2018 Audi S5 Reliability
The 2018 Audi S5 has 26 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and unknown or other. Compared with nearby S5 model years (2016–2020), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the S5's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
26
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2018 Audi S5 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 model year, filed between 2018 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 35% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 31% |
| Air bags | 3 | 12% |
| Visibility / wipers | 3 | 12% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 8% |
| Parking brake | 2 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 2 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 8% |
2018 Audi S5 recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2018 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V547000 | Jul 24, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger… |
| 21V874000 | Nov 10, 2021 | Seats | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable… |
How the 2018 compares with nearby S5 years
Verdicts compare these S5 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | Steering | Too few reports |
| 2018 (this page) | 26 | 2 | Engine | Caution |
| 2019 | 6 | 4 | Engine | Too few reports |
| 2020 | 25 | 4 | Electrical system | 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 2018 Audi S5
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- 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.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Seat belts: pull each belt fully, make sure it retracts and latches, and check the belt warning light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 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 2018 Audi S5 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.
2018 Audi S5 reliability FAQ
Is the 2018 Audi S5 reliable?
The 2018 Audi S5 has 26 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and unknown or other. Compared with nearby S5 model years (2016–2020), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the S5's typical year.
What are the most common 2018 Audi S5 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Audi S5 are engine (9), unknown or other (8), air bags (3), visibility / wipers (3). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2018 Audi S5 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi S5, including 19V547000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module) and 21V874000 (seats). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2018 Audi S5 compare with the 2017 and 2019 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2019 has 6 complaints and 4 recalls (too few reports). The 2018 has 26 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2018 Audi S5?
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 S5 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2018 S5, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.