2019 Audi S5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2019 Audi S5 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst of 16 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other S5 years. It has 6 complaints and 4 recalls, with engine issues the top reported problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 47/100
- #9 of 16 S5 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 6
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2019 Audi S5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine3 (50%)
- Electrical System1 (17%)
- Fuel System1 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Tire pressure monitoring system fails to warn of low pressure, letting tires lose air over weeks and sustain damage.
- Fuel level sensor malfunctions, causing the check engine and fuel light to stay on and leaving the driver unable to gauge remaining fuel.
- Coolant pump switching valve on the cylinder head develops an internal seal failure, leaking coolant into the vacuum control system and triggering a coolant warning.
- Owners describe piston skirt wear and failure in the turbocharged V6 engine used across multiple Audi models.
- An owner reported a mileage discrepancy discovered after a battery change, with the odometer showing a higher reading than prior records.
2019 Audi S5 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V034000Jan 26, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires31,058 vehicles
Tires
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
- NHTSA 21V874000Nov 10, 2021Airbags208,332 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
- NHTSA 21V295000Apr 26, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires40,993 vehicles
Suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
2019 Audi S5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 30 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 S5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Audi S5 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 6 complaints and 4 recalls for the 2019 Audi S5, giving it a complaint index of 47. That ranks it 9th worst out of 16 model years, and it carries a Good verdict compared to other S5 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Audi S5?
- Engine complaints make up half of all reported problems, followed by electrical system, fuel system, and suspension issues, each accounting for a smaller share.
- Does the 2019 Audi S5 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns, including a front shock absorber fork cracking issue, an airbag/seat heating cable recall, a lock nut recall, and a rear axle alignment and tire wear recall. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2019 Audi S5 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 47, 2019 is safer than the 2018 and 2020 model years, both rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 80 and 87. The worst S5 year on record is 2025, with a complaint index of 100.
- What mileage do 2019 Audi S5 problems typically appear at?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems for the 2019 S5 is 43,300 miles, though individual problem areas like electrical issues showed failures around 75,600 miles.