Model year
2021 Audi A5
NHTSA lists 5 recalls and 8 complaints for the 2021 Audi A5 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 3 recalls and 0 complaints under A5 CABRIOLET. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2), AIR BAGS (1), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1). NHTSA rated the Sportback 4 DR AWD 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 26–28 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,950–$3,150, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2008 5 complaints
- 2009 11 complaints
- 2010 34 complaints
- 2011 25 complaints
- 2012 22 complaints
- 2013 35 complaints
- 2014 28 complaints
- 2015 8 complaints
- 2016 7 complaints
- 2017 0 complaints
- 2018 38 complaints
- 2019 12 complaints
- 2020 60 complaints
- 2021 8 complaints
- 2022 7 complaints
- 2023 8 complaints
- 2024 8 complaints
- 2025 8 complaints
- 2026 1 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
22V742000 · Oct 5, 2022
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5…
22V034000 · Jan 26, 2022
TIRES; SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5,…
21V606000 · Aug 5, 2021
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR; SEAT BELTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5…
21V295000 · Apr 26, 2021
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe,…
20V737000 · Nov 25, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
Complaints
8 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 0, fire flag on 0, injury field 0, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| A5 CABRIOLET | 3 | 0 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 DR AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| Cabriolet C AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| Sportback 4 DR AWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 · possibility 0.099 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A5 quattro · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 24 | 31 | 27 | — | — | $3,050 |
| A5 Cabriolet quattro · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 23 | 31 | 26 | — | — | $3,150 |
| A5 Sportback S line quattro · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 24 | 31 | 27 | — | — | $3,050 |
| A5 Sportback quattro · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 25 | 34 | 28 | — | — | $2,950 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2021 Audi A5 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.