YearToAvoid

2010 Audi S5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

71/100

#5 most-complained of 15 S5 years

The 2010 Audi S5 has a Complaint Index of 71, ranking 5th worst among 15 model years, with a Caution verdict. Transmission and powertrain issues make up 50% of its 20 complaints, centered on the S-tronic dual-clutch transmission.

Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 24 hwy

Top 2010 Audi S5 problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain10 (50%)
  2. Airbags7 (35%)
  3. Engine4 (20%)
  4. Brakes2 (10%)
  5. Fuel System2 (10%)
  6. Other1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the S-tronic transmission jerks or lunges forward suddenly when coming to a complete stop.
  • Some describe the transmission shifting down into first gear after a stop, causing the car to leap forward unexpectedly.
  • Owners report the mechatronics unit inside the transmission failing, requiring replacement, with the problem sometimes recurring after repair.
  • One owner reported the engine overheating in cold weather due to a cracked water pump, which recurred after the thermostat was replaced.
  • Several owners reported delays getting replacement airbag inflators for the Takata recall despite requesting the repair.
2010 Audi S5 complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2011Nov 2015Aug 2016Jan 2017Sep 2017Dec 2018
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Jul 2025; peak Oct 2015 (4).

2010 Audi S5 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2010 Audi S5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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.

2010 compared with other S5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution7120019
2011Caution508119
2012Caution5710119

All Audi S5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Audi S5 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2010 S5 a Complaint Index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst out of 15 model years. Transmission and powertrain complaints account for half of all reported issues.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Audi S5?
Transmission and powertrain issues are the top problem area, making up 50% of the 20 complaints filed, mostly involving the S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and its mechatronics unit.
Are there recalls on the 2010 Audi S5?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls specifically logged for the 2010 model year in this dataset, though owner complaints reference the Takata airbag recall campaign 16v078000 and delays in getting parts.
How does the 2010 Audi S5 compare to other S5 years?
With a Complaint Index of 71, the 2010 S5 ranks worse than 2011 (50), 2012 (57), 2013 (64), and 2014 (29), but better than 2018 (86), 2020 (79), and 2025 (100), which carry Avoid verdicts.
At what mileage do 2010 Audi S5 transmission problems occur?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 58,273 miles, and the transmission and powertrain problem area shows a median mileage of 58,136.5 miles.

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.