2019 Audi Sq5 Safety Report
2019 Audi SQ5 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Audi Sq5
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Audi Sq5. 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 | Low (17) | 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 | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2017 | Compare against the 2017 Audi Sq5 with 5 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Audi Sq5 before buying across this generation. |
Audi Sq5 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 Sq5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Audi Sq5 | 6 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Audi Sq5 | 22 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Audi Sq5 | 9 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Audi Sq5 | 5 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Audi Sq5 | 6 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Audi Sq5 | 7 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2019 Audi Sq5 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Audi Sq5, 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
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyVisibility/Wiper
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Audi onlyAir Bags
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Audi onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Audi onlyElectrical System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Audi onlyStructure
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Audi Sq5
Reliability Score
The 2019 Audi Sq5 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 2019 Audi Sq5
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 2019 Audi Sq5
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Audi Sq5:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Knocking Noise Audi SQ5 vehicles may experience a knocking noise from the engine, which could lead to potential engine failure. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear Brake Light Failure The rear brake lights may stop functioning due to a failure of the Comfort System Central Control Module (J393). |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Front Passenger Side Wheel Flare Detachment The front passenger side wheel flare may detach while driving, posing a safety risk. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag Deployment Failure In a collision, the airbags may not deploy, leading to potential injury. |
High | Rare | 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 2019 Audi Sq5:
Engine knocking noise and potential engine failure.
Rear brake light failure and front passenger side wheel flare detachment.
Air bag deployment failure in a collision.
Various electrical system issues, including dashboard malfunction and SOS warning light.
Recall Details for the 2019 Audi Sq5
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Audi Sq5 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 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
Consequence: A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Audi Sq5
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Audi Sq5 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
There’s a knocking noise coming from the engine that could lead to potential engine failure. There is a known manufacturers defect in these engines. Audi has extended a warranty, but not all cars are eligible. This should be a recall because if the engine fails on a high speed through a highway, it could be a highly dangerous situation
Piston skirt recall and warranty. Bulletin number AWA-25-08. Needs investigated. Based off average Audi owner statistics along with NHTSA statistics, when this bulletin was released in August of 2025, over 60% of vehicles with this 3.0T engine code EA839 would be disqualified from repairs for under 80,000 miles.
The rear brake lights on my 2019 Audi SQ5 stopped functioning due to a failure of the Comfort System Central Control Module (J393). This defect is documented by Audi in Technical Service Bulletin 2055123/5 and earlier versions. The malfunction causes the “rear lighting warning” to appear in the instrument cluster, and the brake lights do not illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed. The issue i...
The contact owns a 2019 Audi SQ5. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel flare detached. The driver’s side wheel flare was loosened. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000...
Panoramic roof glass exploded outwards while driving on the highway. No sign of rock damage or debris hitting. The glass is deformed outwards. The glass was sent towards the interior of the car. The sunroof shade was closed and many pieces of glass were caught by this otherwise the driver would have been hit by glass shards.
No warning lights or fault codes. Took it to Audi of Dallas and without a code they said they couldn’t troubleshoot it. The car makes a whining noise only while under acceleration and is prominate between 20-50 mph. Also the fuel gauge (electric) does not show the correct amount of fuel. I have already ran out of fuel and it still showed 200+ miles left and the gauge was still around 1/2. Also whi...
The Adaptive Cruise Control erroneously detects things such as shadows when going under bridges as stationary objects positioned in front of the vehicle, and aggressively applies the brake, causing an unsafe situation. If this occurs on wintry roads or icy conditions, this could create a safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. There is also no known way to disable the adaptive cruise contro...
Collision on highway and airbags did not deploy. White powder was present on dashboard after accident but not deployment of any airbags. Was hit on driver side and pushed off the highway were I struck a metal pole knocked that down and crashed into woods and trees area.
2019 Audi SQ5 Tail Lights, Brake Lights and rear blinker failure. All lights inoperable with errors and warnings appearing on the dashboard display. Failed while driving home from a weekend trip in the evening approximately 1 hour from home. Had a friend follow behind me to reduce risk of any issues with other drivers colliding with my vehicle. The dealership inspected the vehicle and found numer...
First, the tail lights malfunctioned randomly. Both tail lights were out due to some software error that eventually resolved after a week. Thankfully this was covered by Audi, and there is a redundant tail light system in place. The error just suddenly came up and all main tail lights and turning signals failed. This could have ended terribly as i was driving at night. An additional issue is the p...
