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Audi · NHTSA safety record

2015 Audi A5

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

Owners have filed 8 safety complaints about the 2015 Audi A5 with the US government. Of those, 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 fuel and propulsion system, named in 2 complaints, 25% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 25,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2015 to August 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

8 complaints on file

8

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 38%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 25%
ENGINE 1 · 13%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 13%
STRUCTURE 1 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 · 13%
VISIBILITY 1 · 13%
WHEELS 1 · 13%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 8.

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 2015 at 1.

4 3 2 1
15 16 18 19 20 21 23 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2015 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.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
After purchasing the vehicle on 8/2/25, I discovered it had outstanding safety recalls that were neither addressed nor disclosed by the dealership at the time of sale. I have since taken steps to fix these safety issues, but the dealer’s failure to inform me or resolve the recalls before the sale put me at unnecessary risk. I urge the NHTSA to review the dealership’s records from 8/2/25 to hold them accountable for selling a vehicle with unresolved safety defects that compromised my safety. It is not allowing me to add case card with report, only case card available as of today.

NHTSA complaint 11679510. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

25,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA complaint 11508694. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The water pump system is leaking, and also the after water pump is malfunctioning. I was in danger when driving and the "turn off engine and check coolant levels" warning light message turned on. The engine was very hot and I was at risk of a fire. The issue has been confirmed by an auto repair shop for audis, that was close to me. They sent me a detailed diagnostic. I also have a recall letter for the water pump, that I got in the mail a few days ago, so I'm looking to be paid the cost of this repairs. Thank you

NHTSA complaint 11428613. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

45,000 miles

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. IT LATER WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. DEALER ADVISED THAT FUEL HOSE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $1,198. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL HOSE AND THAT A REPLACEMENT KIT MUST BE INSTALLED. DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR HOME. DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL. I CALLED AUDI. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT NHTSA. AUDI ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2017 ADVISING DEALERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND INSTRUCTING THEM ON HOW TO INSTALL THE REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT KIT. INSTRUCTIONS

NHTSA complaint 11362227, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN ORLANDO, FL BACK IN APRIL AND DURING THE TEST DRIVE IT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE SELLER NOISES IN REFERENCE TO THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF. I LIVE IN TAMPA, FL AND WAS INFORMED BY THE AUDI SOUTH/ORLANDO DEALERSHIP I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER LOCALLY TO FIX THE ISSUE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THE GLASS WAS REPLACED AND THE SUN SHADE, HOWEVER THE TRACKING FOR THE SUN SHADE WAS NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED GUEST RELATIONS AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE FOR AUTONATION WHO HAS INVOLVED THE GENERAL MANAGERS OF BOTH TAMPA AND ORLANDO, AND I HAVE MADE FOUR TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY INCONVENIENCE FOR

NHTSA complaint 11243247, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

25,000 miles

NHTSA RECALL # 18V229 - (AUDI RECALL 19N4) NO ACTION AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT NOR CLARIFICATION TO KEEP THE CAR OUTSIDE NOT IN GARAGE - IT'S A CONVERTIBLE, SO OUTSIDE STORAGE CAN DAMAGE TOP..

NHTSA complaint 11101827. 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 —
2014 28 3 —
2013 35 3 —
2010 34 0 —

Other 2015 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