YearToAvoid

2011 Audi Q5 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 44 engine complaints for the 2011 Audi Q5, 31% of that year's 143 total complaints. Owners commonly report excessive oil consumption and timing chain failures, with a median failure mileage of 78,000. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
44
31% of 143
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
78,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine consuming excessive oil, sometimes a quart every 1000 to 1200 miles, even after dealer oil-consumption tests.
  • Several owners describe timing chain tensioner failures leading to the engine jerking, stalling, or not restarting, in some cases requiring a full engine rebuild.
  • Some owners report unexpected engine fires, including one where the vehicle was parked and unattended when smoke and flames were noticed.
  • Owners describe repeated dealer visits for oil leaks and consumption issues without a permanent fix, with Audi attributing high consumption to engine design.
  • One owner reported oil leakage that caused the timing chain to fracture, resulting in a full engine rebuild.

When 2011 Audi Q5 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 13, 2011, latest Jan 18, 2025.

2011 Audi Q5 engine complaints: complaints filed per month5Oct 2011Jul 2014Sep 2016Dec 2017Oct 2018Jun 2019Jun 2020Jan 2025
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Jan 2025; peak Jul 2019 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Audi Q5

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Q5 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20109 (9%)
  2. 201144 (31%)
  3. 201249 (29%)
  4. 201335 (39%)
  5. 201440 (38%)
  6. 201545 (45%)
  7. 201637 (48%)
  8. 201721 (50%)
  9. 201844 (22%)
  10. 201912 (23%)
  11. 20206 (24%)
  12. 202119 (26%)
  13. 20227 (32%)
  14. 20237 (16%)
  15. 20241 (5%)
  16. 20259 (21%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints for the 2011 Audi Q5?
NHTSA lists 44 engine complaints for the 2011 Q5, which is 31% of the 143 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Audi Q5 engine oil consumption or timing chain issue?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2011 Audi Q5.
At what mileage do 2011 Audi Q5 engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2011 Q5 is 78,000 miles.
What specific engine problems do 2011 Audi Q5 owners report?
Owners most often describe excessive oil consumption and timing chain tensioner failures, with a smaller number reporting engine fires.
Were there any injuries or crashes linked to the 2011 Audi Q5 engine complaints?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 injuries among the 44 engine complaints, though 2 complaints mention fires.

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.