Is the 2021 Audi Q5 E reliable?

The 2021 Audi Q5 E has 43 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Audi Q5 E?

Top problems: DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS (9 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (7 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (6 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Audi Q5 E?

No recalls have been issued for the 2021 Audi Q5 E.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Audi Q5 E?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Audi Q5 E is approximately $2,250/year (sedan-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Audi Q5 E

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Audi Q5 E has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 21. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. the aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. the vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. the dealership.

1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

9 complaints

21%

• The vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. The aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. The dealership
• My vehicle was completely shut down. After towing to dealer and had the problem checked out, dealer service department had identify that the problem was the damage of the control module caused by possible liquid reaching to the gateway. This is what the recall is. However, dealer cannot do any repai
• The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5 E. The contact stated that when she purchased the vehicle the MMI (Multimedia Interface) system failed to load correctly. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that the system would upload later as the system was not communicating with Audi corporate and she

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

“The vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. The aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. The dealership”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Audi Q5 E

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,250

Full coverage / month

$188

Liability only / year

$710

vs US avg

+34%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-luxury)1.28x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2250

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Audi Q5 E Service Intervals

Oil change

10K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

10K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

40K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

60K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

40K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

40K mi

Long-interval service (LongLife) uses fully-synthetic oil. Some engines have timing belts (check owner's manual).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Audi New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

4 yr / 50K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

12 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

4 yr / unlimited mi

Corrosion coverage is unlimited miles for 12 years

These are the terms for a new Audi. If you're buying a used 2021 Q5 E, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Audi dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 43 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. The aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. The dealership
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: When I powered on the car, I got a message "Electrical system failure", and was unable to start the car. After multiple tries, the car started, but had the check engine light on. Had this failure happened while the car was moving, this could have been a very dangerous situation. We live in Arizona,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: The incident occurred on a busy road during evening rush hour. I was in the middle lane of three lanes, and the lane to the right of me was closed due to construction. The phrase “electrical malfunction” flashed across my dashboard, there were beeping sounds, and about 5-10 later the steering froze
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal noise and all the warning lights illuminated. The contact proceeded and drove at 15 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and could not be driven any further. In addition, all the windows were indep
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)