2023 Audi S5 Safety Report

The 2023 Audi S5, being a relatively new model, has a limited safety data set from NHTSA, with only 3 total complaints, 1 reported crash, 0 fires, and 4 injuries. This low complaint volume is typical for a new vehicle. A significant concern is the single recall issued for the AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER system, affecting various 2023-2024 Audi models including the S5. This recall addresses a critical safety defect where a deactivated front passenger airbag may not deploy in a crash, substantially increasing the risk of injury. One specific complaint directly aligns with this concern, detailing a severe front-end collision where none of the airbags deployed, resulting in the vehicle being totaled and the driver sustaining injuries, despite wearing a seatbelt. This incident underscores the potential severity of the airbag recall. Beyond the airbag issue, other complaints include a front driver-side tire tread separation at highway speeds, which, while not causing a crash, highlights a potential component quality issue. Another complaint details a faulty fuel gauge leading to an unexpected vehicle stall due to running out of gas, a significant safety hazard, especially on highways. These isolated incidents, while few, point to potential quality control issues in critical vehicle systems. NHTSA has not yet published overall safety ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover) for the 2023 Audi S5, which means there is no independent crash test performance data available to assess its structural integrity or occupant protection beyond the anecdotal complaint data. The lack of ratings makes it challenging to form a comprehensive safety picture based on standardized tests. However, the existing recall and the nature of the complaints, particularly the airbag non-deployment in a crash, suggest areas of concern that potential buyers should be aware of and address with their dealership. In summary, while the 2023 Audi S5 has a low number of complaints, the presence of a critical airbag recall and a reported incident of airbag non-deployment in a crash are serious. Other issues like tire failure and fuel system malfunction, though isolated, also warrant attention. The absence of NHTSA crash test ratings means that a full, data-driven assessment of its crashworthiness is not yet possible.

Our recommendation: Given the critical airbag recall and a reported incident of non-deployment in a crash, prospective buyers should verify that all recall remedies have been completed and consider the potential for other isolated component issues like tire failure or fuel system malfunctions.