← New search

2013 Audi Q5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Audi Q5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

62 reports with mileage · 27 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.

  • Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

89 reports
47,000 miles · Jan 3, 2022
Vehicle Speed Control

The contact owns a 2013 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in a parking lot after depressing the brake pedal the vehicle began to accelerate independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into the park. The contact stated that he had experien…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in a parking lot after depressing the brake pedal the vehicle began to accelerate independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into the park. The contact stated that he had experienced the failure multiple times. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #11445909

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2021
Engine

The engine pistons are defective and consume an excessive amount of oil. This has been confirmed through the manufacturer's own prescribed testing of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle is not drivable due to the safety risks include sudden engine breakdown while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11438823

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFire

My daughter drove her car to Hobby Lobby in Opelika, AL. After being in the store for about 7 minutes they announced over the intercom for the owner of a black audi to come to the front. They told her that her car was on fire. She went outside and black smoke and fire was coming from the hood. A lady had already called 911. …

Read full complaint

My daughter drove her car to Hobby Lobby in Opelika, AL. After being in the store for about 7 minutes they announced over the intercom for the owner of a black audi to come to the front. They told her that her car was on fire. She went outside and black smoke and fire was coming from the hood. A lady had already called 911. While waiting, flames started coming from the bottom of the car. The police arrived and started trying to put the fire out, then firefighters arrived and put the fire out. After the fire was put out, the car kept trying to start itself so they had to locate the battery to disconnect it. Luckily the firefighters were a few stores down and was able to get to it quick. The car is available for inspection and we feel that this is some type of malfunction that we shouldn't be responsible for. A fire is very dangerous and could have hurt or killed my daughter if it had caught fire with her in it and also it catching fire around other cars that put others in danger or if it would have been at night at home under our carport and ended up catching our house on fire! The car has not been inspected by anyone. We didn't have full coverage insurance since I had just changed our policy since where I worked closed down so in the meantime of going from full coverage insurance to liability for a month and a half, this happened. So now we don't really know what to do, as we feel this isn't something we should have to pay for. We feel that Audi should be responsible for this malfunction/defect. No warnings and we have our vehicles maintenanced regularly.

NHTSA ODI #11429831

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2021
Unknown Or Other

Panoramic sunroof glass panel shattered. Obviously, if the glass had fallen while I was driving, I (or any passengers) could have been cut and injured. I also could have been distracted and injured myself or someone else in a crash. Rockville Audi has not inspected it yet; although, they are scheduling the repair. The vehicle …

Read full complaint

Panoramic sunroof glass panel shattered. Obviously, if the glass had fallen while I was driving, I (or any passengers) could have been cut and injured. I also could have been distracted and injured myself or someone else in a crash. Rockville Audi has not inspected it yet; although, they are scheduling the repair. The vehicle was inspected on July 1st at about 9:00pm by two Washington National Cathedral Police Officers (Sergeant Lozano and Officer Reyes or Navarro) shortly after it was discovered. The phone number to reach Washington National Cathedral Police is (202) 537-5667. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms that this was going to happen.

NHTSA ODI #11423235

70,000 miles · Dec 14, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

1. ADAPTIVE LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING. WARNING LIGHT FLASHING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. " ADAPTIVE LIGHT DEFECTIVE" SYMBOL FLASHING. 2. AC/HEATING FAN "SQUEALING" LOUDLY. BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

NHTSA ODI #11383444

118,000 miles · Nov 7, 2020
Engine

MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CAR BARELY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M NOW DEALING WITH A MAJOR OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE I"M AT THE DEALERSHIP ALMOST ONCE A MONTH. MY CONCERN, IS THAT I'M ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TELLS ME TO IMMEDIATELY PARK THE CAR BECAUSE THE OIL IS TOO LOW, RIGHT AFTER GETTING IT TOPPED OFF WEEKS BEFORE. THI…

