YearToAvoid

2021 Audi SQ5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#5 most-complained of 13 SQ5 years

The 2021 Audi SQ5 has a complaint index of 67 and ranks 5th worst among 13 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 13 complaints, 5 recalls, and 1 injury, with the top problem area being the Engine at 46% of complaints.

Complaints
13
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2021 Audi SQ5 problems

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

  1. Engine6 (46%)
  2. Electrical System5 (38%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain3 (23%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (15%)
  5. Airbags1 (8%)
  6. Brakes1 (8%)
  7. Fuel System1 (8%)
  8. Other1 (8%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (8%)
  10. Steering1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the water pump or coolant pump failing internally, sometimes with coolant leaking into the vacuum lines.
  • Some describe a piston skirt defect on the engine that they say can lead to engine failure once the vehicle is out of warranty.
  • A water spill on the rear seat reportedly triggered a cascade of electrical faults, including beeping sensors, a malfunctioning display, stiff steering, and windows opening and closing on their own.
  • The forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system reportedly activates without a real obstacle present, tightening the seatbelt abruptly.
  • One owner reports the rear-view camera went blank while shifting into reverse, which they say was linked to a failed Back Over Prevention system and resulted in a collision.
  • Another owner describes a sudden, uncommanded loss of power and complete disengagement of the transmission while driving in traffic.
2021 Audi SQ5 complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2021Aug 2021Apr 2025Sep 2025Jun 2026
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2025 (4).

2021 Audi SQ5 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V742000Oct 5, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras170,296 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2021 Audi SQ5 →

2021 Audi SQ5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24 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.

2021 compared with other SQ5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Caution5819521
2020Good428420
2021Caution6713520
2022Good255221
2023No verdict753021

All Audi SQ5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Audi SQ5 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2021 SQ5 a complaint index of 67, ranking it 5th worst out of 13 model years, with a Caution verdict relative to other SQ5 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Audi SQ5?
The top problem area is the Engine, making up 46% of complaints, followed by the Electrical System at 38% and Transmission & Powertrain at 23%.
Does the 2021 Audi SQ5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 SQ5, covering infotainment software, suspension lock nuts, a rear seat water-ingress issue, seat belt assemblies, and camera/collision avoidance software.
At what mileage do 2021 Audi SQ5 problems typically show up?
Engine-related complaints show a median mileage at failure of 20,700 miles, while electrical system complaints show a much lower median of 2,400 miles.
How does the 2021 SQ5 compare to other SQ5 years?
The 2021 SQ5's complaint index of 67 is worse than 2020 (42) and 2022 (25) but better than 2018 (92) and 2024 (100), which carry Avoid verdicts.

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.