2011 Audi A5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Audi A5 has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (48% of all complaints), specifically: there is safety recall-69n1 -takata sdi driver frontal airbag for my vehicle, and when i called dealership, they do not have parts available and nor they have eta. so as it is driver side airbag, we cannot risk our lives by driving that vehicle, so we asked for loaner and audi dealership said no. so.

1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

48%

• THERE IS SAFETY RECALL-69N1 -TAKATA SDI DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG FOR MY VEHICLE, AND WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE AND NOR THEY HAVE ETA. SO AS IT IS DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, WE CANNOT RISK OUR LIVES BY DRIVING THAT VEHICLE, SO WE ASKED FOR LOANER AND AUDI DEALERSHIP SAID NO. SO
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFAC
• TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN APRIL 2016 FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. NHTSA 16V078 I HAVE REPEATEDLY CHECK TO SEE WHEN REPAIR CAN BE MADE...NO ACTION AS OF TODAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THERE IS SAFETY RECALL-69N1 -TAKATA SDI DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG FOR MY VEHICLE, AND WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE AND NOR THEY HAVE ETA. SO AS IT IS DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, WE CANNOT RISK OUR LIVES BY DRIVING THAT VEHICLE, SO WE ASKED FOR LOANER AND AUDI DEALERSHIP SAID NO. SO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

22%

• THE AUDI 2.0T ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION. DURING SERVICE VISITS I HAVE MENTIONED TO THE AUDI DEALER THAT THE CAR BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000-1200 MILES. AUDI CLAIMS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE ENGINE DESIGN IN ORDER FOR IT TO GIVE BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. THIS I
• MARCH 21 MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AS IT HAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR. AUDI ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. I WOULD GO TO THE DEALER EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND GET A QUART POURED IN. I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I HAVE SERVICED IT
• THIS VEHICLE WHEN I START IN THE MORNING FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS RUBBING ON THE WHEELS. IT MAYBE THE WHEEL BEARINGS. ALSO JUST LIKE THE OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE SAID THIS CAR CONSUMES AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 TO A 1000 MILES OR SO. I DECIDED ON THIS VEHICLE BASED ON REPUTATION, I'VE HAD IT A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE AUDI 2.0T ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION. DURING SERVICE VISITS I HAVE MENTIONED TO THE AUDI DEALER THAT THE CAR BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000-1200 MILES. AUDI CLAIMS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE ENGINE DESIGN IN ORDER FOR IT TO GIVE BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. THIS I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

15%

• MARCH 21 MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AS IT HAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR. AUDI ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. I WOULD GO TO THE DEALER EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND GET A QUART POURED IN. I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I HAVE SERVICED IT
• THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT 70,000M. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER ACCORDING TO MANUF. SPECS. ALL RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE. THE AUDI A5 2.0T ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE A MANUF DEFECT CAUSING HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION (CLASS ACTION SUIT AND SETTLEMENT). THE MANUF. DENIES ANY
• I WAS MOVING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION AND SAW AN ERROR FOR TPMS AND THEN AN ERROR CAME UP AS NO REVERSE GEAR AVAILABLE - YOU CAN COTNUE TO DRIVE. I CAN MOVE FORWARD NOT REVERSE AND THE GEARS MOVE IN ODD NUMBER FROM 1 -3-5 ETC. I BOUGHT THIS CERTFIED PREOWNED CAR OVER A WEEK AGO AND THIS ISSUE CAME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MARCH 21 MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AS IT HAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR. AUDI ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. I WOULD GO TO THE DEALER EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND GET A QUART POURED IN. I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I HAVE SERVICED IT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

11%

• WAS LEAVING HOUSE, CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY SO I DROVE BACK HOME, ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. HAVE BEEN WAITING LONG BEFORE THIS HAPPENED TO HEAR BACK FROM AUDI ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION WARRANTY RECALL, CAR WAS UNDER 80K MI AT THE TIME I MADE REPORT, HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REQUIRED TESTS THEY NEEDED
• Driving down the road, my sunroof "exploded" today. Only damage was to the sunroof itself but very scary. Felt like an explosion, fortunately did no have any accident associated with this. Less likely anything dropped from above. Weather was good today.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WAS LEAVING HOUSE, CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY SO I DROVE BACK HOME, ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. HAVE BEEN WAITING LONG BEFORE THIS HAPPENED TO HEAR BACK FROM AUDI ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION WARRANTY RECALL, CAR WAS UNDER 80K MI AT THE TIME I MADE REPORT, HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REQUIRED TESTS THEY NEEDED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaints

• There was a fuel odor permeating in the vehicle, and the further I drove, the more intense was the gasoline smell. I pulled into a strip mall and turned off the engine for fear of a fire or explosion. I immediately called and requested the car be towed to my mechanic. My mechanic diagnosed the pro

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“There was a fuel odor permeating in the vehicle, and the further I drove, the more intense was the gasoline smell. I pulled into a strip mall and turned off the engine for fear of a fire or explosion. I immediately called and requested the car be towed to my mechanic. My mechanic diagnosed the pro”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THERE IS SAFETY RECALL-69N1 -TAKATA SDI DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG FOR MY VEHICLE, AND WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE AND NOR THEY HAVE ETA. SO AS IT IS DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, WE CANNOT RISK OUR LIVES BY DRIVING THAT VEHICLE, SO WE ASKED FOR LOANER AND AUDI DEALERSHIP SAID NO. SO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE AUDI 2.0T ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH SIGNIFICANT OIL CONSUMPTION. DURING SERVICE VISITS I HAVE MENTIONED TO THE AUDI DEALER THAT THE CAR BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000-1200 MILES. AUDI CLAIMS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE ENGINE DESIGN IN ORDER FOR IT TO GIVE BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. THIS I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MARCH 21 MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AS IT HAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR. AUDI ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. I WOULD GO TO THE DEALER EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND GET A QUART POURED IN. I'VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I HAVE SERVICED IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WAS LEAVING HOUSE, CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY SO I DROVE BACK HOME, ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. HAVE BEEN WAITING LONG BEFORE THIS HAPPENED TO HEAR BACK FROM AUDI ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION WARRANTY RECALL, CAR WAS UNDER 80K MI AT THE TIME I MADE REPORT, HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REQUIRED TESTS THEY NEEDED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)