NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Audi Q5. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
COOLANT PUMP OVERHEATING ON GETTING CAR AFTER 3 WEEKS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY, COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON, THEN OIL SENSOR AND CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN WHERE ACCELERATION IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE, KILL SWITCH IS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED, BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT. CAR NO LONGER STARTS.
VEHICLE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 20K MILES. WHEN QUESTIONED THE DEALER, THE SIMPLE REASON THEY GAVE US RUST. WHEN ASKED, WHERE THE RUST IS COMING FROM - THERE WAS NO ANSWER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, WHERE I HAVE TO REPLACES ROTORS AND BREAK PADS, FOR VEHICLE WHICH HAS LESS THAN 20K MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY COMMUTED 15 MILES EVERY DAY.
THIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) THREE TIMES, ONCE WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, ONCE AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY THE LAST TIME IN A PARKING LOT.. THE FIRST TIME WAS NOVEMBER 23, 2018. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIFT OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. THOUGHT IS WAS A FLUKE BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. THE NEXT TIME DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN DECEMBER 2, VERY SCARY. WE BROUGHT IT TO AUDI AND THE REPLACED A FUEL COMPOSITION SENSOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. AFTER THEY 'FIXED IT' AND RETURNED THE CAR, IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN. AUDI SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND OTHER CARS MAY HAVE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL THUS FAR OF 31 DAYS AND THEY CALLED TODAY TO TELL US TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY EXPECT US TO DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL IT SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AND WE GET REAR-ENDED AND KILLED.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HAPPENED [INTERMITTENTLY] WHEN DECELERATING; INSTEAD OF GEARING DOWN TO IDLE/STOP, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV...I HAD TO LEAN HEAVILY ON THE BRAKES [WHICH THEN FELT MUSHY] TO CONTINUE TO A STOP.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM AUDI USA TODAY STATING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE "AFTER RUN COOLANT PUMP" FAILING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. AUDI SAYS THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET, AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AT LEAST NOVEMBER. UNTIL THAT TIME AUDI SAYS TO PARK THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE AT NIGHT SO THAT IF IT DOES CATCH FIRE, IT IS LESS LIKELY TO BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFE WAY TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE. FIRST AUDI SOLD US THE CARS WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS, THEN AUDI SOLD CARS WITH FRAUDULENT DIESEL ENGINES, NOW AUDI KNOWINGLY ADVISED THEIR CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE CARS THAT MAY CATCH FIRE AND HAS NO TIMELY SOLUTION TO MAKE THEM SAFE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INSTRUCT AUDI TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY AND NOT TO BE ABLE TO SELL ANY MORE NEW VEHICLES IN THE USA UNTIL THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS RESOLVED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (AUDI OF SAN DIEGO, 1-855-971-8198) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
RECALL 19N4 COOLANT PUMP STATES THAT DUE TO THE PROBLEM, THE CAR MAY CATCH ON FIRE IF THE EPC LIGHT GOES ON, CONTACT AUDI..RECALL NOTICE STATES THE REPAIR PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED AUDI USA, THE DEALER AND THE LEASING FIRM..NONE OF WHICH OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE OR REMEDY. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A CAR WHICH CLEARLY HAS A PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO MY FAMILY BEING IN SERIOUS DANGER. MY LEASE IS UP IN APRIL... I WANT OUT OF THE LEASE PLEASE HELP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI GREENVILLE, 200 DUVALL DR., GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 206-5285) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (AUDI SOUTHAMPTON, 51 MONTAUK HIGHWAY, WATER MILL, NY 11976) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I PURCHASED A NEW EPA COMPLIANT AUDI Q5 DIESEL ON MARCH 28TH 2018. THE VEHICLE HAD THE EPA EMISSIONS REPAIR COMPLETED. