2018 Audi SQ5 problems and recalls

Owners filed 12 complaints on the 2018 Audi SQ5 in the last three full years, out of 24 on record. The most cited component is the Electrical System.

24
Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
65.3
Severity index

Severity index 65.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 65.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (33.3%)8 33%EngineEngine: 6 complaints (25.0%)6 25%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (16.7%)4 17%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 4 complaints (16.7%)4 17%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 3 complaints (12.5%)3 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (12.5%)3 12%SteeringSteering: 2 complaints (8.3%)2 8%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 2 complaints (8.3%)2 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM833.3%
ENGINE625.0%
POWER TRAIN416.7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE416.7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING312.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER312.5%
STEERING28.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER28.3%

Complaints filed per year

0362017: 12018: 32019: 22020: 12021: 32022: 12023: 52024: 62026: 2 (partial year)1718192021222324626
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
20183
20192
20201
20213
20221
20235
20246
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2022 to 2024 ran 2.0x those in 2019 to 2021 (12 against 6).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
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
18V36900001/06/2018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reduc
19V41600005/06/2019WHEELS:HUBVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
19V73700016/10/2019STRUCTURE:BODYVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
19V27700008/04/2019SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Other Audi SQ5 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 3 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-15. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.