Audi A5 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Audi A5 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2017 drew the fewest (2) and the 2020 the most (60).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
1 | 0 | Forward collision avoidance | — | 26 |
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 3 | Engine | — | 24–26 |
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 1 | Air bags | — | 20–21 |
| 2016 Among the fewest complaints |
7 | 3 | Engine | — | 24–26 |
| 2022 | 7 | 2 | Tires | — | 26–29 |
| 2021 | 8 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 26–28 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | Tires | — | 26–28 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
8 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 27–30 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
8 | 2 | Forward collision avoidance | — | 26–29 |
| 2015 | 9 | 3 | Unknown or other | — | 24–26 |
| 2009 | 11 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20 |
| 2019 | 12 | 3 | Vehicle speed control | — | 27 |
| 2014 | 29 | 3 | Engine | — | 23–26 |
| 2012 | 36 | 2 | Air bags | — | 24–25 |
| 2013 | 38 | 3 | Engine | — | 23–26 |
| 2018 | 38 | 6 | Engine | — | 27 |
| 2011 Among the most complaints |
39 | 2 | Air bags | — | 24–25 |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
50 | 2 | Air bags | — | 21–26 |
| 2020 Among the most complaints |
60 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 26–27 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Audi A5 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2020 Audi A5: 60 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 41 (68%); Back over prevention 15 (25%); Lane departure 3 (5%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 death. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Audi A5: 50 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 29 (58%); Engine 10 (20%); Structure 3 (6%).
Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 67,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2011 Audi A5: 39 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 26 (67%); Engine 7 (18%); Power train 4 (10%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Audi A5 years with the fewest complaints
2008 Audi A5: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 2 (40%); Electrical system 2 (40%); Service brakes 2 (40%).
1 recall campaign listed.
2016 Audi A5: 7 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 3 (43%); Power train 2 (29%); Electrical system 1 (14%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Audi A5 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7,000 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2013 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 52,000 |
| 2012 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2010 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67,000 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Audi A5 recalls
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2010–2012 model years; 659,493 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V078000)
- Coolant Pump may Overheat or Short-Circuit (2013–2017 model years; 342,867 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2018; 18V229000)
- Coolant Pump May Overheat and cause Fire (2013–2017 model years; 342,867 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2017; 17V002000)
- Auxiliary Heater Electrical Connector may Melt (2013–2016 model years; 216,913 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2017; 17V622000)
- Disabled Passenger Air Bag (2018–2020 model years; 208,332 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2021; 21V874000)
All 22 Audi A5 recall campaigns · Audi A5 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Audi A5 years FAQ
Which Audi A5 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2017 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Audi A5 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2020, 2010 and 2011 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Audi A5 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (91 of 376 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Audi A5 have?
NHTSA lists 22 recall campaigns covering the Audi A5. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Audi A5 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.