Read full complaint

MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CAR BARELY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M NOW DEALING WITH A MAJOR OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE I"M AT THE DEALERSHIP ALMOST ONCE A MONTH. MY CONCERN, IS THAT I'M ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TELLS ME TO IMMEDIATELY PARK THE CAR BECAUSE THE OIL IS TOO LOW, RIGHT AFTER GETTING IT TOPPED OFF WEEKS BEFORE. THIS WAS A HAZARD FOR ME BE ALONE ON THE ROAD. I NOTICE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IS THERE ANYTHING AUDI IS CONSIDERING DOING ABOUT IT? THESE CARS AREN'T CHEAP AND SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, CAUSING OWNERS TO EITHER PAY $9,000+ OR GET A NEW CAR. EVEN NOW, I'M STILL HAVING TO FREQUENT THE DEALERSHIP FOR TOP OFFS DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #11373577

45,000 miles · Oct 20, 2020
Power Train

VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ON CITY STREET UNTIL IT REACHES 2500 RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP SAID CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS TOKD WILL NEED NEW ENGINE.VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. ONLY 45000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11365302

75,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Engine

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MY ENGINE BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL. I HAVE TO ADD MORE OIL AFTER DRIVING EVERY FEW 100 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11354980

89,900 miles · Jun 23, 2020
Engine

DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. DEALER HAS STATED IT IS CRITICAL TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. THE VEHICLE HAS 89900 MILES AND HAS ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP. OTHER YEARS AND MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST AUDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330273

70,290 miles · May 21, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

INCIDENT DATE: 5/9/20 MILEAGE: 70,290 MILES SUMMARY: I REVERSED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED MY CAR INTO DRIVE, AND MY CAR ABRUPTLY HESITATED, DECELERATED, RESISTED, AND JERKED UPON ENGAGING THE GAS PEDAL; A SERIES OF MULTIPLE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY FLASHED ON THE OBD SCREEN WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CA…

Read full complaint

INCIDENT DATE: 5/9/20 MILEAGE: 70,290 MILES SUMMARY: I REVERSED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED MY CAR INTO DRIVE, AND MY CAR ABRUPTLY HESITATED, DECELERATED, RESISTED, AND JERKED UPON ENGAGING THE GAS PEDAL; A SERIES OF MULTIPLE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY FLASHED ON THE OBD SCREEN WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DECELERATE, JERK & HESITATE.MESSAGES REFERENCED HYBRID, MALFUNCTION, ELECTRONIC, INOPERABLE, LOSS OF ABILITY TO CONTROL STEERING, STEERING POWER, DANGER, HAZARD, ENGINE, STABILIZATION, DRIVING, POWER. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN TO CROSS A 4 LANE INTERSECTION OF MOVING TRAFFIC. UPON PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO CROSS THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION, MY CAR WOULD HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, AND MORE ABRUPTLY JERKED AND HESITATED - LIKE I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT WAS STALLING OUT/STUCK IN THE WRONG GEAR.THE MORE I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ACROSS THE 4 LANES OF MOVING TRAFFIC, THE MORE SEVERELY THE CAR RESISTED, JERKED, HESITATED, AND FLUCTUATED IN POWER. I COULD'VE BEEN T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SERIOUSLY INJURED, AS THE SPEED LIMIT ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS TRAFFIC INTERSECTION IS 45MPH. I WAS INFORMED BY THE AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO 'INTERNAL PARTS FAILURE.' I WAS ALSO INFORMED THE 'CONDITION AND LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID' REQUIRES AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP: P0AB900,P060A00,P279700,U040200. ACCORDING TO AUDI, MY CAR NOW NEEDS A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AND HAS 'BURNED' TRANSMISSION FLUID DUE TO AN 'INTERNAL PARTS FAILURE' AT 70,290 MILES.THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND LABOR IS APPROX $27K. I RECENTLY LEARNED THE TRANSMISSION MECHATRONICS WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER AUDI DEALERSHIP IN AUG 16' AND THE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22KMILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JAN 17', WITH APPROX. 26KMILES. MORE DETAIL IN PDF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325394

Official recalls

5

18V229000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Apr 11, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

17V622000 · Electrical System:wiring

Oct 5, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

17V298000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 3, 2017

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.

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 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.

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.

17V002000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Jan 3, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.