Is Audi as reliable as Lexus?
Lexus comes out ahead: Audi 2.19 vs Lexus 0.58 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold (model years 2015–2022). Audi owners filed 3.8× as many complaints per vehicle sold as Lexus owners.
By CarWhere Research · Updated November 2026 · Method
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA per 1,000 vehicles sold (model years 2015–2022; published U.S. sales). Not a survey, not Consumer Reports' method, and not repair frequency.
Audi vs Lexus at a glance
| Audi | Lexus | |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints per 1,000 sold | 2.19 | 0.58 |
| Serious-safety complaints per 1,000 | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Rank of 19 brands | #9 | #1 |
| Models covered | 7 | 8 |
| Vehicles sold (rated model years) | 1,471,435 | 1,799,736 |
| Owner complaints | 3,228 | 1,048 |
| Share of brand U.S. sales covered | 90% | 76.6% |
| Top complaint areas | Electrical system 26.7% · Engine 21.9% · Air bags 12.2% | Air bags 16.6% · Fuel / propulsion 14.1% · Brakes 13.9% |
| Recall campaigns (vehicles covered) | 159 (5.6 million) | 61 (347,080) |
Model years 2015–2022. Lower is better. Serious-safety complaints are those where the owner reported a crash, a fire or at least one injury. Recall campaigns are NHTSA campaigns filed January 2016 to September 2026; vehicles covered counts a vehicle once per campaign.
What drives the numbers
- Audi's count is driven most by 2017 Q7 complaints about lighting and engine (323, 10% of Audi's complaints). Other models with rates above Audi's overall 2.19: A3 (4.00), A6 (2.88).
- Lexus's count is driven most by 2015–2017 RX complaints about engine and brakes (264, 25.2% of Lexus's complaints). Other models with rates above Lexus's overall 0.58: LS (1.45), GS (0.74), CT (0.93).
Audi vs Lexus complaints per 1,000 sold, by model year
Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are still growing. Compare the two lines within a year, not one year against another.
| Model year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi | 2.69 | 1.84 | 2.70 | 2.85 | 1.63 | 2.85 | 1.64 | 0.99 |
| Lexus | 0.64 | 0.67 | 0.77 | 0.46 | 0.64 | 0.51 | 0.53 | 0.35 |
What Audi and Lexus owners complain about
Share of each brand's NHTSA complaints naming the area (a complaint can name more than one).
Audi
- Electrical system26.7% · 863
- Engine21.9% · 706
- Air bags12.2% · 395
- Fuel / propulsion9.2% · 297
- Lighting7.1% · 229
- Powertrain / transmission6.7% · 215
Lexus
- Air bags16.6% · 174
- Fuel / propulsion14.1% · 148
- Brakes13.9% · 146
- Engine11.7% · 123
- Electrical system10.9% · 114
- Powertrain / transmission6.6% · 69
Model matchups
Each brand's best-selling model in the classes both sell, on the same per-1,000-sold measure.
Compact SUV vs midsize suv: Audi Q5 vs Lexus RX
The Lexus RX has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi Q5 1.64 vs Lexus RX 0.64 complaints per 1,000 sold. The Q5's most-cited area is engine (26.9%); the RX's is air bags (18.5%).
1.64 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 763 complaints / 464,476 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- 2009
- Years to avoid:
- 2011, 2018, 2021
- Top complaint areas:
- Engine 26.9% · Electrical system 24% · Brakes 8.7%
Lexus RX(whole line)
0.64 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 547 complaints / 853,444 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- 2011, 2012, 2014
- Years to avoid:
- 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024
- Top complaint areas:
- Air bags 18.5% · Fuel / propulsion 15.4% · Engine 13.7%
Midsize cars: Audi A6 vs Lexus ES
The Lexus ES has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi A6 2.88 vs Lexus ES 0.55 complaints per 1,000 sold. The A6's most-cited area is electrical system (45.5%); the ES's is air bags (23.4%).
