2020 Audi SQ5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
42/100
#8 most-complained of 13 SQ5 years
The 2020 Audi SQ5 has a complaint index of 42, ranking 8th worst out of 13 model years — a "Good" result relative to other SQ5 years. NHTSA lists 8 complaints and 4 recalls for this year, with Engine and Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues each making up 38% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 23 hwy
Top 2020 Audi SQ5 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine3 (38%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (38%)
- Other3 (38%)
- Brakes1 (13%)
- Steering1 (13%)
What owners report
- Owners report the lane-departure and steering-correction system suddenly and sharply forcing an unintended lane change while cruise control was active.
- Some drivers experienced the automatic emergency braking system activating abruptly while reversing in a driveway, even with no obstruction nearby.
- Owners describe rear parking sensors falsely detecting objects and triggering hard automatic braking during normal backing-up maneuvers.
- One owner reported the pre-sense emergency braking function engaging jarringly multiple times, including while backing out of a driveway or parking spot and while driving around 35 mph.
- An independent inspection found internal engine coolant leaking into the engine valley beneath the coolant module on the 3.0T engine, with no visible external leak or warning light.
2020 Audi SQ5 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 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 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.
2020 Audi SQ5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 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.
2020 compared with other SQ5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Audi SQ5 reliable?
- Compared with other SQ5 model years, 2020 ranks 8th worst out of 13 years with a complaint index of 42, earning a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists only 8 complaints and 0 crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths for this year.
- What problems does the 2020 Audi SQ5 have?
- The top problem areas are Engine and Collision Avoidance & Cameras, each accounting for 38% of complaints. Owners also reported issues with Brakes and Steering, each at 13% of complaints.
- Does the 2020 Audi SQ5 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2020 SQ5, covering suspension/wheel/tire lock nuts, a body seam water-ingress issue, and front seat frame welds. None of these recalls are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Audi SQ5 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2018, 2024, and 2025 SQ5 model years carry "Avoid" verdicts, with complaint indexes of 92, 100, and 83 respectively. The 2020 SQ5 performs better, with a complaint index of 42.
- At what mileage do 2020 SQ5 problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues for the 2020 SQ5 is 6,075 miles, though Engine and Steering complaints show a median of 12,000 miles.