Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine and electrical. The 7 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/7 checked
2018 Audi A5: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2018's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Audi A5. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD | 27 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Audi A5, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Oil cooler failure lets coolant get into the engine oil, which can destroy the engine if it isn't caught. One report puts this failure at 36,000 miles on a car with careful maintenance. A separate complaint describes the engine shutting off without warning while cornering at very low speed, and says it has kept happening for several years. Losing power in the middle of a turn is a loss-of-control risk. Only 2 complaints are on file, so these are isolated reports rather than a broad pattern.
An electrical fault in the coolant pump can light up several dash warnings at once, prevent the car from starting, and push it into limp mode. A mechanic in one report traced the problem to a sagging 5V supply caused by the failing pump and warned that the car could overheat and possibly catch fire. That case surfaced at 87,000 miles. A separate complaint describes the main MMI screen rebooting about every 5 minutes, even while running CarPlay. That is a driver-distraction concern. Only 2 complaints are on file.
Excerpts from complaints A5 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The vehicle has 36000 miles on it and the oil cooler has failed. The car is meticulously maintained. This failure compromises the ability for the engine to cool properly. Because of the failure, coolant is then forced into the engine oil potentially destroying the engine. Engine replacements are 10,000 for these types of cars. Audi is aware of this issue and should repair all vehicles with this known issue
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 6 A5 years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the first model year of the A5's second generation (2018–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Audi fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Audi updated the A5 for 2022, so a 2018 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2018)
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Cars shoppers compare with the Audi A5, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
