CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2019 Audi Q5

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

49

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2019 Audi Q5 have filed 49 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2019 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 11 of them (22%). The typical failure was reported at 7,900 miles, the median across the 11 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

21V947000 · December 8, 2021

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
The risk
A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 288,991 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY

19V737000 · October 16, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
The risk
The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 174,278 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V473000 · June 19, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
The risk
A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 28 vehicles across all model years covered

WHEELS:HUB

19V416000 · June 5, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
The risk
The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 126,161 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

19V277000 · April 8, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
The risk
A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
The remedy
Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 12,645 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 49.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 22%
ENGINE 8 16%
STEERING 7 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 12%
POWER TRAIN 5 10%
SEAT BELTS 5 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 10%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 8%
STRUCTURE 4 8%
AIR BAGS 3 6%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 11.

2019 2026
2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · crash · towed

DURING A REAR END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE, A 2019 AUDI Q5, WAS STOPPED, STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET AT A SIGNAL AND STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 30-40 MPH. BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE AUDI SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT LOWER BACK INJURY AND ONGOING BACK PAIN POSSIBLY WORSENED AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SEATS AND SPECIFICALLY THE BUILT IN LUMBAR "BUMP" OR SUPPORT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THIS STIFF AND EXTRUDING LUMBAR PROTRUSION BUILT INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS WAS FORCED INTO THE LOWER LUMBAR REGION OF BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS DURING THE MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS AT THE TIME OF

NHTSA complaint 11289983, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · crash · towed

DURING A REAR END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE, A 2019 AUDI Q5, WAS STOPPED, STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 30-40 MPH. BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE AUDI SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. OF THE MAJOR COMPLAINTS, THE LOWER BACK INJURY HAS BEEN ONGOING (6 MONTHS+) OF SIGNIFICANT BACK PAIN WORSENED AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SEATS AND SPECIFICALLY THE BUILT IN "LUMBAR SUPPORT" IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THIS STIFF AND EXTRUDING LUMBAR PROTRUSION BUILT INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS WAS FORCED INTO THE LOWER LUMBAR REGION OF BOTH REAR SEAT PASSENGERS DURING THE MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint 11300984, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed

Traveling north Interstate 95 about 40 miles south of Jacksonville, Fl. 4/7/23 at 8 am. Traffic slowed , brakes flailed , no emergency brakes, hit others cars and travelled off road, car flew into a tree 10 ft up, cut off the top of tree and landed on nose upside down against a tree

NHTSA complaint 11518689. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

After driving on deep wet icy slush, the vehicle was on a straight section of road and suddenly vehicle inexplicably veered hard to the left causing it to run off the road and into a tree. Electrical component failure lights were illuminated on dash afterwards. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I believe that the stability control systems and or drive train suddenly changed. I believe this might be due to water ingress and failure of gateway module. This is available upon request. Car is in shop How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? sudden loss of steering control in icy conditions Has the problem been

NHTSA complaint 11447099, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
2019 Audi Q5 had the hardware fail which controls the rear view camera (controls other functions too) It's known as the MMI and the replaced part says "MIB2 Main-Unit" on the housing. I have the old part that the dealer replaced in my possession. Dealer confirmed the part was broken and would require replacement. not having a rear camera impacts safety in parking lots, backing in to streets etc, as well as increased risk of backing off the road esp in tight settings. there was no initial warning - it 100% stopped working then would give some warnings or random short term use the past 3 months while scheduling replacement. Completely unreliable for day to day safety, as we back on to a busy

NHTSA complaint 11752899, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Went to Mavis on Weber Rd in Bolingbrook, IL for front brake replacement on June 6, 2026. It took 6.5 hours when I was originally told when I called to schedule the appointment it would only take 1.5 hours, so it was obvious that something was wrong. Within 100 yards of leaving their parking lot after the service appointment, an obvious clattering was present. I immediately called them to let them know the replacement had not been performed correctly. Booked appointment with Audi of Naperville first thing Monday morning to have them fix whatever was wrong - the earliest appointment I could get was June 11. Drove the car until Wednesday evening when something went very wrong and constant

NHTSA complaint 11751401, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Seat occupancy sensor, it's associated with code "B12251B".

NHTSA complaint 11746962. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2019 Audi q5 drive system malfunction/start stop malfunction. Error code will come on randomly in traffic and when you try to put your foot on the gas it hesitates and you need to push harder on the gas. Car will also lose acceleration power and take longer to reach desired speed. Drive system malfunction light will come on as well as an error stating start/stop system malfunction. Have had multiple sensors and battery replaced with only temporary results. Start stop malfunction will come on randomly at any time and then go away for a certain amount of time and come back again. This malfunction is constantly going on and off and is sometimes dangerous because you don’t know when it will

NHTSA complaint 11737448, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My seat belt warning has been going off intermittently. I received an extended warranty from Audi Subject: Seat Occupancy Detection System Limited Warranty Extension extending the warranty for my car. However, when I took it to the dealer they could not replicate the sound. I provided them a video of it happening. They said it was not showing as a fault on the computer and therefore refused to repair the seat under the warranty extension. This is a safety issue and it's recognized as one by Audi. This sensor is obviously malfunctioning for a lot of people or they would not have extended the warranty. Regardless of being able to "replicate" the issue, they should replace the sensor since

NHTSA complaint 11733149, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
A failed (frozen) Turbocharger Wastegate Actuator. An engine warning light came on and engine had less power. It had to be replaced. There was a settled law suit for the same issue covering this item in previous vehicles settled in 2025.

NHTSA complaint 11732112. 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 40 1
2024 19 4
2023 42 5
2022 21 4
2021 69 8
2020 23 6
2018 198 6
2017 42 5
2016 77 5
2015 97 6
2014 105 5
2013 89 5
2012 168 6
2011 142 5
2010 99 4

Other 2019 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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