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Audi · NHTSA safety record

2013 Audi A5

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

Owners have filed 35 safety complaints about the 2013 Audi A5 with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the engine and its cooling and the electrical system.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 12 complaints, 34% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 50,250 miles, the median across the 22 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2013 to July 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

35 complaints on file

35

Complaints

2

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
ENGINE 12 · 34%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 · 26%
STEERING 8 · 23%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 9%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 6%
AIR BAGS 1 · 3%
WHEELS 1 · 3%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 35.

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 2018 at 8.

12 9 6 3
13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2013 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 has not crash tested the 2013 Audi A5. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

18V229000 · April 11, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. 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.
The risk
A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 342,867 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

17V622000 · October 5, 2017

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
The risk
The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 216,913 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

17V002000 · January 3, 2017

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. 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.
The risk
If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 342,867 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.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · 26,000 miles

WHILE APPROACHING A TURN I SLOWED DOWN , ANOTHER CAR CAME AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE. MY CAR WASN'T RESOONDING I WASN'T ABLE TO BEAR RIGHT AROUND CURVE AND WENT ACROSS ROAD AND UP HILL. APPROACHING HILL FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING, I TOOK 2 HANDS AND GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AND FORCED MYSELF TO GO DOWN , BRAKES SEEMED USELESS.. CAR WENT DOWN HILL. I PUT FOOT ON MY BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAD ON TRAFFIC ON A SMALL BACK ROAD. I THEN PUT CAR IN REVERSES, IT JERKED BACK TO STRAIGHTEN CAR UP, AND STRAIGHTEN UP CAR- DROVE UP TO LIGHT SHAKEN UP, PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER - NO SHOULDER THE BACK ROAD AT IT WAS ABOUT 10 PM WEEKNIGHT... I LOOKED AT THE DRIVERS FRONT END THAT MADE CONTACT AND IT

NHTSA complaint 10766449, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 130,000 miles

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I LOOK AROUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLOWOUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND ONCE I REACHED MY DESTINATION, STOPPED AND OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A GUN SHOT. IMMEDIATELY GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. I WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT OF PICADILLY RESTAURANT WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint 11291420. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 70,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI A5. WHILE PARKED AT HOME, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V002000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT, DUE TO THEM BEING REIMBURSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AUDI ABSOLVED THEMSELVES OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 06/22/17*LJ

NHTSA complaint 10980199. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 71,000 miles

NHTSA RECALL 17V-002 COOLING PUMP OVERHEATING. ON FRIDAY MAY 26, 2017 ON ARE ABOUT 0645 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE BASE POLICE STATING THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD BEEN AT WORK SINCE 0600 THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON MY CAR WAS DUE FOR OIL CHANGE 71222.

NHTSA complaint 10992366. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

157,653 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Audi A5. The contact stated that after activating the AC system, there was hot air and a burning odor coming from the passenger’s side vents. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V002000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact called an independent mechanic and referenced the recall campaign. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 157,653.

NHTSA complaint 11753204. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Turned AC on blew out cool air all of sudden the air went out hot air blowing, smelt burning and saw smoke on passenger side (not a lot,but enough to raise concerns) turned AC shut climate off, turned car off tried it again no air just heat blowing. brother in law put it on machine , gave a sensor code, replaced sensor put a can of air in, still blowing out hot air. and if ran too long it will smoke and burning scent.

NHTSA complaint 11753312. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was having an issue with my 2013 Audi A5 starting. A call to roadside assistance was able to jump my battery and the car would start and run. However, the same issue kept happening. The EPC warning light would come on and it took a few weeks to get scheduled with a mechanic. I purchased a mobile jump starter myself because I never knew when the car would or wouldn't start. After taking the car to Audi, they found the "transmission coolant valve failing internally causing coolant to migrate up connector - this is causing a short which is draining the battery. If not fixed it will continue to deplete the batter. Recommend replacing valve and and connector". [2023 Audi Inspection Report.pdf]

NHTSA complaint 11599581, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Couple years ago my engine failed, it was recalled and company refused to pay for it. I payed for it and afterwards my radio modul failed, camera failed, the check engine light is on since I bought the car and recently my car stopped on the highway fast lane without warning. It was no shoulder and I stopped on the highway. I was lucky I didn’t get rear ended n killed

NHTSA complaint 11536603. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I have experienced several failures and 3 recalls with my vehicle since I purchased it brand new. I have paid out thousands of dollars over the years for repairs that I feel were faulty being that I am on the only owner of the vehicle. I have approximately a little under 75k miles on my vehicle although I purchased in 2012 (2013 vehicle) only to take it to dealerships and pay for this and that but most recently my major complaint is my car has stopped on me 4 times and I paid originally for what the dealership stated was the problem only to take it back 3 times and now they state the FUEL PUMP is the problem and there is no recalls. Audi is known to have recalls on FUEL PUMPs but at this

NHTSA complaint 11517813, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Water pump leaking

NHTSA complaint 11515613. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi A5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 8 2 —
2021 8 5 —
2020 60 4 1
2019 12 3 —
2018 38 6 —
2015 8 3 —
2014 28 3 —
2010 34 0 —

Other 2013 Audi models

Q5 89 A4 Allroad 87 A6 52 A8 49 Q7 43 S6 42 S4 33 A3 20

Complaints on file, same model year.

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