Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, automatic emergency braking, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2024 Audi Q5: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Engine off, key in hand0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
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.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 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 | 26 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 Audi Q5, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Most filings involve a battery recall repair that owners on the plug-in hybrid Q5 e cannot get done. Dealers say parts are not available and give no timeline, and owners worry about fire risk while they wait. A smaller group describes sudden electrical failures. The SUV slows and stops on a freeway and will not move, or the dash lights up, windows drop, and the shifter will not go into park. One dealer replaced the gateway module. Other reports cite warning lights with no stored codes. These failures appear around 4,000 to 5,000 miles.
Pre Sense emergency braking engages with no real threat. It most often happens during left turns at intersections, where the car brakes hard and holds itself in place in front of oncoming traffic. On highways, adaptive cruise with predictive control abruptly cuts speed from 55 or 65 mph into the 20s with no warning. Owners describe near rear-end collisions and repeat events. Dealers often find no cause or lower the system's sensitivity, and the problem comes back. Owners also say the system cannot be turned off permanently.
Uncommanded hard braking from the Pre Sense system makes up most of these reports. The car brakes on clear roads, on the highway, and while waiting to turn left, which raises rear-end and loss-of-control risk. Dealer fixes include four-wheel and sensor alignments and lower sensitivity settings, but the braking returns. Owners also report that the system will not stay off after they disable it. One separate report describes premature brake rotor wear within the first 12 months of ownership.
The power liftgate closes on people while they load or unload cargo. The foot-activated kick sensor triggers by accident when the key is on the person, and the gate comes down without stopping for the body in its path. Holding it back takes significant force. Owners report repeat events starting in the first days of ownership. Dealers find no fault codes and say they cannot deactivate the foot sensor.
Excerpts from complaints Q5 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
There is an active recall. I went to the dealer to have it resolved. I was told there is no fix and not sure when there will be a resolution. That is unacceptable in my opinion. Especially when it pertains to the battery and there is a heightened risk for fire. I am reliant on having a vehicle to get to work. This concerns me deeply and should be fixed or considered a lemon based on no resolution.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
The dash board lights all came on, windows rolled down, car could not be controlled and couldn’t put the gear in park. After further research on the internet, I found that there was a recall on 288,000 Q 5s in 2021 because of this issue. Dealer said the “gateway system” that controls all the communication died and they had to replace it. I think the 2021 issue is not completely resolved.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Audi has a pre-sense mechanism that cannot be permanently turned off. I have almost been hit three times when the Audi brakes FOR NO REASON at all; people almost rear-end me because the Audi comes to an immediate halt. And there is no reason for the pre-sense to engage when it does go off. They are flukes. I am going to get seriously injured.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
21 Dec 2025 11,743 miles Audi Pre-sense slammed on the brakes while waiting to make a left. Pointing downhill slightly. No cars in the way. Turned it off completely. Was on the the Late setting. Will not stay off.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 8 Q5 years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Q5 Quattro and Q5 Sportback Quattro vehicles. The cylinder head cover screws may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: The screws can loosen, allowing oil to leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the screws as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 15ZK.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software as the final remedy, anticipated to be available in the second quarter of 2025. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehicles in which online data is unavailable, owners are advised not to charge their batteries until the final remedy becomes available. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This will be a Phased recall. Phase 1 will include Interim letters 2022-2023 model year vehicles. Phase 2 will include Owner letters 2021-2024 model year vehicles, and Phase 3 will include Interim letters 2022-2023 model year vehicles. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed February 28, 2025, and May 7, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 93AA. This recall expands and replaces previous NHTSA recall number 24V898.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat.
Risk: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's numbers for this recall are 93U6 and 93U8.
Cars shoppers compare with the Audi Q5, with their own 2024 checklists.
2024 owner complaints, side by side
