2018 Audi Q5: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, suspension, and engine. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 197
- Recalls
- 6
- 1 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 9
- 6 injuries
One recall on this model year told owners to stop driving until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2018 Audi Q5: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
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.
Which Q5 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Audi Q5. 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 | 25 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Q5 that averages well under the EPA 25 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Water-damaged gateway control module
24,000–34,000 miles
Internal engine failure
34,000–72,000 miles
Rear coil spring breakage
46,000–62,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Audi Q5, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical58No crashes
Water getting into control modules is the main failure. Drinks spilled in the rear seat, or rain leaking through the sunroof, corrode the gateway control module (J533) behind the rear seats. The car then loses power, lights up with warnings and can stop abruptly in traffic. The reports cluster between 24,000 and 34,000 miles. Dealers usually call it outside damage and refuse warranty coverage. Bills run from $1,800 to $3,200, and one quote reached $20K. Audi Pre Sense also brakes hard with nothing ahead. CarPlay sessions can black out the center screen and the instrument cluster.
Suspension24No crashes
Rear coil springs break, often on both sides, and no warning light comes on. Most breaks show up between 46,000 and 62,000 miles. A dealer usually finds them during routine service, though some drivers first hear a clunk or grinding from the rear. Owners also report corroded spring mounts and spring seats that slip out of place. In one case a broken spring damaged the rear axle and differential. Dealers call it normal wear and decline coverage. Shops replace both rear springs together, and bills start at about $720.
Engine10No crashes
Sudden internal engine failure is the most serious pattern. The car loses power, shows drivetrain or engine fault messages, vibrates or stalls, and has to be towed. Diagnoses include a cracked valve in cylinder 3 and failed connecting rod bearings, and the usual fix is a full engine replacement. These failures land between 34,000 and 72,000 miles. Cooling problems come second: leaking thermostat housings, thermostats that stick partly closed, and leaking water pumps. These can overheat the engine and cut power. One report describes a motor mount leaking hydraulic fluid.
Airbags91 crash
The passenger airbag warning flickers on and off. The dash shows a safety system malfunction, the passenger airbag status switches back and forth while driving, and the system may read an empty seat as occupied. Dealers point to the passenger occupant sensor (PODS). One car needed a new airbag control module at about 85,600 miles. Some of these cars also chime constantly and brake on their own in reverse. In one rear-end crash report the airbags did not deploy, and both occupants went to the hospital.
Transmission92 crashes
Sudden loss of drive is the most serious report. The transmission and safety systems shut off at expressway speed, the accelerator stops responding, and the car cannot be shifted into neutral. Other cars show drive system malfunction warnings, hesitate when pulling away after stop/start, or lose power in turns. Owners also blame a faulty shift fork in the Quattro Ultra rear differential. Two crash reports describe the car moving on its own in a parking lot. Repeated water pump, thermostat and turbo wastegate repairs also appear.
Steering8No crashes
Electric power steering can fail without warning while driving. The wheel locks or becomes very hard to turn, and the dash shows a steering malfunction warning telling the driver to stop, often alongside other alerts. Dealers usually call for a full steering rack replacement, quoted from $2000 to more than $5k. One failure came at about 900 miles and another before 80k. Water spilled in the rear seat can set off steering, brake and window faults all at once. These reports also describe hard automatic stops, both in reverse and at 35 to 40 mph.
Brakes71 crash
Unwanted automatic braking from Audi Pre Sense leads this category. The car brakes hard during a left turn or on an empty road, and in one car Pre Sense later shut off for good. Other reports describe squealing at low speed, grinding on every stop, and a metal clang when the pedal is pressed. Dealers often cannot find or fix these noises. One driver says the brakes did not engage after heavy rain. One crash report says the car sped into a building while the brake was pressed.
Body and structure61 crash
The rear hatch opens by itself, both while driving and while parked. In a garage it can hit the door and damage the body. Dealers apply a software update from a technical bulletin, but it does not always stop the problem. A closed panoramic sunroof can leak rain into the electrical system and leave the car dead. Other reports describe a rear spring and spring perch knocked out of position, and a front wheel arch trim panel coming loose from the body. One crash report says Pre Sense did not stop the car before it hit a pillar.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Q5 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
2018 Audi Q5 comfort System Control Module is faulty due to corrosion from water and or humidity. No incidents have occurred with my vehicle that has less than 70k miles. I purchased the vehicle as a certified pre-owned with 7700 miles on the car. The dealership claims that outside forces have cause the module to corrode and that I am responsible for the 10k payment to replace and/or repair.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
Control modules located next to the gateway module that was recently recalled are getting wet and shorting out. Tail lights, brake lights, turning signals, license plate lights, and reverse lights all stop working. Once the area is dry, the lighting works only sometimes. I am not ever sure if the lights work or not while I'm driving and am concerned about getting rear-ended because of the lights being out and me not knowing.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Rear coil spring on passenger side broke and became detached, wedging against lower control arm. Coil spring had no signs of other damage; seems to be defective metallurgy (see attached photographs). Vehicle had 55,645 miles on it. Dealer charged $720 to repair. From online search, there seems to be a high number of Audi Q5's from 2018 model year with this problem, but Audi dealers claim it is a 'normal wear' item and is not covered.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
During a normal service visit it was brought to my attention that the rear suspension coil was broken. They attributed this to normal wear and tear after only 52,000 miles. Upon research it seems this is far more common in 2018 Q5s than it should be this is early.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Fuel pump has been recalled on other models but not mine. I have a 2018 audi q5. It had a warranty extension but the previous owner never claimed but if it would have been a recall then I wouldnt be having this problem . Now I have to replace the water pump and pay almost $2k for something that wasn't a recall.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Took the vehicle to the local dealer for a car damage repair but notified at multi-point checks that the thermostat housing is leaking coolant. It ran 43K miles only and this is a known issue so should be recalled.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2022
Car displayed a warning sign that safety system malfunctioned. Airbag indicator showed “passenger airbag off”. This error occurred sporadically and for a limited amount of time. It also kept sensing that passenger seat was occupied when it wasn’t. From what I understand , the issue is related to passenger side PODS sensor.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
The seatbelt and passenger airbag systems go on and off making alarms go off. Making the vehicle unsafe in accidents. After taking my vehicle in for inspection, Audi stated that the component that has to be changed has been a recall in other Audi vehicles and is not covered under warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
How the 2018 compares with other Q5 years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 has the most owner complaints of the 8 Q5 years we cover, about 5.0 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical587
- Suspension240
- Engine103
- Airbags90
- Transmission93
- Steering82
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
18V369000BrakesDo not driveJun 2018
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.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
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. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
21V947000ElectricalDec 2021
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.
Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
19V737000Body and structureOct 2019
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.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
19V416000Wheels and tiresJun 2019
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.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.
19V277000BrakesApr 2019
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.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.
16V955000Seat beltsDec 2016
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 not activate properly.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Also looking at these instead of a Q5?
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2018 owner complaints, side by side
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