was failing before the water intrusion and resulting damage were discovered. The vehicle and affected components can be made available for inspection if necessary. I am submitting this complaint because I believe NHTSA should investigate whether similar sunroof drainage failures and resulting water intrusion have occurred in other Audi Q5 vehicles and whether this represents a broader vehicle safety defect.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 08/23/2026

I have a 2018 Audi Q5, VIN [XXX]. I am reporting a water intrusion/electrical defect involving the rear trunk area and the Comfort Control Module. My vehicle is within the model range affected by the water-intrusion recall 90S9. I want Audi to investigate whether the water intrusion that damaged my vehicle is related to the recall or a known manufacturing defect, and I am requesting that Audi cover the inspection, repair, and related expenses.It is unsafe driving the car as it is, and I can't afford the repairs. Audi dealer-hip in Alentown Pa diagnosis the car and found the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/08/2026

Multiple electrical failures that control numerous safety systems, such as airbags, Collision avoidance, speed control, etc. Airbags will not activate in a collision. Vehicle will shut off at highway speeds, resulting in loss of steering control. The vehicle has been inspected by an Audi dealer. Multiple warnings on dash came on when the issue occurred.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/07/2026

Incident Description: While accelerating from a red light during rush hour, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of steering control. The steering wheel locked completely and could not be turned. Simultaneous loud, long beeping and dashboard warnings appeared, stating: "Steering malfunction stop the vehicle immediately." The vehicle was immobilized in the middle of a highly congested, complex 5x5 intersection. Local police had to shut down traffic until the vehicle could be cleared. Safety Risk: Stalling abruptly in a major intersection during rush hour created an immediate risk of a multi-car rear-end pile-up. This jeopardized the safety of the driver and multiple children who were inside the vehicle, who faced a severe personal injury risk whether they remained trapped in the active roadway or attempted to exit. Diagnosis, Cost, and Recall Context: The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership. Diagnosis revealed significant water intrusion inside the steering wheel wiring harness. Draining the water cleared the error and the vehicle become operational, but the dealership quoted $6,000 in repairs to replace the steering components completely out-of-pocket cost. Please note it appears the $6,000 quote will be out-of-pocket for catastrophic safety defects although they may be known issues for the same make and model years: Prior Gateway Recall: This vehicle’s VIN was previously impacted by the Gateway module recall (where water intrusion triggers a limp mode). That recall was redeemed prior to this event, and my understanding the repair should have prevented moisture intrusion. There seems to be a history on this make and model for known moisture intrusion causes critical issues. U45 Warranty Exclusion: The manufacturer issued a warranty extension for this exact steering failure on this same make and model years. However, this specific VIN was excluded from coverage, despite it being within the parameters.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 08/23/2026

Description of Incident and Safety Defect:Failed Component & Inspection Availability: The gateway control module, located in an unsealed floor compartment under the rear seat, failed due to liquid/moisture intrusion. The damaged module and vehicle are fully available for inspection upon request.Safety Risk: The sudden short-circuit of this module forced the vehicle into an immediate emergency "limp mode" and partial drivetrain shutdown while actively driving on the road. Unexpectedly losing engine power and throttle responsiveness in active traffic put my safety and the safety of surrounding drivers at an immediate, severe risk of a collision.Dealer / Independent Confirmation: The failure has been officially confirmed by an authorized Audi dealership service center. However, the dealer refused to perform a free safety repair because Audi has excluded my specific VIN from the active recall list.Prior Inspections: Outside of the diagnosing Audi dealership service center, the vehicle and failed component have not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives.Warning Lamps & Prior Symptoms: Immediately prior to the drivetrain failure, the dashboard lit up with sudden error messages and warning lamps regarding a critical system malfunction. There were no gradual symptoms or warning signs leading up to this incident; the catastrophic module failure occurred suddenly due to moisture contacting the unsealed component.Summary Assessment:This vehicle has suffered the identical engineering defect and hazardous failure mode detailed in NHTSA Recall Campaign 21V-947 (Audi Recall Code 90S9). Audi’s current recall window is too narrow. It must be expanded to include all 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles experiencing this exact, catastrophic safety failure, regardless of their production date cut-offs. To date the car has 89924 miles