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE. IT PRIMARILY OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, IF I SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, SUCH AS PASSING AROUND A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE THROTTLE WILL NOT WORK, DESPITE MY PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT TO GET THROTTLE RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE TWICE AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. I WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO REPLICATE IT TWICE IN A CONTROLLED SETTING, HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ASSOCIATED CODES WITH A SCAN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI MILWAUKEE, 10606 W ARTHUR AVE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53227, (414) 543-3000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE ON AN EXTENDED TRIP AT FREEWAY SPEED IN THE VEHICLE, THE "ADD OIL" INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH .ON MAY 11 2018, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO RUSNAK AUDI IN PASADENA, CA. THEY TOLD ME THAT A NEW "SENSOR" WAS REQUIRED , AS THE OIL WAS AT NORMAL LEVEL, AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. IN JAN OF 2021 I TOOK A SHORT TRIP AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH THE VEHICLE THE "ADD OIL" LAMP FLASHED ON AGAIN. I AGAIN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO RUSNAK AUDI IN PASADENA, CA. ON APRIL 22, 2021. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME, AFTER A DAY AND A HALF, THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION SINCE THE ACTUAL OIL LEVEL IN THE ENGINE WAS AT A NORMAL LEVEL. I TRIED TO MAKE A POINT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT IF I IGNORE THE WARNING LIGHT, HOW CAN I BE SURE I WON'T BURN OUT THE ENGINE DUE TO AN ACTUAL LOW OIL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NO MANUAL ( PHYSICAL) DIPSTICK. AS IT STANDS NOW, I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A " ADD OIL WARNING LAMP LIT ON THE DASH AND NO WAY TO PHYSICALLY CHECK THE OIL. THIS SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO ME AS IF I BURN OUT THE ENGINE, I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. RUSNAK AUDI SEEMS UNCONCERNED! PLEASE ADVISE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI NORTHLAKE (10831 NORTHLAKE AUTO PLAZA BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2018. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI OF SHREWSBURY (780 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA 01545, (508) 581-5800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH MY VEHICLE YET. AUDI HAS ISSUED RECALL NHTSA 18V229. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR, AUDI HAS YET PROVIDE THE PART TO REPAIR THIS DISCREPANCY. HOW LONG DOES A MANUFACTURER HAVE TO FIX SOMETHING?
I HAVE A 2016 AUDI Q5 AND RECENTLY WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS SINGLE-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND MOVED MY FOOT TO BRAKE WHEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD OVER A COUPLE OF BOULDERS THROUGH THE TREES FLIPPING ONCE AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. I, MIRACULOUSLY, CAME OUT OF THE INCIDENT UNSCATHED. THREE WEEKS EARLIER MY BROTHER-IN-LAW BORROWED MY CAR AND SAID I SHOULD HAVE THE CAR CHECKED BECAUSE IT SURGED FORWARD ON HIM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN HE WENT TO BRAKE. I DISMISSED HIS COMMENTS, THINKING HE WAS NOT USED TO MY CAR. TURNS OUT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CONNECTION TO BOTH OF OUR EXPERIENCES AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI CORPORATE, BUT WANTED TO REGISTER THIS INCIDENT.
SIDE MIRRORS TOTALLY BLOCK VISION AT CERTAIN ANGLES. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A DOWNTOWN STREET. LIGHT CHANGED AND I MADE A LEFT TURN AND CRASHED RIGHT INTO A CAR THAT WAS TOTALLY BLOCKED FROM VIEW BY THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. IT SEEMS I WAS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LANE LINE, WHICH I COULDN'T SEE EITHER UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF MY CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS BEING UNABLE TO SEE LANE LINES AND ON COMING CARS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS OVER $10,000. I AM CERTAIN I WAS GOING UNDER 10 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GOING TO TRAVEL ONE BLOCK FROM WHERE I WAS TURNING. THE CAR I HIT WAS DRIVABLE. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.
