Audi A5 Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 72 of the 341 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Audi A5 (21.1%) name the engine, near the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2013, 2010 and 2014.
Engine complaints
72
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
21.1%
of 341 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Audi A5 engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 46 |
| 2009 | 4 | 36.4% | 0 | — | 104 |
| 2010WORST | 12 | 24% | 0 | — | 194 |
| 2011 | 7 | 18.4% | 0 | — | 121 |
| 2012 | 9 | 25% | 1 | — | 129 |
| 2013WORST | 16 | 44.4% | 2 | 18V22900017V002000 | 235 |
| 2014WORST | 11 | 37.9% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 180 |
| 2015 | 1 | 11.1% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 72 |
| 2016 | 3 | 42.9% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 99 |
| 2017 | 2 | 100% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 42 |
| 2018 | 3 | 50% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 12.5% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 12.5% | 0 | — | 32 |
| 2025 | 2 | 22.2% | 0 | — | 30 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Audi A5 engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 72 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Audi A5 years to avoid for the engine
2013 Audi A5
16 engine complaints (44.4% of the year's 36). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss. Covered by engine recalls 18V229000, 17V002000.
2010 Audi A5
12 engine complaints (24% of the year's 50). Most often described: timing chain or belt.
2014 Audi A5
11 engine complaints (37.9% of the year's 29). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recalls 18V229000, 17V002000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Audi A5 years to avoid.
Audi A5 engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Audi A5 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 18V229000 · 2018-04-11 · 2013–2017 models
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.
- 17V002000 · 2017-01-03 · 2013–2017 models
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.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2013 Audi A5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 16 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Audi A5, 44.4% of all 36 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (6 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V229000, 17V002000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2010 Audi A5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 12 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Audi A5, 24% of all 50 complaints for that year. The most common description is "timing chain or belt" (6 complaints).
Does the 2014 Audi A5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 11 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Audi A5, 37.9% of all 29 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (3 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V229000, 17V002000.
Which Audi A5 years have the most engine complaints?
2013 (16), 2010 (12) and 2014 (11), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Audi A5 engine problems?
In the 72 engine complaints, owners most often describe overheating or coolant loss (23.6%), engine failure, seizure or replacement (22.2%) and misfire or check-engine light (16.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Audi A5 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration