2010 Audi S5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Audi S5 has 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: after driving in stop and go driving for a period of time the transmission starts to act up. when coming to a complete stop the car will shift down into first gear after the stop and cause the car to leap forward. i have almost rear ended several cars as a result of this. it is a well know problem w.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

10 complaints

38%

• AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO ACT UP. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER THE STOP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LEAP FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL CARS AS A RESULT OF THIS. IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM W
• THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUDI S-TRONIC TRANSMISSION WHERE THE MECHATRONICS UNIT WHICH CONTROLS THE SHIFTS IS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE MECHATRONIC NEEDING TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS OR AT WORST THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED FOR 11 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE CAR W
• 1) THE MAIN SAFETY CONCERN IS THE 7 SPEED DSG/S-TRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH FEELS JERKY WHEN REACHING TO A STOP; THE BREAKS FULLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE TRIES A SUDDEN MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THIS. VARIOUS TPI'S RELATED TO THE PROBLEM (TPI 2023830/1 JERK WHEN STOPPING, HARD 2-1 SHIFT, S-TRONIC)

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

“AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO ACT UP. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER THE STOP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LEAP FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL CARS AS A RESULT OF THIS. IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

27%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTU
• TAKATA RECALL - NOTICE DATED FEB. 9, 2016 - UNREASONABLE DELAY IN REPLACING DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG INFLATOR WHEN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. WHY ISN'T AUDI EXPEDITING THIS RECALL?

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

15%

• 2010 AUDI S5 OVERHEATED ON DEC. 6, 2010 IN COLD WEATHER (20 DEGREES) WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AUDI REPORTED A WATER PUMP CRACK AND ORDERED THE PART. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON DEC. 31, 2010, RENDERING CAR DISABLED. AUDI REPORTED THAT THERMOSTAT REPLACED. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINS ON AUDI
• 1) THE MAIN SAFETY CONCERN IS THE 7 SPEED DSG/S-TRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH FEELS JERKY WHEN REACHING TO A STOP; THE BREAKS FULLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE TRIES A SUDDEN MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THIS. VARIOUS TPI'S RELATED TO THE PROBLEM (TPI 2023830/1 JERK WHEN STOPPING, HARD 2-1 SHIFT, S-TRONIC)
• THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT 10785783; AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE HISTORY IT REVEALED THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE INITIAL COMPLAINT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST AS WELL AND THIS CLEARLY INDICATES COMMON AND REOCCURRING MANUFACTURING ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VAG: 1) THE TRANSMISSION 0

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

“2010 AUDI S5 OVERHEATED ON DEC. 6, 2010 IN COLD WEATHER (20 DEGREES) WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AUDI REPORTED A WATER PUMP CRACK AND ORDERED THE PART. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON DEC. 31, 2010, RENDERING CAR DISABLED. AUDI REPORTED THAT THERMOSTAT REPLACED. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINS ON AUDI ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

• CAR STARTED OF GOING ON LIMP MODE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN IT STARTED TO GET MORE FREQUENT. LIMP MODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO PUT YOUR CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING ME N
• The contact owns a 2010 Audi S5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. Upon a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the aftermarket TRQ H

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

“CAR STARTED OF GOING ON LIMP MODE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN IT STARTED TO GET MORE FREQUENT. LIMP MODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO PUT YOUR CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING ME N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints

• AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO ACT UP. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER THE STOP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LEAP FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL CARS AS A RESULT OF THIS. IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM W

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~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 26 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: AFTER DRIVING IN STOP AND GO DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO ACT UP. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER THE STOP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LEAP FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL CARS AS A RESULT OF THIS. IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 2010 AUDI S5 OVERHEATED ON DEC. 6, 2010 IN COLD WEATHER (20 DEGREES) WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AUDI REPORTED A WATER PUMP CRACK AND ORDERED THE PART. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON DEC. 31, 2010, RENDERING CAR DISABLED. AUDI REPORTED THAT THERMOSTAT REPLACED. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINS ON AUDI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: CAR STARTED OF GOING ON LIMP MODE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN IT STARTED TO GET MORE FREQUENT. LIMP MODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO PUT YOUR CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING ME N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)