2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (3) · Air Bags (2)
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2018-01-30 · campaign 18V082000 · 162,782 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-10 · campaign 16V078000 · 659,493 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Service bulletins (593)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2913-04-01 · 35 13 09 2028085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
speed s-tronic, leaks from transmission
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069904_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069078_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
Showing the 6 most recent of 593 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2019-06-07 · Power Train“i am the sole owner of a 2011 audi s5 cabriolet. chief complaints: engine problem,.warning light shut down engine,gearbox malfunction,tpms malfunction,. transmission intermittently slipping and would not go in reverse,takata airbag not changed by keyes audi complaint for lemon law with audi corp. car is inoperable remains in audi dealership pen…”
2019-01-09 · Power Train · 39,500 mi“occasional lack of propulsion when accelerator pedal is depressed, loss of gear while moving slowly (from a stop). in either case, the car may be stuck in an intersection or otherwise act unpredictably to other traffic. remedy is to either take foot off accelerator to re-engage multiple times, or turn car off and back on. transmission shows er…”
2018-11-08 · Power Train · 96,000 mi“my wife and i went on a drive, to get lunch, after leaving lunch , we headed home, i pulled out on to the hwy, and the audi,"check engine" "no reverse" light lit up, and then the tpms lit up, the warning stated i had lost reverse, and i could continue driving. home was over 10 miles away, so i continued to drive home. i was trying to move in to th…”
2018-07-13 · Air Bags“takata recall notice was issued by audi over 24 months ago. authorized dealers cannot source parts to complete repair jeopardizing safety of our drivers. dealers are not able to schedule or even forecast when parts will become available. given the length of elapsed time and potential danger presented, this situation is unacceptable.…”
2018-01-03 · Air Bags“takata recall - received urgent recall august 2017. multiple calls to the dealership and audi usa have not provide information regarding 1) when parts are available for my urgent recall notice, and 2) is the car safe to continue to drive? i understand the scale of this recall, however additional information is needed to make decisions.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.