2013 Audi Q5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (27) · Steering (17) · Structure:body (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi Q5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
62 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System 2018-04-11 · campaign 18V229000 · 342,867 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
Electrical System:wiring 2017-10-05 · campaign 17V622000 · 216,913 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Risk: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2017-05-03 · campaign 17V298000 · 240,487 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.
Air Bags:side/Window 2017-01-03 · campaign 17V001000 · 234,057 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System 2017-01-03 · campaign 17V002000 · 342,867 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
Service bulletins (1,621)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
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 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,621 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-20 · Unknown Or Other“there is considerable rust to the point that the subframe has been structurally compromised. i also contacted audi usa regarding this issue, but they advised that they could not provide any assistance and closed my case. i was instructed to have the vehicle inspected and see what the dealer could do. i have videos and photos documenting the comprom…”
2026-02-20 · Unknown Or Other“oil leak/ and tire suspension icon keeps coming on after i fixed it…”
2025-07-30 · Structure:body“took vehicle in for state safety inspection. found heavy rust on subframe nearly all the way through. was told if it gets any worse it will not pass inspection next time. apparently there are plastic rock shields on subframe that trap water causing it to rust. took it to dealer and they want to charge close to $4000 to replace. this seems like an…”
2025-02-07 · Steering · 💥 crash“when at highway speed, the vehicle veered hard to the left without any driver input, causing the car to cross several lanes of traffic and hit a concrete divider at ~65mph. the driver fractured her back, and one of three children in the car experienced injury. the vehicle was declared a total loss by insurance. the driver (my wife) indicated that …”
2024-10-29 · Suspension“i was doing maintenance on car. had new tires and alignment done. the alignment tech found rotted out rear sub-frame underneath plastic covers. said that it was unsafe to drive. had it fixed there. mechanic had another q5 on rack, he said it had exact same problem. tried to find used parts, all had rot through the frame. found a part in texas that …”
2024-10-15 · Suspension“the rear subframe has plastic "stone guards" to protect the frame from being damaged in off-road conditions. where these stone guards are attached, the subframe has rotted/rusted large holes. water and salt from winter seasons can get trapped behind these guards. a subframe on a vehicle at this age should not have complete holes rotted through. let…”
2024-05-19 · Engine“my audi uses 1 quart of oil every 300 miles. the dealership wants to charge to find the problem. audi should fix the problem at no charge. i bought the vehicle in february 2023. was told there were no issues with the car. …”
2024-03-09 · Engine“car was telling me to add 1 qt of oil about every 1500-2000 miles, even after a recent oil change. so i took it to the place i purchased the car from and they replaced the timing chain gasket thing. about a week later the same issue came back. so i took it to audi to have the same thing replaced. and about a month later the issue came back. took it…”
2024-03-09 · Engine“car started running hot, had mechanic do pressure/ leak test and he couldn’t find a leak. took it to audi and they said the coolant pump and thermostat housing were leaking coolant. i’ve researched and it looks like these cars have know coolant pump issues.…”
2024-02-22 · Engine“the vehicle oil level low light comes on every 600 miles (excessive oil consumption). i purchased the vehicle in july 2021, and in 2 weeks i had an oil-level light. i called audi regarding the condition, they talked with the dealership regarding the issue and came back in 2 weeks and stated that the recall was up to 2011. i would like audi to pa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.