2019 Audi Q5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 Q5 years
The 2019 Audi Q5 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict. It logged 52 complaints, 5 recalls, and 5 crashes, with Electrical System issues topping the list at 27% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 52
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 22 city / 27 hwy
Top 2019 Audi Q5 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System14 (27%)
- Engine12 (23%)
- Brakes7 (13%)
- Steering7 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (12%)
- Other6 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (12%)
- Seat Belts5 (10%)
- Structure & Body4 (8%)
- Airbags3 (6%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended forward movement while the vehicle was parked and idling, in one case crashing into a building.
- Some drivers describe brakes failing to respond during slippery conditions, causing the vehicle to veer off the road.
- Steering alarms and "steering malfunction, stop the car immediately" messages appeared at highway speed with a total loss of power steering assist, around 4,000 miles.
- Adaptive cruise control has been reported to misread roadside speed signs and abruptly slow the vehicle from 75 mph to 55 mph.
- Lane-keeping and driver-attention systems generate frequent false alerts on straight roads, even with hands on the wheel, at mileages as low as 2,000 to 2,400 miles.
- Rear-end collisions led to reports of significant rear-seat passenger injury tied to the seat design.
2019 Audi Q5 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V947000Dec 8, 2021Structure & Body288,991 vehicles
Structure:body
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
- NHTSA 19V737000Oct 16, 2019Structure & Body174,278 vehicles
Structure:body
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
- NHTSA 19V473000Jun 19, 2019Airbags28 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
Risk: A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.
2019 Audi Q5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22 MPG
- Highway
- 27 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.
2019 compared with other Q5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Audi Q5 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2019 Q5 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Q5 years.
- What problems does the 2019 Audi Q5 have?
- The top reported problem area is the Electrical System (27% of complaints), followed by Engine (23%), and Brakes and Steering (13% each), per NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2019 Audi Q5 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Q5, covering the passenger airbag/instrument panel, wheel arch trim, brake master cylinder, and structure/body water ingress issues.
- What year Audi Q5 should I avoid?
- NHTSA data marks 2012, 2018, 2023, and 2025 as "Avoid" years for the Q5, with 2018 having the highest Complaint Index at 100; the 2019 model is rated "Good" by comparison.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Audi Q5?
- The EPA rates the 2019 Q5 at 24 mpg combined (22 city/27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300.