YearToAvoid

Audi Best and Worst Years by Model

22 Audi models, 6,030 NHTSA owner complaints and 337 recall campaigns for model years 2010–2025. 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.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Audi Q52010–20251,303312012, 2018, 2023, 20252017, 2020, 2022, 2024Engine
Audi Q72010–2025892312013, 2017, 2018, 20212010, 2012Electrical System
Audi A42010–202444582010, 2017, 2018, 20202011, 2016, 2022Engine
Audi Q32015–2025232182020, 2022, 20242017, 2019Electrical System
Audi A32010–2025455162010, 2015, 2016, 20172019, 2022, 2023Airbags
Audi A62010–2025463312012, 2013, 2016, 20192018Electrical System
Audi A52010–2025307182013, 2018, 2020, 20252015, 2016, 2021Electrical System
Audi S42010–202218792010, 2011, 2013—Transmission & Powertrain
Audi S52010–2025138142018, 2020, 2025—Electrical System
Audi A72012–2025135242012, 2013, 2016, 2019—Electrical System
Audi SQ52013–2025117142018, 2024, 20252015, 2016Engine
Audi Q82019–2025202162019, 2024—Electrical System
Audi A82010–2025166202013, 2014, 2015, 2019—Engine
Audi S62010–2025105162013, 2014, 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 Avant2011–2012580——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. 2018 Audi Q5 · 204 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  3. 2012 Audi Q5 · 168 complaints · 6 recalls Avoid
  4. 2011 Audi Q5 · 143 complaints · 5 recalls Caution
  5. 2018 Audi Q7 · 142 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  6. 2020 Audi A4 · 127 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  7. 2019 Audi A6 · 114 complaints · 7 recalls Avoid
  8. 2019 Audi Q8 · 109 complaints · 5 recalls Avoid
  9. 2014 Audi Q5 · 105 complaints · 5 recalls Caution
  10. 2010 Audi Q5 · 99 complaints · 4 recalls Good

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.