AUDI SQ5 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used AUDI SQ5 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the AUDI SQ5 has 73 owner complaints and 22 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- AUDI
- Model
- SQ5
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 73
- Safety recall campaigns
- 22
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (23 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
AUDI SQ5: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe AUDI SQ5 has 73 NHTSA complaints and 22 recalls on record. 4 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 73 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 22 federal recall campaigns
- 4 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
22 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEELS:HUB
WHEELS:HUB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
STRUCTURE:BODY
STRUCTURE:BODY
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
SEATS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 73 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
73 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Brake booster issue
There’s a knocking noise coming from the engine that could lead to potential engine failure. There is a known manufacturers defect in these engines. Audi has extended a warranty, but not all cars are eligible. This should be a recall because if the engine fails on a high speed through a highway, it could be a highly dangerous situation
Piston skirt recall and warranty. Bulletin number AWA-25-08. Needs investigated. Based off average Audi owner statistics along with NHTSA statistics, when this bulletin was released in August of 2025, over 60% of vehicles with this 3.0T engine code EA839 would be disqualified from repairs for under 80,000 miles.
The rear brake lights on my 2019 Audi SQ5 stopped functioning due to a failure of the Comfort System Central Control Module (J393). This defect is documented by Audi in Technical Service Bulletin 2055123/5 and earlier versions. The malfunction causes the “rear lighting warning” to appear in the instrument cluster, and the brake lights do not illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed. The issue is not related to bulbs or wear-and-tear; it is caused by a software defect in the vehicle’s body control module, which results in loss of communication with the rear-lighting system. The failure occurred at approximately 73,000 miles, but the defect existed earlier and is acknowledged by Audi in the TSB. Because brake lights are a federally required safety system, the vehicle cannot be safely operated until this defect is corrected. The dealership confirmed the issue and advised that the required repair is a software update to the control module. Audi has declined responsibility, leaving the vehicle unsafe to drive. This is a safety-critical defect involving a known software failure that disables brake lights, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
The contact owns a 2019 Audi SQ5. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel flare detached. The driver’s side wheel flare was loosened. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Panoramic roof glass exploded outwards while driving on the highway. No sign of rock damage or debris hitting. The glass is deformed outwards. The glass was sent towards the interior of the car. The sunroof shade was closed and many pieces of glass were caught by this otherwise the driver would have been hit by glass shards.
Read 14 more owner reports
No warning lights or fault codes. Took it to Audi of Dallas and without a code they said they couldn’t troubleshoot it. The car makes a whining noise only while under acceleration and is prominate between 20-50 mph. Also the fuel gauge (electric) does not show the correct amount of fuel. I have already ran out of fuel and it still showed 200+ miles left and the gauge was still around 1/2. Also while at the dealer they replaced my motor mounts through my extended warranty and said i needed to replace the rear shocks but it wasn’t covered (3rd party extended warranty) that i purchased from the dealer i bought the car from in Austin.
The Adaptive Cruise Control erroneously detects things such as shadows when going under bridges as stationary objects positioned in front of the vehicle, and aggressively applies the brake, causing an unsafe situation. If this occurs on wintry roads or icy conditions, this could create a safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. There is also no known way to disable the adaptive cruise control during periods where this could be a likely scenario, such as certain times of the day when the sun can cast shadows into the lane of traffic.
Collision on highway and airbags did not deploy. White powder was present on dashboard after accident but not deployment of any airbags. Was hit on driver side and pushed off the highway were I struck a metal pole knocked that down and crashed into woods and trees area.
2019 Audi SQ5 Tail Lights, Brake Lights and rear blinker failure. All lights inoperable with errors and warnings appearing on the dashboard display. Failed while driving home from a weekend trip in the evening approximately 1 hour from home. Had a friend follow behind me to reduce risk of any issues with other drivers colliding with my vehicle. The dealership inspected the vehicle and found numerous faults stored in comfort module for short circuits to B+ in lighting for rear of vehicle. Dealer performed software update to comfort module per technical service bulletin 2055123/4. As the owner of an expensive vehicle with Platinum extended warranty coverage, the dealership and warranty company (VWFS Protection Services, Inc.) claim software is not covered by my warranty. The dealership stated: "At this time the module has not failed, so there is no replacement needed. Audi has a technical service bulletin for optimized software to address this concern. That is where things would need to start with having the most current version. If there was a continued issue after that update, then it's possible there's a replacement of parts that would be needed." This is a serious safety concern. The vehicle software caused the failure. Audi has created a problem that caused the lights to become non-operational. This presents a clear and apparent risk to driver safety. This could easily be deemed grounds for a recall for leaving the vehicle in a dangerous condition. The vehicle tail lights, brake lights and rear blinkers do not work without the software update. The same statement can be made for the control module. They now fail to operate with this vehicle. If Audi chooses to fix the vehicle via a software fix instead of replacing them with parts that do work mechanically and/or electrically with this vehicle, that was the choice Audi and their dealership made, thus eliminating my warranty coverage for the fix, forcing me to pay full cost for their software errors/update.
First, the tail lights malfunctioned randomly. Both tail lights were out due to some software error that eventually resolved after a week. Thankfully this was covered by Audi, and there is a redundant tail light system in place. The error just suddenly came up and all main tail lights and turning signals failed. This could have ended terribly as i was driving at night. An additional issue is the power steering also randomly failed. This is probably my biggest issue so far. The vehicle has 37k miles, and the power steering randomly went out while driving. This could have been catastrophic if i wasnt on a small road. In winter this could have easily caused a crash either to the terrain around me or another motorist. Issue has been diagnosed as electronic steering rack failure. For both these issues there were 0 symptoms just a sudden loss.
Rear sunroof exploded. Sounded like a large rock or gunshot and then shattered glass from the rear sunroof. The interior shade caught the glass. Car was immediately dropped off at the Audi dealership in SLC, Ut. Dealership tried to say it was from a rock hitting the car but no one was around me. A simple search on the internet shows this gas occurred numerous times on all different Audi models.
ISSUES WITH AUTO BREAKING IN REVERSE CAR WILL SOMETIMES STOP ABRUPTLY WHILE BACKING UP WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE ARE PRESENT.
CARS DASH BOARD GO WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. COMPLETELY DISABLING ALL GAUGES UNTIL IT RESETS. BLUEGRASS AUDI CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT. I ASKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO BE CONTACTED BY AUDI BUT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. AUDI BLUEGRASS HAS HAD THE CAR2-3 TIMES NOW WITH NO SOLUTION. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ONE TIME WHERE THEY DROVE OVER 400 MILES ON IT. PICTURE I INCLUDED IS A JUST A GUESS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE SOS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AUDI ROCKLIN LOCATED AT 4448 GRANITE DRIVE, ROCKLIN, CA 95677, TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BLOWER ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THERE WAS ALSO A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH STATED THAT NO KEYFOB WAS DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI STEVENS CREEK 3350 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95117 AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
THE TRUNK LID HAS OPENED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE NIGHT TIME, SOME SMALL CARGO (MADE OF PLASTIC) FELL OUT OF THE TRUNK AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND IN ADJACENT LANE WHILE CREATING SOME MINOR ROAD HAZARD. INSTANTLY PULLED OVER ON A SOFT SHOULDER, PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND GOT OUT TO CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE TRUNK WAS WIDE OPEN BUT HAZARDS WERE NOT VISIBLE AS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK LID WHICH WAS OPEN AND FACING UPWARDS, EFFECTIVELY MAKING THE HAZARD LIGHTS INVISIBLE TO THE TRAFFIC IN THE NIGHT TIME BEHIND ME. SMALL REFLECTORS ON THE BUMPER ARE SO TINY THAT IN THE NIGHT TIME ARE PRACTICALLY USELESS AND INVISIBLE TO THE CARS BEHIND YOU IF THEY ARE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A FEW CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND CHANGE LANES. THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO SAFETY PROBLEMS: 1) THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING (NO SOUND OR DASHBOARD WARNINGS) AND 2) DESIGN FLAW OF THE TAILGATE LIGHTS WHICH ARE ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK LID INSTEAD OF AT LEAST PARTIALLY BEING ATTACHED TO REAR PART OF QUARTER PANEL. SINCE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO STAY ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE NIGHT, I PULLED IN TO A NEAREST PARKING LOT TO REPORT TO AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. IMAGINE THE SITUATION WHEN SOMEONE GETS A FLAT IN THE NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDS TO CHANGE THE TIRE THEMSELVES, IF THE TRUNK IS OPEN WHILE YOU GET THE SPARE AND TOOLS , THEY ARE IN GREAT DANGER. DISCUSSED THIS WITH AUDI CORPORATE AND THEY SENT ME TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. SEEMS LIKE NEITHER OF THEM HAVE A SOLUTION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.
ON A SUBURBAN STREET THAT I REGULARLY DRIVE ON WITH NO CAR NEARER THAN 100 YARDS IN FRONT OF ME AND FORTUNATELY NO CAR BEHIND ME THE AUDI PRESENSE SYSTEM ACTUATED SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND FLASHING A RED TRIANGLE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN. IF A CAR HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BEHIND ME I WOULD'VE BEEN REAR-ENDED
The following problem happened 3 times. I was making a right hand turn with plenty of clearance when the car seized. Engine shut down, lights on dash said MALFUNCTION and many other lights lit. Oncoming traffic approached and nearly smashed into my car. This also happened making a left turn at a traffic light after a stop at a red light. The other incident was in bumper to bumper traffic in a rain storm.
I have. two 2024 Audi SQ6 Prestige vehicles. This has now happened on both of these vehicles while driving them. The axle will snap while driving causing the vehicle to stop and no longer move forward or back. This is extremely dangerous because it occurs when driving and can lead to an accident because the car just stops. Luckily in both instances I was not on the highway and was on side roads so there was no accident. After this occurred the second time, I discovered this is being reported by Audi owners of Q5 and SQ5 models however Audi claims there is no issue. This occurred on both of my SQ5s, once in April and Once in September. Both vehicles had low mileage, 15,000 and 22,000 respectively.
Showing 20 of 73 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact AUDI SQ5
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used AUDI SQ5, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The AUDI SQ5 has 73 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The AUDI SQ5 has 22 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 4 of the AUDI SQ5's 73 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all AUDI SQ5 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two AUDI SQ5 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The AUDI SQ5 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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AUDI SQ5 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the AUDI SQ5 reliable?
Average. The AUDI SQ5 has 73 NHTSA owner complaints and 22 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which AUDI SQ5 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (23 complaints), 2019 (18 complaints), 2021 (11 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common AUDI SQ5 problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (15 complaints); ENGINE (12 complaints); FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (12 complaints).
Does the AUDI SQ5 have recalls?
Yes — 22 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI SQ5. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.