
2011 Audi A5 CABRIOLET
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Audi A5 CABRIOLET has 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (86% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall the dealer/ manufacturer has not offered to replace the airbags-- they claim the repair is not yet available. nhtsa shows my car, located in california is at high risk and repair should be done by december 2016.
14
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
12 complaints- • TAKATA RECALL THE DEALER/ MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS-- THEY CLAIM THE REPAIR IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. NHTSA SHOWS MY CAR, LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA IS AT HIGH RISK AND REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE BY DECEMBER 2016
- • "TAKATA RECALL" I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WHILE THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. I DON'T WANT MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO DRIVE THIS CAR EITHER. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY AUTOMOBILE THAT I AM DRIVING.
- • TAKATA RECALL IT AS BEEN 8 MONTHS SINCE THE NOTIFICATION, AND MY WIFE MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH A LIFE THREATENING AIRBAG DEFECT.....THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
“TAKATA RECALL THE DEALER/ MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS-- THEY CLAIM THE REPAIR IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. NHTSA SHOWS MY CAR, LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA IS AT HIGH RISK AND REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE BY DECEMBER 2016”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
1 complaints- • MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND ONLINE REVIEWS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY MODEL OF AUDI HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE FACT THAT MANY
“MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND ONLINE REVIEWS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY MODEL OF AUDI HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE FACT THAT MANY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
1 complaints- • THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TOP AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE.GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI I WAS TOLD TH
“THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TOP AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE.GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI I WAS TOLD TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 14 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL THE DEALER/ MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS-- THEY CLAIM THE REPAIR IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. NHTSA SHOWS MY CAR, LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA IS AT HIGH RISK AND REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE BY DECEMBER 2016
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND ONLINE REVIEWS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY MODEL OF AUDI HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE FACT THAT MANY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TOP AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE.GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI I WAS TOLD TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Audi A5 CABRIOLET — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 14
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Audi A5 CABRIOLET