2018 Audi Q5 Safety Report
2018 Audi Q5 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Audi Q5
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 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 (6) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (189) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 8 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Suspension | Compare suspension issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Audi Q5 with 22 complaints and 6 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Audi Q5 | 41 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Audi Q5 | 40 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Audi Q5 | 22 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Audi Q5 | 72 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Audi Q5 | 63 | 8 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Audi Q5 | 96 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Audi Q5 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 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.
Suspension
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Suspension issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlyElectrical System
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Audi onlyEngine
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlyForward Collision Avoidance
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Audi Q5
Reliability Score
The 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Audi Q5
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Audi Q5:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Control Module Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, and 2018-2019 SQ5 vehicles due to a body control module issue. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Q5 and SQ5 vehicles due to issues with the master cylinder and disc caliper. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, and 2018-2019 SQ5 vehicles due to electrical system issues. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Seat Belt Pretensioner Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6 due to seat belt pretensioner issues. |
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 2018 Audi Q5:
Suspension issues are a common problem, with 22% of reported issues.
Electrical system issues are a common problem, with 17% of reported issues.
Service brake issues are a common problem, with 6% of reported issues.
Structural issues are a common problem, with 6% of reported issues.
Recall Details for the 2018 Audi Q5
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Audi Q5 by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. Volksw...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Audi Q5
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Audi Q5 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The Seat Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. The passenger airbag warning light activates when a passenger occupies the passenger seat and the passenger overhead reading light remains on when the seat is occupied including overnight. These are established symptoms of Seat Occupancy Detection System failure. The manufacturer issued a warranty extension specifically covering this defect fo...
Problem with Brake booster servo issue comes on the dash then goes away. Brakes are spongy and brake pedal makes a swooshing sound when pressed
I am submitting this complaint to report a safety defect involving a 2018 Audi Q5 (Premium Plus, Technology Package). The vehicle’s MMI infotainment/navigation system intermittently shuts down or reboots during operation. When this occurs while the vehicle is in in reverse, the rearview camera display immediately goes blank and remains unavailable until the system completes its reboot cycle. This ...
Yellow warning light..drive system malfunction. Red warning light..low oil pressure at idle. Says stop engine..after engine restart lights go off and is fine.. for a little bit.
The front subframe on the vehicle is severely rusted and corroded through rust. Part of it has fallen off, and the rest of it is badly damaged. A structural integrity, a major safety risk. The Audi Dealer inspected it and confirmed. The car is unsafe to drive.
Unpublished costly catastropic electrical failure Audi of America reviewed the case and declined assistance solely because the vehicle was already totaled and unavailable for dealer inspection. Audi did not dispute the presence of water intrusion, the technical findings, or the cause of failure. This failure occurred without warning under ordinary environmental conditions and resulted in sudden ...
Vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Prestige Mileage: Approximately 34,000 miles On December 14, 2024, while driving at normal road speeds, my vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed multiple warning messages, including drivetrain and system malfunction alerts. The vehicle became unstable and unsafe to operate while I was in traffic, forcing me to carefully maneuver off the roadway. This occurred without any...
On 10/27/25 as I was slowly pulling into a parking space, my Audi Q5 lurched forward and jumped the curb crashing into a tree. Happened too quickly to apply the brakes. No warning indications at the time of the incident. Car would not start and had to be towed to a repair shop. The insurance adjuster is evaluating the damage, probably the vehicle will be totaled. Luckily the tree stopped the car a...
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with her son was in the car seat, the rear driver’s side seat lap band was twisted and was stuck around his waist. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to retract, and the contact had to cut the seat belt with a pair of scissors. The contact stated that the child had a bruise on his lower stomach near his...
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.
Rear coil springs broke. No heavy duty cycle. 46,000 miles. Spring retention pads dislocated and destroyed. Powder coat anti rust prevention in 90% good shape. No reason for coil springs to break other than assembly defect or supplier material defect.
My car randomly rebooting while driving. The whole MMI goes down
The vehicle stalls and does not move forward while I was driving it stalled. I had to allow it to roll freely out of traffic.
Safety System Malfunction message appears on dash. Passenger side air bag goes on and off while driving. Whole system chimes and random messages flashing on screen constantly. At times system doesn’t recognize that I have my drivers side seatbelt buckled. So system keeps chiming cars Stanton. Random messages flash on dash. Traffic jam assist (3 cars symbol) unavailable and image flash on da...
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with no other vehicles or objects nearby, the Forward Collision Avoidance system unintendedly activated. The contact stated that within seconds, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking system engaged, greatly reducing the speed before returning to normal functionality. No warning li...
BCM
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled to the side of the road, and the vehicle was able to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the body control module(BCM) was floating in water. The vehicl...
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed due to the cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the warning light was intermittently illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the fail...
A coil that is attached underneath the sunroof is attached to the BCM. There is not a drain plug at the end so there was 5 inches of water there and the BCM was made to sit in that spot. The electrical wires and BCM were burned out because of this. The BCM controls the entire system not limited to the start button and everything that runs the car. I have only had the vehicle less than 1 year and i...
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while pulling into a business at an undisclosed speed, there was an unknown warning light illuminated, and the message "Left and Right Rear Signal and Center Rear Brake Light Malfunction" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the key warning light and engine malfunction warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to...
Showing 20 of 189 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Audi Q5
Has the 2018 AUDI Q5 been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 AUDI Q5 has 6 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 AUDI Q5 have?
The 2018 AUDI Q5 has 189 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 5 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 AUDI Q5?
The 2018 AUDI Q5 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 AUDI Q5?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 AUDI Q5 involve suspension (22 complaints), unknown or other (19 complaints), electrical system (17 complaints). Other affected components include engine, electrical system,unknown or other, forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2018 AUDI Q5 have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2018 AUDI Q5 out of 189 total complaints (4.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 AUDI Q5 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2018 AUDI Q5 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 AUDI Q5?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 AUDI Q5.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 AUDI Q5?
5 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 AUDI Q5. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 AUDI Q5?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 AUDI Q5 is acceptable with caveats. It has 189 complaints, 6 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 AUDI Q5?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 AUDI Q5 are: 1. SUSPENSION (22 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (19 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (17 complaints), 4. ENGINE (9 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (9 complaints). SUSPENSION is the single most-reported problem area with 22 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 AUDI Q5?
Be aware of potential electrical system and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and monitoring are recommended. The 2018 AUDI Q5 has 189 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2018 AUDI Q5?
The 2018 AUDI Q5 receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 189 owner complaints, 6 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Body Control Module and Service Brakes.
What are the known issues with the 2018 AUDI Q5?
Known issues with the 2018 AUDI Q5 include: Body Control Module, Service Brakes, Electrical System, Seat Belt Pretensioner. These are based on patterns found across 189 NHTSA complaints. 6 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2018 Audi Q5?
Suspension and electrical system malfunctions are the most common issues, followed by service brake and structure problems.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Audi Q5?
Yes, there are recalls for body control module, structure, and service brake issues.
What should I do if I experience electrical system failures?
Check for recalls and contact Audi for potential repairs or replacements.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential electrical system and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and monitoring are recommended.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Audi Q5
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Audi Q5. The data includes 189 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 6 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 5 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Audi Q5 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 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