2016 Audi Q5 Safety Report
2016 Audi Q5 Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Audi Q5
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Audi Q5. 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 | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (72) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 10 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Audi Q5 with 22 complaints and 6 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Audi Q5 before buying across this generation. |
Audi Q5 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Audi Q5 | 40 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Audi Q5 | 96 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Audi Q5 | 189 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Audi Q5 | 41 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Audi Q5 | 22 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Audi Q5 | 63 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Audi Q5 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Audi Q5, 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.
Engine
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlySteering
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Audi onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Audi onlyElectrical System,Engine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Audi onlyElectrical System
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Audi Q5
Reliability Score
The 2016 Audi Q5 receives a reliability score of 85 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.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Audi Q5
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Audi Q5
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Audi Q5:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling System Recalled for cooling system issues, affecting 2013-2017 Audi A5 and Q5 models. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel Pump Recalled for fuel pump issues, affecting 2013-2017 Audi Q5 models. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Recalled for power steering issues, affecting 2013-2017 Audi A5 and Q5 models. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Recalled for wiring issues, affecting 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe and Cabriolet models. |
Medium | Occasional | 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 2016 Audi Q5:
Issues with the cooling system have been reported, affecting 2013-2017 Audi A5 and Q5 models.
Fuel pump issues have been reported, affecting 2013-2017 Audi Q5 models.
Power steering issues have been reported, affecting 2013-2017 Audi A5 and Q5 models.
Wiring issues have been reported, affecting 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe and Cabriolet models.
Recall Details for the 2016 Audi Q5
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Audi Q5 by NHTSA:
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V...
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Audi Q5
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Audi Q5 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 4 reported injuries or fatalities.
I am reporting a defect related to carbon buildup in the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) system on my 2016 Audi Q5 3.0L Supercharged (engine code CTUC). My vehicle has been diagnosed by an Audi dealer with DTC P0491 – Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow, and restricted secondary air flow has been confirmed through Audi-authorized diagnostics. This failure mode is described in TSB 20145...
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a loud gunshot. I got off the exit pulled over and I saw that my sunroof was shattered. On my Audi Q5 2016.
While driving and when parked, a strong odor of gasoline enters the cabin and garage. This poses a significant risk of fire and health hazards from fumes. The issue relates to the fuel system. The vehicle was previously serviced for the 2017 fuel system recall, but the problem has reappeared. This defect puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because it could result in a fuel leak and po...
Vehicle: 2016 Audi Q5 2.0 Premium Plus Date of Incident: March 31, 2025 I was in a front-end collision at approximately 20–25 mph when I struck a concrete pole. The impact was hard enough to severely damage the vehicle—the pole intruded deep into the engine bay, fluids leaked, and the front end was totaled. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed. As a result, I sustained multiple injuries: Sev...
Paid for fuel pump when should b covered on recall
The vehicle had a oil leak that began in 2022 right after I bought the vehicle used. The light continued to come on indicating low oil. Eventually, they found a leak in the pistons. They were replaced. Again in 2023 a leak was found near and around the upper timing gasket and vacuum pump. Now 2025, a new leak is found transmission line and the dipstick.!
I just purchased car and was told of no recalls
Back in 2017 there was a recall on my 2016 Audi Q5 regarding the fuel pump. Audi's solution to this recall was to replace the fuel pump if it had any cracks, but if there weren't any cracks their protocal was to just put a protective shield on the fuel pump. Since my car was only a year old, all that Audi did was the protective shield. A few weeks ago, my car started smelling like leaking fuel. Af...
Audi had Valves and pistons fail on the highway at 75mph on Nov 28,2024 at 117000 miles Had the vehicle since 2021 and 17000 miles. Complained to the dealerships at the last 3 oil changes about excessive oil consumption. They told us not to worry about it, full aware that they had lost a lawsuit over this very issue. We were never informed about this lawsuit, and now Audi refuses to fix THEIR prob...
Power steering failure. While driving warning light came on and power steering immediately went out. No prior warnings. Safety was put at risk because steering was basically inoperative, had to muscle to turn, unable to stop at intersections due to difficulty turning when coming to stop. Had vehicle towed to dealership because unable to drive. Had to replace power steering rack with adaptions. ...
The vehicle engine no longer works. The coolant line broke without warning, and the whole engine needs to be replaced. The vehicle no longer works
On [XXX] at around 8:55-8:59 I finalized the paperwork for a purchase of a car, received the keys, drove out of the dealership and by 9:02 the check engine light came on and the car shook. On [XXX] at around 2:22 pm, as I was driving, the car shook, pulled up to red light and the car would not move. It shook, rattled and died. The EPC light came on. I owed the car back to the dealership. I noticed...
