YearToAvoid

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 12 A5 Cabriolet years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet ranks worst among 12 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and rank 1 (worst-first). It carries 16 complaints and 2 recalls, with Airbags accounting for 94% of complaints, making it an Avoid year relative to other A5 Cabriolet years.

Complaints
16
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
21.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags15 (94%)
  2. Engine1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report long delays getting Takata airbag inflators replaced under recall, sometimes stretching past a year with no parts available.
  • Some owners say they were denied loaner vehicles while waiting for the airbag recall repair.
  • One owner reported the engine light came on with difficulty accelerating, and a dealer diagnosed the timing chain, head, tensioners, and turbo as needing replacement at 82,600 miles.
  • Owners describe frustration that their vehicle identification numbers were not listed in NHTSA's recall priority groupings despite having a known defective airbag.
2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2016Nov 2016Feb 2017May 2017Sep 2017Dec 2017
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2016 to Apr 2018; peak Mar 2017 (4).

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V082000Jan 30, 2018Airbags162,782 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

  2. NHTSA 16V078000Feb 10, 2016Airbags659,493 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other A5 Cabriolet years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015201620172018202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10016224.5
2011Avoid9114224.5
2012Avoid8214224.5

All Audi A5 Cabriolet years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet reliable?
Among 12 model years of the A5 Cabriolet tracked, 2010 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years.
What are the main problems with the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet?
Airbags account for 94% of complaints (15 of 16), with a median mileage at failure of 47,400 miles. There is also one engine complaint at 82,600 miles.
Does the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 A5 Cabriolet, both related to Airbags, including the Takata inflator recall (campaign 16V078000) and a driver frontal airbag inflator replacement (campaign 18V082000).
How does the 2010 A5 Cabriolet compare to the 2011 and 2012 model years?
The 2010 model has a complaint index of 100, higher than the 2011 (82) and 2012 (91) model years, which are also rated Avoid but with fewer reported issues.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet?
EPA rates the 2010 A5 Cabriolet at 24.5 mpg combined (21.5 city, 28 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,250.

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.