2020 Audi Q5 E Safety Report
2020 Audi Q5 E Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Audi Q5 E
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Audi Q5 E. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (12) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Service Brakes | Compare service brakes issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Audi Q5 E with 7 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2021 | Check the 2021 Audi Q5 E before buying across this generation. |
Audi Q5 E Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Audi Q5 E years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Audi Q5 E | 23 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Audi Q5 E | 7 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Audi Q5 E Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Audi Q5 E, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Service Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Audi onlyEngine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyElectrical System,Service Brakes,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine issues Audi onlyElectrical System,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Audi onlyElectrical System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Audi onlyPower Train
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Audi Q5 E
Reliability Score
The 2020 Audi Q5 E receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2020 Audi Q5 E
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Audi Q5 E:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes Service brakes have been reported to fail intermittently, leading to jerking during mode transitions. Audi has issued a technical service bulletin (TSB 2079556) for this issue. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Malfunctions Electrical system malfunctions have caused several safety issues, including engine idling and drive system malfunctions. These issues are frequent and can lead to drive system failures. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Brake Booster Fault Brake booster faults have been reported, causing the brake booster light to come on. Audi has issued a technical service bulletin (TSB 2079556) for this issue. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Issues Transmission issues have caused the car to fail to start or turn on, with one incident occurring in 2021 and another in 2023. The issue was diagnosed as a computer malfunction. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Audi Q5 E:
Service brakes have been reported to fail intermittently, leading to jerking during mode transitions.
Electrical system malfunctions have caused several safety issues, including engine idling and drive system malfunctions.
Brake booster faults have been reported, causing the brake booster light to come on.
Transmission issues have caused the car to fail to start or turn on.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Audi Q5 E
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Audi Q5 E with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires.
Our vehicle started jerking when it transitioned from EV mode to Hybrid (gas engine). I found TSB 2079556, which describes exactly the diagnostic codes our car has for all eight battery packs. This is clearly a known problem, and as the car is out of its original warranty I would have to pay for this myself. Audi should replace the battery packs free of charge as they were clearly defective.
I understand that there have been recalls for the brake booster in some 2020 Audi Q5s. I have had my brake booster light come on, but my VIN is not in the recall. My car has less than 50,000 miles on it and I should not be having this issue. I think my car should be recalled and this issue should be fixed by Audi. The cost to repair this issue is around $3000.
An Electrical Malfunction has caused several safety issues causing the car engine to idle and have "drive system malfunction" The warning system being displays on the dashboard has show not only cooling issues but issues relating to the brakes and overall engine making the car unsafe to drive. The Audi Pre-sense system engages the brakes while driving a varies fast speeds usually while on the hig...
Ecu Malfunction leading to Cooling system malfunction The car after idling more than 30 min with the A/C off has a "drive system malfunction". The warning displays on the dash and the engine runs violently rough until the car shuts itself off. The Audi has done this several times, though not while driving. This problem creates a lot of heat in the engine bay and has led to a problem in my coolin...
Jul 9 2024. Plug-in hybrid battery fire. Car plugged in at 11:10am with an empty battery. At 1:45pm we noticed white smoke emitting from the battery, (rear left near charge port). Immediately unplugged. Fire Department on scene, car pushed to street. Disconnected battery, observed heat and some black residue in the battery compartment, FD deemed it no longer an immediate threat, so they departed. ...
Brake Booster Brake Serví Unit faulty Making noise, took t mechanic and I was told there is a technical service bulletin on this. I called Audi of Danbury and I was told there is no recall. I was told by my mechanic it can cause car t run bad and die.
My Transmission failed to go in forward and was racing in drive. I put it reverse and that worked but put back into drive it races then makes a bang and instantly goes into drive. I had car towed to Audi of Allentown. They initially went over vehicle couldn't find issue then it did it to them. They said it had a code for solenoid. They changed valve body and it had codes so they were in contact wi...
Complete failure of the car to start or turn on. This occurred once in 2021 and a second time in 2023. Taken to dealership. Diagnosed with a computer problem. Fixed by dealership.
The vehicle is a 2020 Audi Q5 Premium Plus model with 15,525 miles on it. I was driving at 55 mph on a two lane country road and approaching an intersection at 11:55 AM ET. Road and weather conditions were perfect. Clear, sunny weather and 65 degrees. Recently paved roadway which was clear and dry. There were no vehicles in front, behind or at the intersection. No pedestrians or animals. ...
Recall Number: 22V034 Audi has a current recall impacting the alignment of the rear axle. It is causing uneven and unsafe wear on the rear tires. Our tires are experiencing this greatly. We took the car into our Audi dealership. Audi, the manufacturer, rejected the request for tire replacement claiming alignment is within specification. However, if you take even a small glance at our tires, it is...
RECEIVED LETTER FROM AUDI REGARDING NHTSA:22V034. LETTER INDICATED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE REAR AXLE SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND, POTENTIAL TIRE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, DEALER (FLETCHER JONE AUDI, COSTA MESA, CA) SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES DESPITE PRESENCE OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. TIRES ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON THEM AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AT 1...
I went to dealership to fix recall and the dealership didn't finish work on recall because they wanted me to pay for an alignment when it says it should off been fixed on your website because the recall damaged my tires unevenly.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Audi Q5 E
Has the 2020 AUDI Q5 E been recalled?
No, the 2020 AUDI Q5 E has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2020 AUDI Q5 E have?
The 2020 AUDI Q5 E has 12 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
The 2020 AUDI Q5 E does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 AUDI Q5 E involve service brakes (2 complaints), engine (1 complaints), electrical system,service brakes,engine (1 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,engine, electrical system, power train.
How many crash reports does the 2020 AUDI Q5 E have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2020 AUDI Q5 E in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2020 AUDI Q5 E have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E out of 12 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 AUDI Q5 E.
Should I buy a 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 AUDI Q5 E is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 12 complaints, 0 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 AUDI Q5 E are: 1. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 2. ENGINE (1 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE (1 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (1 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints). SERVICE BRAKES is the single most-reported problem area with 2 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
Be aware of potential electrical system and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and monitoring are recommended. The 2020 AUDI Q5 E has 12 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
The 2020 AUDI Q5 E receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 12 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Service Brakes and Electrical System Malfunctions.
What are the known issues with the 2020 AUDI Q5 E?
Known issues with the 2020 AUDI Q5 E include: Service Brakes, Electrical System Malfunctions, Brake Booster Fault, Transmission Issues. These are based on patterns found across 12 NHTSA complaints.
What are the common issues with the 2020 Audi Q5 E?
Common issues include service brake failures, electrical system malfunctions, and transmission problems.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 Audi Q5 E?
Yes, there is a recall related to the rear axle suspension alignment, which can cause uneven tire wear.
What should I do if I experience electrical system malfunctions?
Contact Audi for a diagnostic check and follow their recommendations for repairs.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential electrical system and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and monitoring are recommended.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Audi Q5 E
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Audi Q5 E. The data includes 12 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 fire incidents, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13