My Q5 requires an additional quart of oil approximately every 500-1000 miles since purchased in early August . Services included two oil changes, replacement of pan gasket and fill tube O-ring. No drips on the ground, just a minimum level reading every 30 days. That definitely should not be happening without some plausible explanation other than "That's what German cars do. I have a BMW and the ...
The side assist went out and I had it replaced at the dealership. I paid out of pocket for this cost. The engine had been burning oil then started causing problems while driving prompting me to take into the dealership. I was informed that the engine is in backorder and it’s been a year since I’ve been waiting. I purchased the car used with around 79,000 miles on it around February 2023.
1) The Electromechanical Steering Unit is producing an error light on my instrument panel, and yes, it is available for inspection upon request. 2) If the steering unit fails, the results could be catastrophic for myself and others. 3) Yes, in multiple cases/places. There is a recall for this part in Canada. Also, an extended warranty was granted by Audi of America for this part for numerous 2...
ON OCTOBER 15 2023 AT AROUND 5.30 PM ME AND MY WIFE ARE COMING BACK FROM MY DAUGHTER"S HOUSE IN BASKING RIDGE NJ ,TO MY HOUSE IN WARREN NJ WHICH IS ONLY about 7 MILES. ITS LOCAL AREA WITH SPEED LIMIT AROUND 35 MILES/HR Z0NE .I WAS DRIVING ON MOUNT AIRY ROAD , SAW A RED LIGHT AT A DISTANCE, AND ALSO SAW A COUPLE OF CARS STOPPED AT LIGHT, AND SLOWLY APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TO MY SUR...
I was pulling into a parking space at approximately 5 mph and the car unintentionally accelerated causing me to jump the curb, go over a grass median and land perpendicularly onto a one-way active road. There were trees and other items on the median I could've hit had I'd been pulling into a different parking space. I also could've hit cars on the road. I quickly got off the road and parked the c...
continually having to add a quart of oil to the vehicle and rear tail pipes have turned soot black from oil burning out the tailpipe. I purchased the vehicle and i was having to have the oil changed a lot. then i noticed that the oil light was on every 500-1000 miles and i was constantly having the oil changed. i researched and the oil should not be changed that often. i took to dealership twi...
Coolant pump failed at 90K miles and eight years. Herb Chambers Audi Burlington denied there was ever a warranty for this issue, instead stating that the car in general was out of warranty (over 5 years from overall warranty), failed to refer us to the Settlement Claim administer as the NHTSA says they are required to under your guidelines (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10214802-0001.p...
The contact owns a 2016 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact checked the oil and coolant levels and became aware that the coolant level was very low. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after filling the coolant reservoir the odor went away. The contact stated that...
Showing 20 of 72 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Audi Q5
Has the 2016 AUDI Q5 been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 AUDI Q5 has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 AUDI Q5 have?
The 2016 AUDI Q5 has 72 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 7 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 AUDI Q5?
The 2016 AUDI Q5 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 AUDI Q5?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 AUDI Q5 involve engine (16 complaints), unknown or other (8 complaints), steering (7 complaints). Other affected components include engine and engine cooling, electrical system,engine, electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2016 AUDI Q5 have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2016 AUDI Q5 out of 72 total complaints (12.5% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 AUDI Q5 have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 AUDI Q5 out of 72 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 AUDI Q5?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 AUDI Q5.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 AUDI Q5?
7 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 AUDI Q5. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 AUDI Q5?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 AUDI Q5 is acceptable with caveats. It has 72 complaints, 5 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 AUDI Q5?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 AUDI Q5 are: 1. ENGINE (16 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (8 complaints), 3. STEERING (7 complaints), 4. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (6 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (3 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 16 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 AUDI Q5?
Be aware of potential recalls and check for any outstanding issues before purchasing a used 2016 Audi Q5. The 2016 AUDI Q5 has 72 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 AUDI Q5?
The 2016 AUDI Q5 receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 72 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 10 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Cooling System and Fuel Pump.
What are the known issues with the 2016 AUDI Q5?
Known issues with the 2016 AUDI Q5 include: Cooling System, Fuel Pump, Steering, Electrical System. These are based on patterns found across 72 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Audi Q5?
Yes, recalls have been issued for issues with the cooling system, fuel pump, and steering, affecting 2013-2017 models.
What are the common issues with the 2016 Audi Q5?
Common issues include engine and cooling system problems, electrical system issues, and steering problems.
Is the 2016 Audi Q5 safe to drive?
While generally safe, it's important to check for any outstanding recalls and address any reported issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential recalls and check for any outstanding issues before purchasing a used 2016 Audi Q5.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Audi Q5
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Audi Q5. The data includes 72 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 7 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Audi Q5 an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
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