CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2025 Audi Q5

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

Owners have filed 42 safety complaints about the 2025 Audi Q5 with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the seat belts.

The most complained-about system is forward collision avoidance, named in 23 complaints, 55% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

42 complaints on file

42

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

0

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
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 23 · 55%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19 · 45%
SERVICE BRAKES 10 · 24%
LANE DEPARTURE 6 · 14%
ENGINE 5 · 12%
AIR BAGS 4 · 10%
SEAT BELTS 4 · 10%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 7%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 5%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 42.

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 2026 at 33.

36 27 18 9
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 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 2025 Audi Q5, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 16.4%
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

1 on file

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

26V266000 · April 24, 2026

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Sportback, SQ5, and SQ5 Sportback vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may have been manufactured incorrectly, and fail to properly restrain occupants during a crash.
The risk
Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GT.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 7,425 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

2 injured

While driving home from the dealership on Route 65 at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly and forcefully applied the brakes without warning. My husband and I are experiencing symptoms of whiplash including back and neck pain. There were no vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles nearby that would have triggered this response. This was a scary experience, and I am concerned it could happen again in traffic or at higher speeds. This incident presents a serious safety hazard to me, my passengers, and others on the road. The auto was purchased one week ago. Had it in for service. According to the service summary, the Driver Assist System had a coding error, and a hard reset of the module was

NHTSA complaint 11676887, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

I MOVED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND PUSHED THE BRAKES TO STOP BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. HOWEVER WHEN THE POLICE DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint 11706201. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

Mileage at time of incident: Approximately 4,000 miles Date of incident: XXX Location: [XXX] Incident description: My vehicle was in neutral while going through an automatic car wash, as instructed. When the exit signal indicated it was clear to proceed, with my foot on the brake, I shifted into drive. The vehicle accelerated on its own, without corresponding accelerator pedal input, and struck the building adjacent to the car wash. The vehicle did not exit the building on its own, so I shifted into reverse. The vehicle again accelerated on its own and struck a structural beam. I applied continuous pressure to the brake pedal throughout the incident. The vehicle did not respond immediately,

NHTSA complaint 11760006, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

towed · 12,000 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the panoramic sunroof glass exploded without impact. The contact pulled over at a pit stop to inspect the vehicle. Despite the failure, the contact resumed normal driving with shards of glass falling from the sunroof. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA complaint 11724561. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Brake Electronics Control Unit Failure (DTC U041800): Logged active diagnostic code U041800 (implausible signal in address 812C). Dealership records confirm no permanent remedy exists, with software patches delayed into Q3 2026, leaving active braking and electronic system faults unaddressed. Electrical Grid Collapse & Parasitic Battery Drain: Vehicle experienced exterior lights activating independently during sleep mode and cyclical 300mA to 2.0A parasitic draws. Required warranty replacement of the Central Electrical Control Module (J519), Low Voltage Power Distributor Module (J1282), and primary 12V battery (RO #AUCS214055). Powertrain & Transmission Engagement Failures: Experienced

NHTSA complaint 11763773, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
On XXX at approximately 5:00 PM, my 2025 Audi Q5 (VIN: [XXX]) initiated an unprovoked forward collision warning and emergency braking intervention while I was traveling at approximately 57–58 mph on [XXX]. Road conditions were clear and dry. Weather was sunny. Adaptive Cruise Control was not activated. I was the sole occupant of the vehicle. A vehicle was making a lawful turn onto the roadway from a T-intersection. There was substantial distance between my vehicle and the turning vehicle. No collision risk existed and no evasive action was required. Despite this, the vehicle's forward collision system overrode my control and initiated emergency braking without cause. As a result of the

NHTSA complaint 11753919, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
•XXX: Purchased new 2025 Audi Q5. •XXX Dashboard displayed "Check Tire Pressure" warning for all tires. •XXX: Service at Audi Marin - Reported hatch malfunction, tire pressure concerns, and repeated rollback after brake release during service visit. •XXX: Vehicle displayed "P Not Possible. Risk of Rolling Away" warning. Vehicle could not be placed into PARK, required roadside assistance (never showed after 2-hour wait), and could not be safely secured. •XXX: While stopped at a traffic light, both front seat belts tightened aggressively without warning. Passenger was a [XXX] child. •Late XXX: Collision avoidance/emergency braking warnings continued. Vehicle remained in use while awaiting

NHTSA complaint 11753760, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I bought this car in 12/2025. After putting approximately 60 miles on the car, the onboard computer would not save the inputted data. Took back to dealership and update performed. Upon returning the car for this work, the adaptive cruise control would shut itself off on the way to the dealer. They could not replicate this issue. Since having the car for about 6 months the car has been in to the dealer approximately 7 times all for different warning lights including having the module needing to be replaced that controlled the A/C. The most recent problem is the vehicle locking up its brakes and rapidly fastening down on the seatbelt while driving stating a red danger message that flashes on

NHTSA complaint 11753405, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I had adaptive cruise control on in moderately flowing traffic on the highway. Without warning the adaptive cruise control on it's own turned off/disengaged and slammed on the brakes. I had not changed lanes nor had anyone moved in front of me. The weather was clear. My safety and the safety of those behind me was put at risk. I've taken the vehicle to the dealer and they have not been able to reproduce the issue yet. They inspected the vehicle and took it for an initial 7 mile test drive, said they didn't find any problems and tried to return the car. There were no warning lamps or messages before or after the incident. I didn't notice any when it happened as I was focused on trying to

NHTSA complaint 11748160, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
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 —
2011 143 5 —
2010 100 4 —

Other 2025 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