Audi S5 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Across 2010-2025, the Audi S5 years to avoid are 2018, 2020, and 2025, with complaint index scores of 86, 79, and 100 respectively. No year is labeled Best; 2014 and 2019 score lowest with complaint indexes of 29 and 43 and carry a Good verdict.
- Model years
- 15
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 138
- Recall campaigns
- 14
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
S5 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Audi S5 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Caution | 71 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19 | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 50 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | 19 | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 57 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | 19 | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 64 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21 | — |
| 2014 | Good | 29 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2015 | No verdict | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2016 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Brakes | 21 | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 86 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2019 | Good | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Engine | 24 | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 79 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 23 | — |
| 2021 | No verdict | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 23 | — |
| 2022 | No verdict | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2023 | No verdict | 93 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | 24 | — |
| 2024 | No verdict | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Airbags | 23 | — |
| 2025 | Avoid | 100 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 22.5 | — |
S5 years to avoid: what went wrong
2025 Audi S5 Index 100 · 11 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2025 S5 has 25 complaints and the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, ranking worst overall. Electrical System, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, and Lane Departure issues each account for 45% of complaints, including sudden loss of safety systems and a case of complete power loss at a median mileage of 8,577. Two recalls address seat belt lockup and torsion bar defects. One injury was reported. Owners also described malfunctioning brake, stability, and parking-brake warning systems.
2018 Audi S5 Index 86 · 26 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2018 S5 logged 26 complaints and a complaint index of 86, ranking 3rd worst. Owners reported engine problems most often (35% of complaints), including gasoline mixing into engine oil and warning lights for oil level. Brake complaints included a case where the gearbox and parking brake released while parked, letting the car roll away, at a median mileage of 7,000. Visibility complaints centered on a failing rear-view camera system. Two recalls covered airbag seat-heater wiring issues. Two crashes and one injury were tied to this year.
2020 Audi S5 Index 79 · 25 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2020 S5 had 25 complaints and a complaint index of 79, ranking 4th worst. Electrical System issues dominated at 56% of complaints, mostly repeated MMI infotainment reboots that disabled safety features like the backup camera, GPS, and collision sensors. Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints made up 52%, often tied to the same reboot problem. Four recalls applied to this year, covering suspension lock nuts, rear axle tire wear, and airbag seat-heater wiring. No crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.
Most common Audi S5 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Other27 (20%)
- Electrical System26 (19%)
- Engine26 (19%)
- Transmission & Powertrain26 (19%)
- Airbags24 (17%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras20 (14%)
- Brakes11 (8%)
- Fuel System10 (7%)
- Lane Departure9 (7%)
- Steering7 (5%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Audi S5 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2018, 2020, and 2025 Audi S5 years are rated Avoid, with complaint index scores of 86, 79, and 100.
- Which Audi S5 year is best?
- No S5 year carries a Best verdict. The 2014 and 2019 model years score lowest for reported problems, with complaint indexes of 29 and 43 and a Good verdict.
- Does the Audi S5 have a lot of recalls?
- NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns across all Audi S5 model years covered, spanning airbags, seat belts, and suspension components.
- What is the most common problem area for the Audi S5?
- Across all years, Electrical System, Engine, and Transmission & Powertrain each account for 26 complaints (19% share), followed by Airbags at 24 complaints (17%).
- Is the 2020 Audi S5 reliable?
- The 2020 S5 is rated Avoid based on NHTSA data, with a complaint index of 79 driven largely by Electrical System issues (56% of complaints) tied to infotainment reboots.