YearToAvoid

2025 Audi SQ5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#3 most-complained of 13 SQ5 years

The 2025 Audi SQ5 has a complaint index of 83 and ranks 3rd worst among 13 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. It has 7 complaints and 1 recall covering seat belts, with electrical, fuel, transmission, and camera-related issues reported.

Complaints
7
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2025 Audi SQ5 problems

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

  1. Electrical System2 (29%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (29%)
  3. Fuel System2 (29%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain2 (29%)
  5. Engine1 (14%)
  6. Steering1 (14%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (14%)

What owners report

  • Vehicle loses engine propulsion and dashboard displays, along with brake lights and hazard lighting, without warning while driving.
  • Digital transmission fails to shift into park, showing an error message and requiring multiple restarts to resolve.
  • Sudden acceleration delay of about 20 seconds when pulling into traffic, creating a risk of collision with faster-moving vehicles.
  • Adaptive cruise control triggers unexpected braking on open roads at specific locations, startling drivers and nearly causing a rear-end collision.
  • Throttle response lags one to two seconds before the vehicle suddenly surges or jerks forward, including in hold mode on slopes.
  • Driver's side exterior mirror position blocks the driver's view during left turns.
2025 Audi SQ5 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2025May 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026Aug 2026Sep 2026
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2025 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2026 (3).

2025 Audi SQ5 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V266000Apr 24, 2026Seat Belts7,425 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Sportback, SQ5, and SQ5 Sportback vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may have been manufactured incorrectly, and fail to properly restrain occupants during a crash.

    Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GT.

2025 Audi SQ5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,725
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.

2025 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
2023No verdict753021
2024Avoid1006021
2025Avoid837121.5

All Audi SQ5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid the 2025 Audi SQ5?
NHTSA data gives the 2025 SQ5 a complaint index of 83, ranking it 3rd worst among 13 model years, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other SQ5 years.
Does the 2025 Audi SQ5 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall covers incorrectly manufactured driver and front passenger seat belts that may fail to properly restrain occupants. Dealers replace the seat belts free of charge.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2025 Audi SQ5?
NHTSA complaints show Electrical System, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Fuel System, and Transmission & Powertrain issues each accounting for 29% of the 7 complaints filed.
How many complaints has NHTSA received for the 2025 Audi SQ5?
NHTSA has logged 7 complaints for the 2025 SQ5, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Audi SQ5?
The 2025 SQ5 is rated at 21.5 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,725 according to the EPA.

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.