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 08/20/2026

While driving the vehicle after a bump in a pot-hole there was loud clunking noise from the engine compartment and car stopped suddenly. There was a risk of getting hit by the car from behind. Car was towed to Audi Service Center and found to have a Connecting Rod Bearing Failure damaging the whole engine. The act is still at the repair shop and should be available for inspection. It was inspected by the authorized Audi Service center. Insurance advisor will be taking look at it also. There was no warning, messages, or any other symptoms of any problem prior to the incident.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/12/2026

XXX My wife drive her 2018 audi q5 2.0 on express way with mother([XXX]),the car suddenly stall and lost all power ,because car bcm2 module has suffered liquid damage due to known vehicle design defect, towing to nearest repair shop change new bcm2 module and fix wire spend near $4000.00 dollars . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/24/2026

I was pulling into (my usual) handicapped parking space, at a slow speed. As I approached the curb my brakes did NOT respond to stop my car. Not only did my brakes not respond, the car actually sped up - going up the curb and hitting the handicapped sign pole. The pole broke and stopped my vehicle! I was afraid my (out of control) vehicle would keep going through a store front - it did not. Folks gathered around- thinking I had put my foot on the gas . I DID NOT put my foot anywhere except on my BRAKES …which went ‘mushy’ . would not stop my vehicle. My research has found similar incidents reported by other drivers. I am NOT ALONE. Of course the dealership could not reproduce the incident. But they did suggest many other services for a car with 60,000 miles. The AUDI dealership took NO responsibility for the incident. There was a recall on the master cylinder that was supposedly handled before I took delivery of the vehicle in January 2019. Audi denied that anything was currently amiss with my master cylinder. There was a warning message when I tried to start my car about a week before. Because it made no sense - like your tires are low - I dismissed it as just a check engine light ‍♀️ I honestly can’t remember what that ‘odd’ warning said‍♀️ I’m not alone in reporting this - I’m almost afraid to drive my car

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE — Filed 07/07/2026

My 2018 Audi Q5 experienced significant water intrusion due to a failure of the panoramic sunroof drain system. Water entered the vehicle interior and traveled down into the electrical compartment, submerging the comfort module and damaging multiple wiring harnesses. This caused the vehicle to become inoperable and unable to start. Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin 2075969/2 describing this exact defect. The bulletin states that the sunroof drain hoses can be kinked during factory installation of the headliner, which blocks drainage and causes water to enter the vehicle. This is a manufacturing defect affecting multiple model years of the Audi Q5. In my case, the water intrusion caused electrical failure, loss of vehicle function, and required thousands of dollars in repairs. Audi declined to cover the defect and stated the vehicle was not maintained on schedule, even though maintenance has no relationship to kinked or improperly routed sunroof drains. This defect poses a safety risk because water intrusion into electrical components can cause sudden vehicle failure, electrical shorts, corrosion, and loss of critical systems. The failure occurred without warning. I am reporting this because the issue appears to be widespread, documented by Audi, and has the potential to disable vehicles unexpectedly.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/06/2026

I wrote Audi to request escalation of an unresolved issue involving my 2018 Audi Q5, related to Safety Recall 90S9 (NHTSA Campaign 21V947000) for the gateway control module. Summary of the issue: My vehicle recently experienced a complete gateway control module failure due to water intrusion. I lost steering and brake assist warnings while driving, and the vehicle would not restart after being pulled over safely. It was towed first to the nearest Audi mechanic who diagnosed the issue as Recall 90S9. We then contacted Audi Memphis for inspection by them since it was a recall issues and paid a 2nd towing charge. Audi Memphis (owned by Gossett Motor Cars) said they could not do anything until they looked at the car. I have since obtained a copy of the original repair order from when Recall 90S9 was performed on my vehicle. The vehicle at the time of recall repair was owned by my Mother. The recall requires two remedies: (1) installation of a protective cover over the gateway control module, and (2) sealing of an underbody seam on vehicles produced before September 2021. The repair order shows a technician comment reading "INSF" next to the seam sealant line item, which indicates the sealant application was noted as insufficient at the time of the original recall service. Despite this documentation, and despite towing my vehicle in specifically for a 2nd inspection, Audi Memphis has stated they have no findings and no liability for the current failure. Given that: • My vehicle is included in the affected range for Recall 90S9, • The original repair order appears to document an incomplete or insufficient sealant application, and • Audi's own 90S9 technical bulletin states that damages resulting from improper repair or failure to follow the work instructions are the dealer's responsibility, I am requesting that this case be escalated for review. The current gateway control module repair be repaired at no cost to me. I currently have no working vehicle.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 06/06/2026

