2018 Audi A5
Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 28 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 60 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
23% of complaints: engine — 8 distinct reports on file.
Show complaint excerpts
Start stop system failure Warning displayed Check engine light Car hesitates IF the start stop happens to decide to function At times it wonât work at all
NHTSA ODI report, 20240807
VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
NHTSA ODI report, 20171009
11% of complaints: structure — 4 distinct reports on file.
INJURYShow complaint excerpts
THE ELECTRONIC TRUNK OF MY AUDI A5 FAILED TO STOP CLOSING ONCE IT HIT ME ON THE HEAD.
NHTSA ODI report, 20200928
11% of complaints: service brakes — 4 distinct reports on file.
Show complaint excerpts
VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
NHTSA ODI report, 20171009
11% of complaints: electrical system — 4 distinct reports on file.
Show complaint excerpts
Start stop system failure Warning displayed Check engine light Car hesitates IF the start stop happens to decide to function At times it wonât work at all
NHTSA ODI report, 20240807
9% of complaints: visibility/wiper — 3 distinct reports on file.
SAFETY TIMELINE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834.
Campaign 17V822000 — check if this car was fixed
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.
Campaign 17V675000 — check if this car was fixed
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Campaign 18V836000 — check if this car was fixed
Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Campaign 18V893000 — check if this car was fixed
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
Campaign 19V547000 — check if this car was fixed
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Campaign 21V874000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2018 Audi A5 — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for engine issues (8 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for structure issues (4 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (4 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 17V822000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 17V675000 (structure) has been completed.
- Verify recall 18V836000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 18V893000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 19V547000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 21V874000 (air bags, seats) has been completed.
FAQ
Is the 2018 Audi A5 reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi A5?
The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A5 have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.