YearToAvoid

Audi Best and Worst Years by Model

24 Audi models, 8,046 NHTSA owner complaints and 368 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Audi models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Audi Q52008–20251,335332011, 2012, 2018, 2023, 20252017, 2022, 2024Engine
Audi Q72007–20251,041322013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 20252010, 2012Electrical System
Audi A42005–20241,450122005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 20202011, 2012, 2016, 2022Electrical System
Audi Q32008–2025233182020, 2022, 20242017Electrical System
Audi A32005–2025720202006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 20162019, 2022, 2023Airbags
Audi A62005–2025766332005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016, 20192017, 2018Airbags
Audi A52008–2025324192010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 20202015, 2016, 2022Electrical System
Audi S42005–2022277112005, 2010, 2011, 2013—Transmission & Powertrain
Audi S52008–2025141142018, 2020, 2025—Transmission & Powertrain
Audi TT2005–20235062005, 2008, 2009—Transmission & Powertrain
Audi A72007–2025138242012, 2013, 2016, 2019—Electrical System
Audi SQ52013–2025117142018, 2021, 20242015, 2016Engine
Audi Q82019–2025202162019, 2024—Electrical System
Audi A82005–2025195242008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019—Engine
Audi S62007–2025108172013, 2014, 2015, 2016—Engine
Audi S32015–202488122015, 2016, 2017—Airbags
Audi S72013–202557142013, 2014, 2016—Engine
Audi A4 allroad2013–2024251122013, 2014, 2015—Steering
Audi e-tron2019–2024150132019, 2022—Electrical System
Audi A3 Cabriolet2015–2019164112015, 2016—Airbags
Audi Q5 e2020–20256402021, 2024—Electrical System
Audi A5 Cabriolet2010–20225192010, 2011, 2012—Airbags
Audi A4 Cabriolet2006–20096442009—Airbags
Audi A4 Avant2009–2012600——Engine

Audi model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2017 Audi Q7 · 319 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  2. 2006 Audi A4 · 295 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  3. 2005 Audi A4 · 219 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  4. 2018 Audi Q5 · 204 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  5. 2007 Audi A4 · 196 complaints · 3 recalls Caution
  6. 2008 Audi A4 · 175 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  7. 2012 Audi Q5 · 168 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  8. 2011 Audi Q5 · 143 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  9. 2018 Audi Q7 · 142 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  10. 2020 Audi A4 · 127 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid

How we rank Audi years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.