The dashboard displayed a solid red brake light with a flashing warning “stop vehicle safely” light. A professional diagnostic scan confirmed a permanent hard fault on the ABS control Module (J104) and Hydraulic Unit (N55). The vehicle has only 66,755 miles. Independent repair shops cannot service this unit because it requires highly restricted, specialized Audi factory programming and coding software, forcing consumers to face massive dealership replacement costs for a premature electronic failure ona critical safety system.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 04/29/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact replaced the battery. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, however the vehicle was not diagnosed. The independent mechanic attempted to start the vehicle, however the vehicle failed to start. The independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and noticed that the gateway control modular was moist. The contact was informed that the gateway control module had become moist because of the broken seal, the vehicle shut down. The contact stated that the contact's wife had spilled a liquid substance into the vehicle. In addition, the contact was provided pictures of the corrosion. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the contact's VIN was not associated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. In addition, the contact was informed that the unknown recall only covered the seal. The contact was informed that the recall did not cover the replacement of the gateway control modular. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair of the corroded seal was covered under the recall. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000. VIN was unavailable.

ENGINE — Filed 04/18/2026

I was driving home from the farmers market with my two young kids. I was turning left at a busy intersection when the engine died and an engine warning flashed on the dash (I don't recall the exact message; it sounded catastrophic). There were no "check engine" or any other warning messages prior to the incident. I was able to restart the car immediately and give it a lot of gas to get out of the intersection - thank goodness - but didn't feel it was safe to drive the full 1 mile home, as there are several inopportune locations for an engine to die along the route, so I parked it in a residential neighborhood and walked home with my kids. My instinct there seems correct as it would not start again thereafter. I got it towed on the Monday and the mechanic called me to tell me that a piston had broken off in the engine and there is complete engine failure. I've attached a photo he took. This is a car we've had for 5 months with only 47,000 miles on it, regular service according to Carfax, and full/clean oil. No error messages or warnings prior. It was really scary to be in a busy intersection with a dead engine and young kids in the car.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 03/20/2026

I was pulling slowly into a parking space at a grocery store, with my right foot on the brake, nearly stopped. Then the car rapidly and suddenly accelerated unintentionally. The car jumped over a bush, a median, rammed into a parked car, pushing it across the next parking lane into a third car. The third car, in turn, bumped a fourth car. Safety: The air bags did not deploy. The potential for significant injury to me, nearby pedestrians and people in cars was extremely high. Luckily, I was able to brace myself sufficiently, there were no pedestrians nearby and no one was in any of the cars. There were no warning lights, beeps, messages or any other information to indicate a defect or potential malfunction.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/27/2025

On 10/27/25 as I was slowly pulling into a parking space, my Audi Q5 lurched forward and jumped the curb crashing into a tree. Happened too quickly to apply the brakes. No warning indications at the time of the incident. Car would not start and had to be towed to a repair shop. The insurance adjuster is evaluating the damage, probably the vehicle will be totaled. Luckily the tree stopped the car and nobody was in in front as the car jumped the curb.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 10/18/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with her son was in the car seat, the rear driver’s side seat lap band was twisted and was stuck around his waist. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to retract, and the contact had to cut the seat belt with a pair of scissors. The contact stated that the child had a bruise on his lower stomach near his hip however, medical attention was not needed. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that the seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 11/29/2023

This was unintentional acceleration case: When I got into the parking space, the car was almost stopped and I was about to press the park button (gear) and the car suddenly accelerated and in a fraction of a second, climbed the curb, crashed into the fence, broke the fence and crushed on a tree. I was still applying brake to stop it and I could not do anything else. The following facts show that the acceleration was totally out of my control. 1.vehicle climbed the curb 2. and climbed the dirt part, shrubs 3. to hit the fence and broke it; It looked like something mall functioned. As a matter of fact, no safety feature worked and no sound signals went on ! Even vehicle's collision system did not kick in when car was climbing over the curb. Fortunately, I could get out of that car and my body was aching due to the seat belt and airbag explosion. (Driver side bag exploded for sure. I do not remember if the other side bag exploded.)

