2021 Audi Q5 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 8 NHTSA recalls and 103 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
D
46/100
High Reported Activity — 2021 Audi Q5
The 2021 Audi Q5 shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.
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8
NHTSA Recalls
8 recalls on record
103
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
2
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Audi Q5 (8)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Audi dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Seat Belts: Rear/Other: Retractor
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
🔧 Tires
Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022….
🔧 Electrical System: Body Control Module/Bcm
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…
🔧 Suspension: Rear: Axle: Non-Powered Axle Assembly
A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Display Function
A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Charging: Cable/Cord: Onboard
An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle…
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Audi Q5
Based on 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Audi Q5 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Audi Q5 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode an Audi VIN — free Audi VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2018 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Audi Q5
Is the 2021 Audi Q5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Audi Q5 has 8 recall campaigns and 103 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Audi Q5 have?
The 2021 Audi Q5 has 8 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Audi Q5?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Audi Q5 are: Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Audi Q5 safe to buy?
The 2021 Audi Q5 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 8 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Audi Q5 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Audi Q5 are: 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2018.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.