YearToAvoid

2021 Audi A5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 A5 years

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

The 2021 Audi A5 ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 20 and 8 complaints on file, making it one of the better years to own. It has 5 recalls but no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

Complaints
8
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 31 hwy

Top 2021 Audi A5 problems

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

  1. Electrical System2 (25%)
  2. Other2 (25%)
  3. Airbags1 (13%)
  4. Engine1 (13%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (13%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (13%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power at low speed with warning lights illuminated and inability to restart, traced to a wet gateway module under the rear seat.
  • The instrument panel has been reported to blink on and off before going dark entirely while driving, requiring replacement.
  • The automatic braking system (Audi pre sense) has reportedly triggered hard, unexpected braking without any obstacle present.
  • The passenger airbag indicator has been reported to cycle on and off regardless of seat occupancy, linked to a failed occupant detection mat.
  • Owners describe the transmission failing to shift and instructing the driver to pull over, sometimes in unsafe locations.
  • Some owners report the engine bucking at low speeds followed by a transmission malfunction warning and towing to a dealer.
2021 Audi A5 complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2021Jun 2023Feb 2024Jun 2025Nov 2025Dec 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026
9 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2025 (2).

2021 Audi A5 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V742000Oct 5, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras170,296 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.

  2. NHTSA 22V034000Jan 26, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires31,058 vehicles

    Tires

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

    Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.

  3. NHTSA 21V606000Aug 5, 2021Seat Belts45,496 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other:retractor

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).

See all 5 recalls for the 2021 Audi A5 →

2021 Audi A5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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.

2021 compared with other A5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good3312327
2020Avoid10060427
2021Best208527
2022Good277227
2023Good408027

All Audi A5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Audi A5 a good year?
Yes, relative to other A5 model years. It has a complaint index of 20, ranks 13th worst out of 16 years, and carries a Best verdict compared to years like 2020 and 2018.
What problems does the 2021 Audi A5 have?
NHTSA lists 8 complaints for the 2021 A5, with the Electrical System as the top problem area, accounting for 2 of the complaints. Other reported areas include airbags, engine, collision avoidance cameras, structure and body, and transmission.
Does the 2021 Audi A5 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 A5, covering infotainment software, rear axle alignment, seat belt assemblies, wheel lock nuts, and wiring harness scuff protection. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2021 A5 compare to the 2020 and 2018 A5?
The 2021 A5 has a complaint index of 20, much lower than the 2020 model's 100 and the 2018 model's 93, both of which carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the median mileage for electrical failures in the 2021 Audi A5?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 30,147.5 miles at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2021 A5.

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.