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 12/16/2022

I was trying to park my car in my office parking space, after right turn to parking space, I applied brake to stop, but the car suddenly accelerated and within few seconds it crashed into the office building. I was still applying brake when it accelerated and I could not do anything else. The fact that vehicle climbed two levels of curbs to hit the building shows that the acceleration was out of my control. And even vehicle's collision system did not kick in when car was climbed over the curb. Polic report #: 22-350-0239C Agency: SCCSO

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/10/2021

CAR STATIONARY ON HIGHWAY AFTER TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP DUE TO A TRAFFIC INCIDENT AHEAD. REAR ENDED BY VEHICLE GOING IN EXCESS OF 40MPH. CAR PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT (CAR 3), SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE SAME CAR (CAR 3) IN THE FRONT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/25/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI Q5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A STAIRWAY RAIL OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI LIVERMORE (3400 LAS POSITAS RD, LIVERMORE, CA 94551) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 09/19/2019

1.I HAD AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 A.M. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 IN THE PARKING LOT FOR THE MEDICAL OFFICES LOCATED AT 2000 SOUTH MAYS STREET, ROUND ROCK, TEXAS. 2.I PARKED IN A SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS PART OF THEIR PROPERTY. 3.MY NORMAL HABIT IS TO PLACE THE CAR IN 'PARK' WHEN I STOP IN A PARKING SPOT. 4.SINCE IT WAS VERY WARM, I LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING SO I'D HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AS I PLACED THE SUN SCREEN OVER THE WINDSHIELD. 5.THE SUN SHADE IS ONE PIECE AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PROPERLY INSTALL. 6.WHEN I COMPLETED INSTALLING THE SUN SHADE, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS MOVING BACKWARDS AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. 7.I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STOP THE CAR BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE. 8.WHAT WAS HAPPENING MADE NO SENSE TO ME; IT WAS SURREAL. WHY WAS THE CAR MOVING BACKWARDS AND WHY COULDN'T I STOP THE CAR? 9.THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A PARKING LOT LIGHT POLE ON MY LEFT REAR AND THE LEFT FRONT OF A TOYOTA ON MY RIGHT REAR. 10.THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH EVERY PRE SENSE, DRIVER ASSISTANCE, AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AUDI OFFERS; HOWEVER, ALL SYSTEMS FAILED TO DETECT OR AVOID THE COLLISION. 11.THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY SOME WEIRD PROBLEM WITH MY 2018 AUDI Q5. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO IN THE TIME I HAD WITHOUT THE BRAKES WORKING.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE — Filed 01/03/2019

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.

STRUCTURE — Filed 01/20/2018

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 4/21/2017, I WAS SOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ON THE ADVERTISED SAFETY FEATURE CALLED THE AUDI PRE SENSE. AUDI PRE SENSE DETECTS COLLISION HAZARDS ALL AROUND THE CAR AND INITIATES SPECIFIC PREVENTIVE MEASURES. ON 1/20/2018 AT 9AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 10-15 MPH, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS DRIVING OFF FROM THE INTERSECTION DUE TO THE GLARE IN MY EYES I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A CEMENT PILLAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR COLLIDED AND THERE THE ENTIRE FRONT WAS SMASHED IN, THE ENGINE BELT WAS CLIPPED.I CONTACTED AUDI HEAD QUARTERS AND DESCRIBED TO THEM THE INCIDENT, PROVIDED PICTURES, AND POLICE REPORT. AUDI CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THAT THE SAFETY FEATURE DOES NOT WORK IN SUNLIGHT AND THAT IN THIS CASED THE AUDI PRE SENSE WOULD NOT OF DETECTED ANYTHING. THIS IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD AS WELL AS WHAT IS PUBLISHED ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE AUDI PRE SENSE SHOULD BE 360 VIEW AND MY CAR SHOULD HAVE ALERTED ME THAT I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT.