Model year
2021 Audi Q5
NHTSA lists 8 recalls and 74 complaints for the 2021 Audi Q5 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 29 complaints under Q5 E and Q5 PHEV. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (25), ENGINE (17), POWER TRAIN (13). NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 25–27 mpg combined and 44 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,050–$3,300, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2009 31 complaints
- 2010 100 complaints
- 2011 143 complaints
- 2012 168 complaints
- 2013 89 complaints
- 2014 105 complaints
- 2015 100 complaints
- 2016 78 complaints
- 2017 42 complaints
- 2018 208 complaints
- 2019 52 complaints
- 2020 25 complaints
- 2021 74 complaints
- 2022 22 complaints
- 2023 44 complaints
- 2024 20 complaints
- 2025 46 complaints
- 2026 4 complaints
Recalls
25V080000 · Feb 12, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.
23V842000 · Dec 13, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V…
22V753000 · Oct 7, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
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,…
21V947000 · Dec 8, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway…
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,…
Complaints
74 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 2, fire flag on 0, injury field 2, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Q5 E | 0 | 29 |
| Q5 PHEV | 0 | 0 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHEV SUV AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.164 | NHTSA photo |
| Sportback SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.164 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q5 · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 23 | 28 | 25 | — | — | $3,300 |
| Q5 · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid | 25 | 29 | 27 | 44.0 | 400 | $3,050 |
| Q5 Sportback · 2L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 23 | 28 | 25 | — | — | $3,300 |
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 Q5 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.