The Audi Q5 is a two-row compact luxury crossover that went on sale in the United States in March 2009 as a 2009 model. It sits between the smaller Q3 and the larger Q7 in Audi's lineup and comes with quattro all-wheel drive on most U.S. versions. Over its run it has been offered with four-cylinder, V6, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. We put all 15 Audi Q5 model years from 2010 to 2024 side by side, using the same rule for every year.
Audi Q5 by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 425 | 100 | 4 | Airbags | |
| 2011 | 574 | 143 | 5 | Airbags | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 586 | 168 | 6 | Airbags | Most complaints |
| 2013 | 228 | 92 | 5 | Engine | |
| 2014 | 250 | 106 | 5 | Engine | |
| 2015 | 192 | 100 | 6 | Engine | |
| 2016 | 157 | 78 | 5 | Engine | |
| 2017 | 73 | 42 | 5 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2018 | 299 | 209 | 6 | Electrical | |
| 2019 | 78 | 53 | 5 | Electrical | |
| 2020 | 73 | 37 | 6 | Electrical | Fewest |
| 2021 | 171 | 103 | 8 | Electrical | |
| 2022 | 81 | 46 | 8 | Electrical | |
| 2023 | 77 | 57 | 6 | Driver assistance | Fewest |
| 2024 | 60 | 34 | 4 | Driver assistance |
Why these years stand out
2011: most complaints. The 2011 Audi Q5 scored 574 complaints per 100,000 sold, 3.2 times the model average. Of its 143 complaints, 55 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are air bags (67), engine (42) and fuel/propulsion system (25). NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year.
2012: most complaints. The 2012 Audi Q5 scored 586 complaints per 100,000 sold, 3.2 times the model average. Of its 168 complaints, 52 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are air bags (85), engine (47) and fuel/propulsion system (20). NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year.
2017, 2020 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2017 drew 42 complaints, or 73 per 100,000 sold; The 2020 drew 37 complaints, or 73 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 57 complaints, or 77 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Audi Q5 owners report most
Engine complaints lead for the Audi Q5, at 27% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 34%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
470 Audi Q5 complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 47% were reported before 50,000 miles and 16% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.
Audi Q5 compared with other luxury suvs
In 10 of 15 model years the Audi Q5 drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average luxury suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Audi Q5 scored 60 against a class average of 83. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Audi Q5 generations
- 2009-2017First generation
3.2L V6 (2009-2012); 2.0L turbo four (2011 on); 3.0L supercharged V6 (2013 on); 3.0L turbodiesel V6 (2014 on); 2.0L turbo four hybrid (2013 on) · 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic
The facelifted 2013 model brought revised lights and replaced the 3.2L V6 with a supercharged 3.0L V6.
- 2018-2024Second generation
2.0L turbo four; 3.0L turbo V6 (SQ5); 2.0L turbo four plug-in hybrid (2020 on) · 7-speed dual-clutch automatic; 8-speed automatic (SQ5)
This generation moved to the MLB Evo platform, and no diesel version was offered in North America.
The high-performance SQ5 arrived in U.S. showrooms as a 2014 model, the same year the Q5 TDI diesel was introduced. A plug-in hybrid joined the lineup in 2020, and its battery was enlarged for the 2022 model year, raising the EPA electric range to 23 miles. A refresh for the 2021 model year added Audi's third-generation infotainment system.
Audi Q5 fuel economy
The 2026 Audi Q5 is rated at 24 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the setup. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Crash test stars
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Audi Q5 these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2014: 4, 2015: 4, 2016: 4, 2017: 4, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.
Questions
What is the best year for the Audi Q5?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2017, 2020 and 2023 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2017 scored 73, against a model average of 181.
What years of the Audi Q5 have the most complaints?
2011 and 2012. The 2011 scored 574 per 100,000 sold, with 55 engine or transmission complaints; The 2012 scored 586 per 100,000 sold, with 52 engine or transmission complaints. A complaint is a report from an owner and does not prove a defect.
At what mileage do Audi Q5 owners report problems?
Across 470 complaints that list the odometer reading, 47% were filed before 50,000 miles and 16% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Audi Q5 have?
NHTSA lists 84 recall campaigns across model years 2010-2024 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates; crash tests: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
For information only. Check the official source linked above before you buy, sell or repair.