Rear sunroof exploded. Sounded like a large rock or gunshot and then shattered glass from the rear sunroof. The interior shade caught the glass. Car was immediately dropped off at the Audi dealership in SLC, Ut. Dealership tried to say it was from a rock hitting the car but no one was around me. A simple search on the internet shows this gas occurred numerous times on all different Audi models.
ISSUES WITH AUTO BREAKING IN REVERSE CAR WILL SOMETIMES STOP ABRUPTLY WHILE BACKING UP WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE ARE PRESENT.
CARS DASH BOARD GO WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. COMPLETELY DISABLING ALL GAUGES UNTIL IT RESETS. BLUEGRASS AUDI CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT. I ASKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO BE CONTACTED BY AUDI BUT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. AUDI BLUEGRASS HAS HAD THE CAR2-3 TIMES NOW WITH NO SOLUTION. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ONE TIME WHERE THEY DROVE OVER 400 MILES ON IT. PICTURE I INCLUDED IS A JUST A GUESS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE SOS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AUDI ROCKLIN LOCATED AT 4448 GRANITE DRIVE, ROCKLIN, CA 95677, TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT T...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI STEVENS CREEK 3350 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95117 AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
THE TRUNK LID HAS OPENED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE NIGHT TIME, SOME SMALL CARGO (MADE OF PLASTIC) FELL OUT OF THE TRUNK AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND IN ADJACENT LANE WHILE CREATING SOME MINOR ROAD HAZARD. INSTANTLY PULLED OVER ON A SOFT SHOULDER, PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND GOT OUT TO CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE TRUNK WAS WIDE OPEN BUT HAZARDS WERE NO...
ON A SUBURBAN STREET THAT I REGULARLY DRIVE ON WITH NO CAR NEARER THAN 100 YARDS IN FRONT OF ME AND FORTUNATELY NO CAR BEHIND ME THE AUDI PRESENSE SYSTEM ACTUATED SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND FLASHING A RED TRIANGLE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN. IF A CAR HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BEHIND ME I WOULD'VE BEEN REAR-ENDED
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Audi Sq5
Has the 2019 AUDI SQ5 been recalled?
Yes, the 2019 AUDI SQ5 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 2019 AUDI SQ5 have?
The 2019 AUDI SQ5 has 17 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
The 2019 AUDI SQ5 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 2019 AUDI SQ5?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 AUDI SQ5 involve engine (3 complaints), visibility/wiper (2 complaints), air bags (2 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes, electrical system, structure.
How many crash reports does the 2019 AUDI SQ5 have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2019 AUDI SQ5 out of 17 total complaints (5.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2019 AUDI SQ5 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2019 AUDI SQ5 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 AUDI SQ5.
How many injuries are reported for the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 AUDI SQ5.
Should I buy a 2019 AUDI SQ5?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 AUDI SQ5 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 17 complaints, 5 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
The components with the most failures on the 2019 AUDI SQ5 are: 1. ENGINE (3 complaints), 2. VISIBILITY/WIPER (2 complaints), 3. AIR BAGS (2 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 3 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2019 AUDI SQ5?
Be cautious of engine knocking noises and check for recalls related to the engine and brakes. Ensure the airbags deploy correctly in a collision. The 2019 AUDI SQ5 has 17 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
The 2019 AUDI SQ5 receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 17 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Knocking Noise and Rear Brake Light Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2019 AUDI SQ5?
Known issues with the 2019 AUDI SQ5 include: Engine Knocking Noise, Rear Brake Light Failure, Front Passenger Side Wheel Flare Detachment, Air Bag Deployment Failure. These are based on patterns found across 17 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common engine issues in the 2019 Audi SQ5?
Engine knocking noise and potential engine failure due to a knocking noise.
Are there any brake problems reported for the 2019 Audi SQ5?
Rear brake light failure and front passenger side wheel flare detachment.
What should I do if my airbags don't deploy during a collision?
Contact Audi immediately and seek professional assistance to ensure the airbags are functioning properly.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine knocking noises and check for recalls related to the engine and brakes. Ensure the airbags deploy correctly in a collision.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Audi Sq5
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Audi Sq5. The data includes 17 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 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