2018 Audi A5: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Audi A5: 6 recalls, 38 owner complaints and up to 27 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #17V675000 · 2017 · 31,323 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi a4 sedan and a4 allroad, and 2018 a5 sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Why it matters: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V822000 · 2017 · 8,037 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 226, "ejection mitigation."
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V836000 · 2018 · 12 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi a5 sportback and 2017-2018 Audi a4 allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw May not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.
The fix: 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #18V893000 · 2018 · 36 vehicles
What's wrong: The front suspension fasteners May not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
Why it matters: A loose front wheel May increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #19V547000 · 2019 · 145,337 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. Oxidation on the passenger occupant detection system (pods) connecting cable May cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Why it matters: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019.
Airbags, Seats Vehicle recall #21V874000 · 2021 · 208,332 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. The cable connecting the seat heater to the passenger occupant detection system (pods) May have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and…
Why it matters: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Other / unknown (8): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Engine (8): the most common themes are leaks (3), stalls / loses power (2), warning light on (2).
- Brakes (4): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Body & structure (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2018 Audi A5 has 38 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 19 A5 model years for complaints (2.2× the average A5 year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (10 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 7,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (0 complaints, 2 recalls), 2019 (12 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 33 | 27 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 34 | 27 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Audi A5.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Audi A5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Audi A5. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Audi A5 problems?
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are other / unknown (8), engine (8), brakes (4).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi A5 get?
EPA ratings run up to 27 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Audi A5 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.