2013 Audi A5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
87/100
#3 most-complained of 16 A5 years
The 2013 Audi A5 has a Complaint Index of 87, ranking 3rd worst among 16 model years tracked, with a verdict of Avoid. NHTSA logged 35 complaints, 3 recalls, 2 fires, and 2 crashes, with Engine issues (43% of complaints) the top concern.
- Complaints
- 35
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 20 city / 30 hwy
Top 2013 Audi A5 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine15 (43%)
- Electrical System9 (26%)
- Steering8 (23%)
- Fuel System3 (9%)
- Other3 (9%)
- Brakes2 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (6%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine catching fire while the car was parked, later linked to a coolant pump overheating recall.
- Some drivers received recall notice 17V-002 for the cooling pump after experiencing overheating without warning.
- Steering wheels developed a notchy or dead-spot feel where turning the wheel a few inches produced no response, occurring from around 25 mph up to highway speeds.
- One owner reported the vehicle rolled into a fence while parked and not running, suspecting a transmission failure at 80,000 miles.
- A sun visor was reported to lack spring tension, swinging and striking the driver during turns or acceleration.
- A sunroof reportedly cracked and shattered while driving at highway exit speed.
2013 Audi A5 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V229000Apr 11, 2018Engine342,867 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
- NHTSA 17V622000Oct 5, 2017Electrical System216,913 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Risk: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
- NHTSA 17V002000Jan 3, 2017Engine342,867 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
2013 Audi A5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,300
- 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.
2013 compared with other A5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Audi A5 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 A5 carries a Complaint Index of 87 and ranks 3rd worst out of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other A5 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Audi A5?
- Engine complaints make up 43% of all reports, followed by Electrical System issues at 26% and Steering complaints at 23%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2013 Audi A5 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 A5, covering the engine coolant pump (twice, including a fire-related campaign) and an electrical auxiliary heater connector issue.
- At what mileage do 2013 Audi A5 problems typically occur?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 50,250 miles overall, with engine complaints centered around 70,500 miles and electrical complaints around 81,500 miles.
- How does the 2013 Audi A5 compare to other years?
- The 2013 model's Complaint Index of 87 is higher than 2012 (47, Good) and 2014 (60, Caution), but lower than 2018 (93, Avoid) and 2020 (100, Avoid), the two worst years for the A5.