Audi · Q5 · 2016
2016 Audi Q5
5
Recalls
72
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2016 Audi Q5 has 5 recalls and 72 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (16 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2016 Audi Q5 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 16 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Compare the recall list with the complaint mix to see whether the most reported issues overlap with formal NHTSA safety campaigns.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2016 Audi Q5 currently shows 5 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 72 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (16), unknown or other (8), steering (7).
- Vehicle
- 2016 Audi Q5
- Recalls
- 5
- Complaints
- 72
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
15.1% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: OptionalLane Departure Warning: No
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 18V229000April 11, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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.
Remedy Status
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.
NHTSA ID: 17V622000October 05, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
Remedy Status
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.
NHTSA ID: 17V298000May 03, 2017
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy Status
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.
NHTSA ID: 17V002000January 03, 2017
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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.
Remedy Status
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.
NHTSA ID: 17V001000January 03, 2017
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
72 totalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jan 18, 2026
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a loud gunshot. I got off the exit pulled over and I saw that my sunroof was shattered. On my Audi Q5 2016.
ENGINE
Dec 1, 2025
I am reporting a defect related to carbon buildup in the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) system on my 2016 Audi Q5 3.0L Supercharged (engine code CTUC). My vehicle has been diagnosed by an Audi dealer with DTC P0491 – Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow, and restricte...
Preview excerpt
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Aug 14, 2025
While driving and when parked, a strong odor of gasoline enters the cabin and garage. This poses a significant risk of fire and health hazards from fumes. The issue relates to the fuel system. The vehicle was previously serviced for the 2017 fuel system recall, but the problem ha...
Preview excerpt
AIR BAGS
CRASH1 injuryMar 31, 2025
Vehicle: 2016 Audi Q5 2.0 Premium Plus Date of Incident: March 31, 2025 I was in a front-end collision at approximately 20–25 mph when I struck a concrete pole. The impact was hard enough to severely damage the vehicle—the pole intruded deep into the engine bay, fluids leaked, an...
Preview excerpt
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mar 3, 2025
I just purchased car and was told of no recalls
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 26, 2025
The vehicle had a oil leak that began in 2022 right after I bought the vehicle used. The light continued to come on indicating low oil. Eventually, they found a leak in the pistons. They were replaced. Again in 2023 a leak was found near and around the upper timing gasket and vac...
Preview excerpt
STEERING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Feb 10, 2025
Back in 2017 there was a recall on my 2016 Audi Q5 regarding the fuel pump. Audi's solution to this recall was to replace the fuel pump if it had any cracks, but if there weren't any cracks their protocal was to just put a protective shield on the fuel pump. Since my car was only...
Preview excerpt
ENGINE
Nov 28, 2024
Audi had Valves and pistons fail on the highway at 75mph on Nov 28,2024 at 117000 miles Had the vehicle since 2021 and 17000 miles. Complained to the dealerships at the last 3 oil changes about excessive oil consumption. They told us not to worry about it, full aware that they ha...
Preview excerpt
STEERING
Jul 18, 2024
Power steering failure. While driving warning light came on and power steering immediately went out. No prior warnings. Safety was put at risk because steering was basically inoperative, had to muscle to turn, unable to stop at intersections due to difficulty turning when comi...
Preview excerpt
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Jul 6, 2024
On [XXX] at around 8:55-8:59 I finalized the paperwork for a purchase of a car, received the keys, drove out of the dealership and by 9:02 the check engine light came on and the car shook. On [XXX] at around 2:22 pm, as I was driving, the car shook, pulled up to red light and the...
Preview excerpt
Showing 10 recent complaints from 72 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2016 Audi models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Audi Q5 Years
2017 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.5r40c2015 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.6r96c2018 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.6r192c2014 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.5r104c2019 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.5r45c2013 Audi Q5Compare this year against 2016 for complaint and recall shifts.5r91c
More 2016 Audi Models
2016 Audi A3Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.3r118c2016 Audi A6Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.3r51c2016 Audi Q3Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.3r27c2016 Audi A4Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.24c2016 Audi A7Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.3r15c2016 Audi S3Another 2016 Audi option for same-year comparison.3r14c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Audi Q5 have?
The 2016 Audi Q5 has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2016 Audi Q5?
NHTSA has received 72 owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Audi Q5.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Audi Q5?
The 2016 Audi Q5 received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi Q5?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2016 Audi Q5 are engine (16 reports), unknown or other (8 reports), steering (7 reports).
Does the 2016 Audi Q5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2016 Audi Q5. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.