2011 Audi Q5 Reliability
The 2011 Audi Q5 has 143 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Q5 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Q5's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
143
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Audi Q5 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 67 | 47% |
| Engine | 42 | 29% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 25 | 17% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 12 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 6% |
| Suspension | 4 | 3% |
2011 Audi Q5 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V078000 | Feb 10, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.… |
| 16V660000 | Sep 13, 2016 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak. |
| 17V001000 | Jan 3, 2017 | Visibility / wipers — sun/moon roof assembly | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister.… |
| 18V082000 | Jan 30, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's… |
| 18V818000 | Nov 19, 2018 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to… |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Q5 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Q5 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 31 | 6 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 100 | 4 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2011 (this page) | 143 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2012 | 4 | 6 | Body structure | Too few reports |
| 2013 | 92 | 5 | Engine | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2011 Audi Q5
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Audi Q5 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Audi Q5 reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Audi Q5 reliable?
The 2011 Audi Q5 has 143 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Q5 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Q5's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2011 Audi Q5 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Audi Q5 are air bags (67), engine (42), fuel / propulsion system (25), powertrain / transmission (12). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Audi Q5 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2011 Audi Q5, including 16V078000 (air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module) and 16V660000 (fuel system — delivery / fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Audi Q5 compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 100 complaints and 4 recalls (caution); the 2012 has 4 complaints and 6 recalls (too few reports). The 2011 has 143 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Audi Q5?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Audi Q5 research
Other Audi Q5 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Q5, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.