Illustration2011 AUDI Q5 COOLANT PUMP REPLACED DUE TO SEEPAGE. WATER PUMP, BOLTS AND O RING FOR PLASTIC PIPE CONNECTOR PIECE. FOUND DURING THE OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIRS AT 74K MILES.
2011 Audi Q5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Q5 years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Audi Q5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Q5 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
825–50K
1750–75K
2175–100K
15100–150K
1150K+
68 reports with mileage · 75 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine complaints
42 reportsTIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, TENSIONER ETC FOR CAMSHAFTS WITH ENGINE REPAIR. DURING OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIR THE MECHANIC NOTICED THIS ISSUE AND IT WAS REPAIRED DURING THE OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIR. 2011 AUDI Q5 75K MILES
2011 AUDI Q5 MISFIRING AFTER OIL CONSUMPTION REPAIR. TOOK BACK TO SERVICE CENTER AND IT WAS MISFIRING. FOUND PIPE FOR THE OIL SEPARATOR WAS NOT ATTACHED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON ROUTE 30 (GREENSBURG PA) WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE INVOLVED THE FRONT DRIVE CHAIN AND SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE RELATED TO AUDI'S. …
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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON ROUTE 30 (GREENSBURG PA) WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE INVOLVED THE FRONT DRIVE CHAIN AND SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE RELATED TO AUDI'S. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 6OK MIKES ON IT.
ENGINE FAIL DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER
ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND VERY EXPENSIVE IGNITION COIL/ SPARK PLUG REPAIRS ARE ALWAYS THE ISSUE. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHEN THE FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON WHEN IT'S THE IGNITION COILS/ SPARK PLUGS. WHEN TH…
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ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND VERY EXPENSIVE IGNITION COIL/ SPARK PLUG REPAIRS ARE ALWAYS THE ISSUE. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHEN THE FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON WHEN IT'S THE IGNITION COILS/ SPARK PLUGS. WHEN THE IGNITION COILS/ SPARK PLUGS ARE THE ISSUE, THE CAR SHAKES.
OIL LEAKS BADLY FROM REAR MAIN SEAL AND TIMING COVER.
AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 8 DAYS I WENT IN GARAGE TO CRANK IT. THE CAR CRANKED BUT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RE CRANK IT BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED AUDI AND HAD IT TOWED IN. THEY TOLD ME THE "LIFETIME" TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $4,000 AND $7,00…
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AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 8 DAYS I WENT IN GARAGE TO CRANK IT. THE CAR CRANKED BUT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RE CRANK IT BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED AUDI AND HAD IT TOWED IN. THEY TOLD ME THE "LIFETIME" TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $4,000 AND $7,000 TO FIX. I DID SOME QUICK SEARCHING AND SAW OTHER FOLKS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. THE CAR HAS 98,000 MILES , ALWAYS SERVICED BY AUDI. I CALLED AUDI AND TOLD THEM THIS APPEARS TO BE A RE OCCURRING ISSUE AND I THOUGH THEY SHOULD HANDLE THE FIX. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD SPLIT THE COST. I TOLD THEM TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, THE FIRST WAS "OIL CONSUMPTION" WHICH THEY REPAIRED FOR FREE. ANOTHER $7,000 FIX. I JUST SAW A EPISODE ON "NEWS 5 INVESTIGATES" CHICAGO DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH A VW, AND ALSO LISTING AUDI'S 2011. ITS ON THEIR WEBSITE.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AROUND SOME BLIND CURVES WHEN I HEARD A CLANK KIND OF SOUND AND CLICKING AND THEN LOST POWER FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH I COASTED HOME. I WAS VERY LUCKY. I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO START AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER HE SAID, ENGINE NO START NO POWER: FOUND ENGINE CRANKS WITHOUT COMPRESSION.…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AROUND SOME BLIND CURVES WHEN I HEARD A CLANK KIND OF SOUND AND CLICKING AND THEN LOST POWER FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH I COASTED HOME. I WAS VERY LUCKY. I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO START AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER HE SAID, ENGINE NO START NO POWER: FOUND ENGINE CRANKS WITHOUT COMPRESSION. FOUND TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND JUMPED TIMING. REMOVED AND INSPECTED VALVES AND FOUND ALL VALVES TO BE BENT. AT THIS TIME WE NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN AND RELATED PARTS. PARTS: $4800 LABOR: $4835 TOTAL: $9635.00 REGARDS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ACTUALLY IS SO COMMON THAT SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE WEBSITES ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHAIN FROM DOING THIS. I OF COURSE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT ANY OF THIS BEFORE...BECAUSE NO ONE TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISSUE!!!! OR I WOULD HAVE DONE THE PREVENTATIVE CARE. ALSO, I JUST READ THEY ARE DOING A CLASS ACTION SUIT WITH THIS IN NEW JERSEY. I CAN TELL YOU I AM FEELING VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING MY AUDI AGAIN!!! I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THESE CHAINS!
Official recalls
518V818000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 19, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.
18V082000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 30, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
17V001000 · Air Bags:side/window; Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Jan 3, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:side/window
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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
16V660000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Sep 13, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.
16V078000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Feb 10, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.