CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2011 Audi Q5

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 143 safety complaints about the 2011 Audi Q5 with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. 5 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 67 complaints, 47% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 78,000 miles, the median across the 68 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2010 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

143 complaints on file

143

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

2

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
AIR BAGS 67 · 47%
ENGINE 42 · 29%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 25 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 12 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 · 6%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 7 · 5%
SUSPENSION 4 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 2%
STEERING 3 · 2%
STRUCTURE 3 · 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 2%
0 27 54

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 143.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 37.

40 30 20 10
10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2011 Audi Q5, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD
Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal, driver Not rated
Frontal, passenger Not rated
Side crash Not rated
Side barrier Not rated
Side pole Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 15.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

5 on file

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V818000 · November 19, 2018

The defect
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 the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
The risk
The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 5,987 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V082000 · January 30, 2018

The defect
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 frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 162,782 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

17V001000 · January 3, 2017

The defect
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. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
The risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 234,057 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

16V660000 · September 13, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 143,214 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V078000 · February 10, 2016

The defect
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. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 659,493 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

Accident head on collision with wall airbags didn't deploy

NHTSA complaint 11504366. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 44,000 miles

ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL, I HAVE BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS BOTH STATE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL. IN JANUARY 2017 I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY! I WAS TOLD BY THE LAST DEALER DURING 2 OTHER RECALLS THAT NJ WILL HAVE SUPPLIES COME THIS FALL! I WOULD LIKE THIS RECALL COMPLETED ASAP AS ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR! PLUS HAVING BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT HEAD ON ITS NOT TO REASSURING KNOWING THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY!

NHTSA complaint 11005433. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 55,975 miles

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED AUDI Q5 LAST MARCH 2013. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. NO PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2014 FOR AN ANNUAL SERVICE AND ALSO IN MARCH 2014 FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTION/EMISSIONS TESTING. ON APRIL 2014, I HAD LOSS THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FIRE THAT HAD STARTED IN THE CAR. YES, MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE! PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR MESSAGES ON MY DASHBOARD OR SMELLED SMOKE WHILE I HAD DROVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THAT DAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD INVESTIGATED THIS VEHICLE, AND THEY STATED THAT ARSON WAS NOT THE BLAME FOR THE FIRE. THEY R/O

NHTSA complaint 10595254, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 67,000 miles

THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD PROPER MAINTENANCE AND CARE. THIS CAN BE DOCUMENTED WITH AUDI OF HUNTSVILLE AL. NO WARNINGS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PRESENT. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER A PASSERBY CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT IN WHICH WE WERE DINING SAYING A GRAY AUDI WAS ON FIRE. OWNER OF RESTAURANT TRIED TO USE HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO THE FRONT GRILL. NO LUCK AS IT IMMEDIATELY MELTED THE HOOD AND ENGULFED THE WHOLE CAR IN FLAMES. TOOK FIREMEN 30 MINUTES TO PUT IT OUT. THEY HAD NO IDEA OF CAUSE BUT SPECULATED ELECTRICAL AS THE SOURCE.

NHTSA complaint 10763376. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
1) The rear structural subframe (crossmember) has completely rotted, perforated, and failed due to severe corrosion. The factory-installed plastic underbody rock shields trapped road salt and water, causing the frame to rust from the inside out. The corrosion has spread, completely fusing and compromising the rear suspension mounting points and the rear differential brackets. The vehicle is fully available for physical inspection upon request. 2) My safety and the safety of others on the road was severely put at risk because the structural integrity of the rear suspension is completely compromised. The rusted metal anchors could snap under driving loads, causing a catastrophic rear

NHTSA complaint 11759438, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
During an inspection of my 2011 Audi Q5 at Audi Burlington, severe corrosion was discovered on the rear subframe, which supports rear suspension components. The corrosion was substantially worse than normal surface rust and may compromise the structural integrity of the subframe and suspension mounting points. The condition was not readily visible during ordinary vehicle use because portions of the subframe are covered. The vehicle has been operated in the northeastern United States, where road salt is used. I was advised that the rear subframe requires replacement at an estimated cost of approximately $5,884. I am concerned that continued deterioration could result in separation or

NHTSA complaint 11755002, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Rear subframe rust causing car to fail state inspection. This vehicle has been maintained well and always parked in garage. The rear subframe rusted most, then front subframe. This is a common compliant among Audi forum users.

NHTSA complaint 11655321. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Rear driver side door will not unlock when keypad, nor inside unlock button is pressed. Once inside, door will not unlock in sequence with other doors when vehicle is shut off and it is time to exit the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11654307. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Audi q5 shows no recalls on my vehicle. My car stops randomly while driving even while being on highways and interstates. As well as the passenger side leaking due to sunroof drainage coming to the inside (which may affect the air bags). This Car has not had any repairs on recalls that I know of personally.

NHTSA complaint 11636788. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 42 1 —
2024 20 4 —
2023 43 5 —
2022 22 4 —
2021 74 8 —
2020 25 6 —
2019 52 5 —
2018 207 6 —
2017 42 5 —
2016 77 5 —
2015 99 6 —
2014 105 5 —
2013 89 5 —
2012 168 6 —
2010 100 4 —

Other 2011 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 155 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst