2018 Audi Q5: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Audi Q5: 6 recalls, 207 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V955000 · 2016 · 5,947 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi a7, a4, a6, Volkswagen golf and tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that May not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi q7, a4 sedan, a4 allroad, and 2018 Audi q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners May…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V369000 · 2018 · 10,225 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen atlas, passat, beetle, beetle convertible, golf, golf sportwagen and gti and Audi q5 and sq5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles May have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Why it matters: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V277000 · 2019 · 12,645 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi q5 and sq5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting May be too short.
Why it matters: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019.
Wheels Vehicle recall #19V416000 · 2019 · 126,161 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi q5 and sq5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim May loosen and detach.
Why it matters: The detached trim May become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #19V737000 · 2019 · 174,278 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi sq5 and 2018-2020 Audi q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim May loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: The detached trim May become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019.
Body & structure, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V947000 · 2021 · 288,991 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 q5 sportback, sq5 sportback, 2018-2022 q5, and sq5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle May allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Why it matters: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (74): the most common themes are electrical failure (39), stalls / loses power (14), leaks (13).
- Other / unknown (44): the most common themes are electrical failure (9), leaks (7).
- Engine (31): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (9), warning light on (7), leaks (6).
- Suspension (25): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (5), noise or vibration (2).
The 2018 Audi Q5 has 207 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 19 Q5 model years for complaints (2.9× the average Q5 year). Complaints peaked in 2023 (45 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 15,141 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (42 complaints, 5 recalls), 2019 (52 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 27 | 25 | 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 Q5.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Audi Q5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Audi Q5. 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 Q5 problems?
Owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (74), other / unknown (44), engine (31).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi Q5 get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S7)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Audi Q5 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.