2018 Audi A5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Audi A5 has 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: vehical speeds forward when turning when stepping on brakes..

1 crash report 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

20%

• VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
• Large coolant leak due to faulty plastic thermostat and water pump which can cause overheating, catastrophic engine failure, and fire, putting consumers at risk. The thermostat housing has been replaced by the dealership, but not the water pump, just the water pump seal. There were no warnings prior
• The contact owns a 2018 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the gears unexpectedly shifted. Additionally, on one occasion, the vehicle lost motive power for two full days. The vehicle was later able to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken t

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

“VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

17%

• CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND TIGHT TO THE CURB. SOMEHOW THE CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE TOOK PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR SHOWING BOTH THE IN PARK LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. THERE IS NO LOGICAL
• VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
• TOP VIEW CAMERA CHANGING TO GRAPHIC MODE ON ITS OWN. (1) THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DUE TO THE DISTRACTING NATURE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE STATE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA, THE COGNITIVELY COMPLEX AND DISTRACTING STEPS NEEDED TO CHANGE TO CAMERA VIEW WHILE BACKING UP, AND THE SAFETY ISSUE CAUSE

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

“CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND TIGHT TO THE CURB. SOMEHOW THE CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE TOOK PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR SHOWING BOTH THE IN PARK LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. THERE IS NO LOGICAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

• VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
• AUDI PRE SENSE, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AUDI USES FOR PREDICTIVE SAFETY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL AUDI PRE SENSE BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUDI PRE SENSE IN MY VEHICLE WILL ABRUPTLY & VIOLENTLY COME TO A FULL STOP, WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE CAR. FIRST OCCURRENC
• AUDI PRE SENSE, IS THE TECHNOLOGY AUDI USES FOR PREDICTIVE SAFETY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL AUDI PRE SENSE BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUDI PRE SENSE IN MY VEHICLE WILL ABRUPTLY & VIOLENTLY COME TO A FULL STOP, WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE

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

“VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

4 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET (APPROX. 4500 MILES) ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION WHEN DRIVING THIS MORNING HEADED INTO THE RISING SUN. AS THE SUN SHIFTED FROM IN FRONT OF ME TO MY LEFT SIDE, I RELEASED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE CLIP AND MOVED IT T
• WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT SECTION OF I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH, MY 2 YEAR OLD 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIO'S DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY BROKE OFF AT ITS BASE AND LANDED WITH FORCE ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I'D MOVED THE VISOR INTO THE UP POSITION, FLUSH WITH THE FRAME, AND IN DOING SO, THE VISOR BRO
• DRIVING STRAIGHT, ABOUT 60 MPH ON A TWO LANE ROAD, FAR REMOVED FROM ANY OTHER VEHICLES, MY SUNROOF/MOONROOF GLASS EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS VISIBLE DAMAGE THAT I WAS AWARE OF. NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND TO HAVE 'KICKED UP' A ROCK OR STONE. EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING.

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

“I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET (APPROX. 4500 MILES) ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION WHEN DRIVING THIS MORNING HEADED INTO THE RISING SUN. AS THE SUN SHIFTED FROM IN FRONT OF ME TO MY LEFT SIDE, I RELEASED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE CLIP AND MOVED IT T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT SECTION OF I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH, MY 2 YEAR OLD 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIO'S DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY BROKE OFF AT ITS BASE AND LANDED WITH FORCE ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I'D MOVED THE VISOR INTO THE UP POSITION, FLUSH WITH THE FRAME, AND IN DOING SO, THE VISOR BRO
• THE ELECTRONIC TRUNK OF MY AUDI A5 FAILED TO STOP CLOSING ONCE IT HIT ME ON THE HEAD. THE HATCH KEPT CLOSING IN UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MOVE MY BODY OUT OF THE WAY HOWEVER AT THIS POINT THE HATCH ALREADY CAUSED A LACERATION TO MY SKULL WHICH RESULTED IN A VISIT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. VEHICLE WAS PARKED
• Sunroof exploded while driving down the highway. There was no impact from foreign objects and glass breakage shows upward breaks. No injury sustained due to shade being closed.

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

“WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT SECTION OF I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH, MY 2 YEAR OLD 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIO'S DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY BROKE OFF AT ITS BASE AND LANDED WITH FORCE ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I'D MOVED THE VISOR INTO THE UP POSITION, FLUSH WITH THE FRAME, AND IN DOING SO, THE VISOR BRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 46 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND TIGHT TO THE CURB. SOMEHOW THE CAR ROLLED DOWN HILL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE TOOK PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR SHOWING BOTH THE IN PARK LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ON. THERE IS NO LOGICAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: VEHICAL SPEEDS FORWARD WHEN TURNING WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET (APPROX. 4500 MILES) ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION WHEN DRIVING THIS MORNING HEADED INTO THE RISING SUN. AS THE SUN SHIFTED FROM IN FRONT OF ME TO MY LEFT SIDE, I RELEASED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE CLIP AND MOVED IT T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)