Audi A6
2.88 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 323 complaints / 112,292 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- 2009–2011
- Years to avoid:
- 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019
- Top complaint areas:
- Electrical system 45.5% · Engine 31.9% · Powertrain / transmission 9.9%
Three-row SUV vs full-size suv: Audi Q7 vs Lexus GX
The Lexus GX has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi Q7 3.14 vs Lexus GX 0.31 complaints per 1,000 sold. The Q7's most-cited area is engine (23.5%); the GX's is brakes (19.1%).
Audi Q7
3.14 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 718 complaints / 228,592 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- None flagged
- Years to avoid:
- 2017–2019, 2021
- Top complaint areas:
- Engine 23.5% · Lighting 23% · Electrical system 20.2%
Lexus GX
0.31 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 68 complaints / 221,192 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- None flagged
- Years to avoid:
- None flagged
- Top complaint areas:
- Brakes 19.1% · Suspension 13.2% · Electrical system 10.3%
Compact cars: Audi A4 vs Lexus IS
The Lexus IS has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi A4 2.07 vs Lexus IS 0.52 complaints per 1,000 sold. The A4's most-cited area is electrical system (40.9%); the IS's is fuel / propulsion (22.4%).
2.07 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 433 complaints / 208,724 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
- Years to avoid:
- 2008, 2009, 2020
- Top complaint areas:
- Electrical system 40.9% · Engine 17.6% · Backup camera 15.9%
Lexus IS
0.52 complaints per 1,000 sold
- Basis:
- 107 complaints / 205,032 sold, MY 2015–2022 NHTSA
- Better years:
- None flagged
- Years to avoid:
- None flagged
- Top complaint areas:
- Fuel / propulsion 22.4% · Electrical system 15% · Wheels & tires 12.1%
How these numbers are calculated
complaints per 1,000 sold = NHTSA owner complaints filed for model years 2015–2022 ÷ U.S. vehicles sold in calendar years 2015–2022 × 1,000
Complaints come from NHTSA's public owner-complaint database (NHTSA data), counted once per complaint and matched across NHTSA's trim and body-style names. Vehicles sold are published U.S. calendar-year sales per nameplate. Model years with fewer than 5,000 sold are too few to rate and are left out. A brand gets a score only when its covered models number at least 3 and make up at least 70% of its U.S. sales; rates under 10% apart are called close.
This is the federal complaint rate, not an owner survey or repair-frequency figure. Consumer Reports publishes a survey-based ranking that measures something different. Full method and brand ranking.
Questions
Is Audi as reliable as Lexus?
Lexus comes out ahead: Audi 2.19 vs Lexus 0.58 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold (model years 2015–2022). Audi owners filed 3.8× as many complaints per vehicle sold as Lexus owners.
Which has more serious complaints, Audi or Lexus?
Counting only complaints that report a crash, fire or injury, Audi logs 0.11 per 1,000 sold and Lexus 0.09. Those are 5% of Audi's complaints and 16% of Lexus's.
Where do Audi and Lexus rank overall?
Audi ranks #9 and Lexus #1 of the 19 brands with enough sales data, ranked by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold for model years 2015–2022.
What do Audi and Lexus owners complain about most?
Audi: electrical system (26.7%), engine (21.9%), air bags (12.2%). Lexus: air bags (16.6%), fuel / propulsion (14.1%), brakes (13.9%). Shares are of each brand's complaints for model years 2015–2022; one complaint can name more than one area.
Which has more recalls, Audi or Lexus?
From January 2016 to September 2026, NHTSA lists 159 Audi recall campaigns covering 5,571,343 vehicles and 61 Lexus campaigns covering 347,080. Vehicles covered counts each vehicle once per campaign, so one car in three recalls counts three times. Recalls are fixes the maker files, a different signal from owner complaints.
Is the Audi Q5 more reliable than the Lexus RX?
The Lexus RX has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi Q5 1.64 vs Lexus RX 0.64 complaints per 1,000 sold. Based on 464,476 and 853,444 vehicles sold. Years to avoid on the Q5: 2011, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid on the RX: 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024.
Is the Audi A6 more reliable than the Lexus ES?
The Lexus ES has fewer complaints per vehicle sold: Audi A6 2.88 vs Lexus ES 0.55 complaints per 1,000 sold. Based on 112,292 and 404,917 vehicles sold. Years to avoid on the A6: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019. Years to avoid on the ES: 2008–2011.