ON AUGUST 11, 2016 I PURCHASED FROM AUDI TYSONS CORNER, LOCATED AT 8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA 22182, A 2016 AUDI QUATTRO FOR $42,040.00 [EXHIBIT F]. I TRADED IN MY 2007 BMW X3 [EXHIBIT I] FOR $5,000 (I SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO AUDI TYSONS CORNER ON SAME DATE) WITH A REMAINING BALANCE FOR THE AUDI TO BE PAID IN CASH $39,425.92; WHICH I PAID IN FULL BY PERSONAL CHECK ON SAME DATE [EXHIBIT E]. THE AUDI HAD 10,376 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE [EXHIBIT H] AND LO JACK [EXHIBIT G]. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE TITLE TO THE VEHICLE FROM AUDI TYSONS CORNER. EACH TIME I HAVE ASKED THE MANAGER, [XXX], WHEN I WILL RECEIVE MY TITLE FOR THE 'PAID IN FULL' VEHICLE I KEEP GETTING A DIFFERENT DATE / RUN AROUND. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM EXHIBITS A THRU C THAT ARE ATTACHED. I AM REACHING OUT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE ON OBTAINING MY TITLE FROM AUDI TYSONS CORNER, AND REQUESTING THAT A FULL INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED REGARDING THE DEALERSHIP, BUSINESS PRACTICES AND SALES PRACTICES OF AUDI TYSONS CORNER. ON OCTOBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15PM I LEFT A VM FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER OF AUDI TYSONS CORNER, [XXX], REGARDING THE ISSUE OF NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE TITLE TO THE CAR I HAVE PAID IN FULL FOR AND REQUESTING HIM TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER FOR ME. I INFORMED [XXX] THAT I WOULD BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND THE DOJ. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM [XXX]. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED FOR YOUR REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING: EXHIBIT D: COPY OF CREDIT SCORE FOR VIRGINIA CORNELL ' EXCELLENT RATING; EXHIBIT J: COPY OF RECEIPT FOR MONEY PAID FOR TRANSFER OF LICENSE PLATES; AND EXHIBIT K: COPY OF 'WE OWE' OF MISSING CARGO COVER AT TIME OF PURCHASE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
"TAKATA RECALL" AND VISIBILITY I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 6/30 DRIVING 2016 AUDI Q5 TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. BEFORE MAKING THE TURN I ENSURED NO ONE WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I HAD A SOLID GREEN LIGHT. WHEN I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THEN SUDDENLY A CAR FROM NO WHERE CAME AND HIT MY CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN A SPEED OF AT LEAST 45 MPH. MY CAR WAS DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL METERS AND FINALLY STOPPED ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT PART IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY FRONT LIGHTS AND HOOD ARE TOTALLY DAMAGED.
THE MIRRORS ON MY AUDI Q5 ARE TOO HIGH AND BIG. THEY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCT MY VIEW WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. I EITHER HAVE TO LOOK BELOW OR ABOVE THEM SOMEHOW TO SEE. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/11/2016. I STOPPED AT 4 WAY STOP AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT. I HIT A SMALL SPORTS CAR THAT WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED FROM MY VIEW. DID NOT SEE THE CAR UNTIL HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE TO BRAKE AND I HIT HIM. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE CAR FROM BEING SEEN. THIS COULD BE MUCH WORSE AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK. AUDI NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT.
WHEN STARTING NEW 2016 Q5 PREMIUM PLUS, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT REAR HATCH IS OPEN, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION AND DOOR LOCK SIGNAL NOT TO SOUND. DEALER REPLACED REAR HATCH LATCH AND COMFORT CONTROL UNIT J393, AFTER THE THIRD VISIT TO THEM FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT.
TAKATA RECALL: THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLAINT NO. 10939120 I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND OPERATED IN FLORIDA FROM APPROXIMATELY 3/15/2010 UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 8/15/2012. IT WAS, THEREFORE EXPOSED TO TYPE A HEAT AND HUMIDITY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS SUCH EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOW OPERATED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLANT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN FLORIDA CANNOT BE RULED OUT. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026