2024 Audi Q5 Brakes Problems

21 Dec 2025 11,743 miles Audi Pre-sense slammed on the brakes while waiting to make a left. Pointing downhill slightly. No cars in the way. Turned it off completely. Was on the the Late setting. Will not stay off.

I purchased the car in October, 2023. The problem first happened in October, 2025 and not happened just once. The vehicle breaks unnecessarily and violently without any warning. Additionally the pre-sense collision indicator light displays when there is no apparent person, vehicle or object in the vicinity of the vehicle. The abrupt breaking is the most concerning since it has happened multiple times and at one point, I was in the middle of an intersection making a left turn into a shopping center on a busy street. There were cars coming in the distance but far enough away that it should not have stopped. Luckily they were far enough away that they could see me stopped because I could not get the car to move until I put the car in park and then back into drive. Additionally, there were cars behind me which could have easily rear ended me due to the unexplained abrupt stop. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer for the issue and they were not able to recreate the problem. They told me they changed some settings on the sensors and to keep the outside sensors clean. I keep my car very clean and do not live in an area where debris would accumulated on the sensors to create a problem. The adjustments they made did not help and I still experience the problems. I will be taking it back to the dealer again to report it again to them. At this point I do not feel safe driving the car and will express that to the dealer when I take it in.

Audi Pre-Sense keeps braking prematurely when there is no car present or in its field of view. The SUV brakes without warning and when trying to make a left turn (happened twice already) or while driving on the highway. When the vehicle brakes without warning there is a chance that another vehicle will drive into the rear of my vehicle or I will lose control due to the unexpected and unwarranted braking action. The problem has been reported and documented my my local Audi dealership repair facility Audi Silver Spring, Maryland. The vehicle has been inspected all three times, they have performed a complete 4 wheel alignment and sensor alignment. They have witnessed and documented the code that the SUV reported, Audi Pre-Sense detected. The dashboard did display Audi Pre-Sense detected all 3 times when the incident occurred. Audi and I both have the documented repair tickets and they are available upon request. Last incident occurred 1400 on 27 September 2025.

I am writing regarding a serious issue with my 2024 Audi Q5, which I purchased brand new and have owned for only 12 months. The vehicle has developed premature rotor wear, which is entirely unexpected given its age, my normal driving habits, and Audi’s reputation for quality. Brake rotors should not require replacement this early unless there is a manufacturing or material defect. This vehicle is still under warranty, and I am requesting that Audi inspect the braking system immediately and cover the cost of any necessary repairs under warranty. Please document the inspection findings and let me know if there is a known issue or Technical Service Bulletin related to this. I am not willing to pay for a component failure that is clearly not due to driver misuse or wear and tear. I expect a prompt resolution and would appreciate a written response confirming next steps. Possible Causes (Not Your Fault) Defective Rotors or Materials – If the metal quality was subpar or warped at the factory, they could wear prematurely. Improper Factory Installation or Torque – Incorrect installation can cause uneven wear or damage. Caliper or Pad Malfunction – Sticking calipers or bad pads can ruin rotors prematurely. Electronic Brake Malfunction – Audi’s advanced braking systems (ABS, brake hold, etc.) can malfunction and overuse the brakes.

The vehicle experiences sudden, uncommanded braking on clear roads due to a malfunction in the Audi Pre Sense system. The system falsely detects obstacles and applies the brakes abruptly, creating a safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The issue was reported to Audi Beverly Hills multiple times beginning July 2023, including through the dealer's online service request system. However, the dealer repeatedly failed to document braking concern on repair orders until insistent during latest visit. In one visit (August 7, 2023), the dealer reduced the Pre Sense sensitivity without creating a repair order or performing diagnostics. At other times, service advisors stated the vehicle was 'operating normally' or refused to record the concern unless it could be duplicated during a short test drive. On August 25, 2025, the dealer finally documented my complaint as 'car would brake randomly' and performed an SVM reconfiguration, but the issue persists. The vehicle is currently used rarely for safety.

The vehicle experiences sudden, uncommanded braking on clear roads due to a malfunction in the Audi Pre Sense system. The system falsely detects obstacles and applies the brakes abruptly, creating a safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The issue was reported to Audi Beverly Hills multiple times beginning July 2025, including through the dealer’s online service request system. However, the dealer repeatedly failed to document the braking concern on repair orders until I insisted during later visits. In one visit (August 7, 2025), the dealer reduced the Pre Sense sensitivity without creating a repair order or performing diagnostics. At other times, service advisors stated the vehicle was “operating normally” or refused to record the concern unless it could be duplicated during a short test drive. On August 25, 2025, the dealer finally documented my complaint as “car would brake randomly” and performed an SVM reconfiguration, but the issue persists. The vehicle is currently used rarely for saftey.