Audi Q5 Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 321 of the 1,228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009–2025 Audi Q5 (26.1%) 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 2011, 2015 and 2014.
Engine complaints
321
Filed with NHTSA, 2009–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
26.1%
of 1,228 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Audi Q5 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* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 | 10% | 0 | — | 105 |
| 2010 | 9 | 9.1% | 0 | — | 129 |
| 2011WORST | 43 | 30.5% | 2 | — | 228 |
| 2012 | 1 | 25% | 0 | — | 240 |
| 2013 | 34 | 37% | 4 | 18V22900017V002000 | 335 |
| 2014WORST | 38 | 36.2% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 275 |
| 2015WORST | 43 | 44.3% | 1 | 18V22900017V002000 | 177 |
| 2016 | 33 | 43.4% | 2 | 18V22900017V002000 | 141 |
| 2017 | 19 | 45.2% | 0 | 18V22900017V002000 | 52 |
| 2018 | 31 | 15.9% | 0 | — | 54 |
| 2019 | 8 | 17% | 0 | — | 47 |
| 2020 | 8 | 23.5% | 1 | — | 53 |
| 2021 | 23 | 22.1% | 1 | 22V753000 | 52 |
| 2022 | 11 | 23.9% | 1 | 25V294000 | 53 |
| 2023 | 8 | 18.6% | 1 | 25V294000 | 56 |
| 2024 | 2 | 5.9% | 0 | 25V294000 | 40 |
| 2025 | 7 | 17.9% | 0 | — | 49 |
- 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 Q5 engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 321 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Audi Q5 years to avoid for the engine
2011 Audi Q5
43 engine complaints (30.5% of the year's 141). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
2015 Audi Q5
43 engine complaints (44.3% of the year's 97). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. Covered by engine recalls 18V229000, 17V002000.
2014 Audi Q5
38 engine complaints (36.2% of the year's 105). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. 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 Q5 years to avoid.
Audi Q5 engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Audi Q5 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 25V294000 · 2025-05-07 · 2022–2024 models
The cylinder head cover screws may have been improperly tightened.
- 22V753000 · 2022-10-07 · 2021 models
The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
- 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 2011 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 43 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Audi Q5, 30.5% of all 141 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (17 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2015 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 43 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Audi Q5, 44.3% of all 97 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (14 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V229000, 17V002000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2014 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 38 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Audi Q5, 36.2% of all 105 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (9 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V229000, 17V002000.
Which Audi Q5 years have the most engine complaints?
2011 (43), 2015 (43) and 2014 (38), 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 Q5 engine problems?
In the 321 engine complaints, owners most often describe oil consumption or oil leaks (20.9%), overheating or coolant loss (19.6%) and engine failure, seizure or replacement (16.2%). 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 Q5 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