2021 Audi Q5 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 71 complaints on the 2021 Audi Q5, and NHTSA has issued 8 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (26 complaints).

71
Complaints
8
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
49.7
Severity index

Severity index 49.7 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 49.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 62 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 33% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 26 complaints (36.6%)26 37%EngineEngine: 17 complaints (23.9%)17 24%Power TrainPower Train: 12 complaints (16.9%)12 17%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 10 complaints (14.1%)10 14%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (11.3%)8 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 4 complaints (5.6%)4 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 4 complaints (5.6%)4 6%StructureStructure: 3 complaints (4.2%)3 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2636.6%
ENGINE1723.9%
POWER TRAIN1216.9%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1014.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER811.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM45.6%
SERVICE BRAKES45.6%
STRUCTURE34.2%

Complaints filed per year

010212021: 212022: 122023: 52024: 72025: 132026: 13 (partial year)21212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202121
202212
20235
20247
202513
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2021 to 2022 (25 against 33).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V60600005/08/2021SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTORVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe
22V03400026/01/2022TIRESVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 20
21V94700008/12/2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCMVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway
21V29500026/04/2021SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2
22V74200005/10/2022BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabri
22V75300007/10/2022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
23V84200013/12/2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARDVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V pl
25V08000012/02/2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.

Other Audi Q5 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-02. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.