YearToAvoid

2015 Audi Q5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Q5 years

The 2015 Audi Q5 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' rating relative to other Q5 years. NHTSA lists 99 complaints, 6 recalls, and Engine as the top problem area with 45 complaints.

Complaints
99
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21.5 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2015 Audi Q5 problems

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

  1. Engine45 (45%)
  2. Other14 (14%)
  3. Steering14 (14%)
  4. Fuel System12 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (11%)
  6. Electrical System6 (6%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers5 (5%)
  8. Brakes4 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body4 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel locked up while driving on a curve and would not turn, at a reported 8,000 miles.
  • Passenger side mirror blocked the driver's view during a left turn.
  • Burning odor coming from the front of the vehicle on several occasions, tied to a recall for the coolant pump, reported around 39,999 miles.
  • Steering gear reportedly became dislodged while driving.
  • Right rear brake failure without warning, reported at 15,200 miles.
  • Electrical system corrosion tied to the auxiliary heater connector, with owners reporting concern about fire risk.
2015 Audi Q5 complaints: complaints filed per quarter82014 Q42017 Q32019 Q12020 Q22021 Q42023 Q22024 Q32026 Q1
122 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q4 (8).

2015 Audi Q5 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 17V298000May 3, 2017Fuel System240,487 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that 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 replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.

See all 6 recalls for the 2015 Audi Q5 →

2015 Audi Q5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
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.

2015 compared with other Q5 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
2013Good2789522.5
2014Caution67105524
2015Good4799624
2016Caution5377524
2017Best042521.5

All Audi Q5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi Q5 reliable?
Relative to other Q5 model years, the 2015 rates 'Good' with a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 years covered. NHTSA lists 99 complaints and 6 recalls for this year.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Audi Q5?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 45 of 99 complaints (45%), with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles. Steering (14 complaints) and Fuel System (12 complaints) follow.
Does the 2015 Audi Q5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2015 Audi Q5, covering the engine coolant pump, auxiliary heater electrical connector, fuel pump flange, and side airbag inflator due to sunroof drainage issues. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Q5 compare to other years?
The 2015 Q5's complaint index of 47 is lower than the 2012 (80), 2018 (100), and 2023 (87) model years, all rated 'Avoid,' making 2015 a comparatively safer choice among Q5 years.

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.