YearToAvoid

2009 Audi Q5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

12/100

#16 most-complained of 18 Q5 years

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

The 2009 Audi Q5 has 31 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 12 out of 100 — #16 highest of 18 Q5 model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is airbags (16 complaints, 52% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
31
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 23 hwy

Top 2009 Audi Q5 problems

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

  1. Airbags16 (52%)
  2. Fuel System6 (19%)
  3. Engine3 (10%)
  4. Other3 (10%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  6. Brakes1 (3%)
  7. Electrical System1 (3%)
  8. Steering1 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (3%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)
2009 Audi Q5 complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2009Sep 2015Feb 2017Apr 2018Dec 2019May 2022Sep 2026
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2009 to Sep 2026; peak Nov 2016 (4).

2009 Audi Q5 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V818000Nov 19, 2018Fuel System5,987 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.

    Risk: The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 16V660000Sep 13, 2016Fuel System143,214 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.

See all 6 recalls for the 2009 Audi Q5 →

2009 Audi Q5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
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.

2009 compared with other Q5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict001—
2009Best1231620
2010Good47100420
2011Avoid76143521

All Audi Q5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Audi Q5 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Audi Q5 ranks #16 of 18 among Q5 model years (Complaint Index 12/100, verdict: Best). It has 31 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi Q5?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (16 complaints), fuel system (6 complaints), and engine (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 56,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Audi Q5 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Audi Q5, most recently reported 2018, covering fuel system and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Audi Q5?
EPA rates the 2009 Audi Q5 at 20 MPG combined (18 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.