Selling a broken or junk Audi Q5
The 2018 Q5 alone holds about one in seven Q5 complaints sent to NHTSA, 231 of 1,560 as of October 10, 2026. Over every year, owners blame the engine most, in 294 complaints, and 91 report a tow. Own one of those Q5s? You can sell it without fixing it first. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and you can sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
- EPA model years
- 2009-2027
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 1,560
- Year with the most complaints
- 2018 (231)
- Component named most
- Engine (294)
- Recall campaigns
- 37
- Complaints saying it was towed
- 91
Where the Q5's complaints cluster
Generation details are from Wikipedia's Q5 article. The first generation (Typ 8R) was built from July 2008 to 2017, the second (Typ FY) from September 2016 to February 2025, and the third (Type GU) covers model years 2025 on. NHTSA files by model year, so the bands below are by year, not by generation.
2009-2012: air bags and the 3.2 V6
Air bags lead every one of these years: 50 of the 2010's 100 complaints, 65 of the 2011's 143, and 84 of the 2012's 168. Three recalls reach them. Driver inflator recalls 16V078 and 18V082 cover 2009-2012 Q5s. Their counts of 659,493 and 162,782 include many VWs and other Audis. Recall 17V001 is the Q5's own: on 2011-2017 Q5s, the sunroof drain could let water soak the foam around the side head air bag inflator. That campaign lists 234,057 vehicles.
The first generation came with a 2.0 TFSI four or a 3.2 FSI V6. Wikipedia says that 3.2 is "extremely prone to carbon buildup in the secondary air injection system," a costly repair that often shows up after the warranty runs out. Gas Q5s from 2009 to 2012 are also in 16V660, where the fuel pump flange can crack and leak.
2013-2017: engine and steering
From 2013 to 2017 the engine tops each year, with steering usually second. The 2015, for instance, has 35 engine and 14 steering complaints out of 107. The fuel pump flange came back as recall 17V298, on 2013-2017 Q5s and Q7s. Coolant pump recalls 17V002 and 18V229 cover 2013-2017 Q5s with the 2.0: a software fix first, then new pumps. Those campaigns count 342,867 vehicles each and include the A4, A5 and A6.
2018: the peak year
The 2018 has 231 complaints. The electrical system leads (63), then suspension (24) and engine (23). It also has 11 crash reports, the most of any Q5 year. Six recall campaigns cover it. One is a do-not-drive notice: 18V369 says the rear brake caliper pistons on some 2018 Q5s and SQ5s may be faulty, and Audi dealers bleed the rear brakes. Two more (19V416, 19V737) fix wheel arch trim that can loosen and fall off. Recall 21V947 covers 2018-2022 Q5s and SQ5s: a spill in the back seat, or water through a poorly sealed underbody seam, can reach the gateway control module.
2019 on: engine bearings and electronics
The electrical system leads most of these years. Two engine recalls stand out. 22V753 covers 2021-2023 Q5s whose connecting rod bearings may be damaged. Dealers check the Q5 and swap the engine when needed. The 76,515 total also counts VW Atlas models. 25V294 covers 2022-2024 Q5 quattros whose cylinder head cover screws may not have been tightened right. For plug-in hybrids, recall 23V842 advises against using the 220V/240V portable charging cable; the 110V cable or public chargers are the alternative. Newer Q5s have had less time to collect complaints.
Q5 complaints and recalls, year by year
Q5 numbers come from NHTSA complaints we pulled October 10, 2026. Some recalls reach across several model years.
| Model year | Complaints filed | Crashes | Two most-named components | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 31 | 2 | Air bags 16, fuel/propulsion 5 | 6 |
| 2010 | 100 | 2 | Air bags 50, fuel/propulsion 23 | 4 |
| 2011 | 143 | 4 | Air bags 65, engine 36 | 5 |
| 2012 | 168 | 3 | Air bags 84, engine 41 | 6 |
| 2013 | 93 | 1 | Engine 30, steering 17 | 5 |
| 2014 | 118 | 5 | Engine 33, steering 18 | 6 |
| 2015 | 107 | 3 | Engine 35, steering 14 | 7 |
| 2016 | 83 | 9 | Engine 23, steering 11 | 5 |
| 2017 | 47 | 5 | Engine 16, electrical 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 231 | 11 | Electrical 63, suspension 24 | 6 |
| 2019 | 71 | 6 | Service brakes 11, engine 10 | 5 |
| 2020 | 45 | 3 | Electrical 8, engine 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 116 | 2 | Electrical 32, engine 16 | 8 |
| 2022 | 51 | 5 | Electrical 14, engine 10 | 9 |
| 2023 | 59 | 8 | Electrical 12, collision avoidance 10 | 6 |
| 2024 | 40 | 0 | Electrical 8, collision avoidance 8 | 4 |
| 2025 | 50 | 2 | Electrical 12, service brakes 10 | 1 |
| 2026 | 7 | 0 | Collision avoidance 3, electrical 2 | 0 |
All years together: 71 crashes, 14 fires, 73 injuries and no deaths reported.
Fix the Q5, or sell it as it sits?
Compare the written repair quote with what the Q5 would bring running. If the quote is near that figure, or over it, selling unrepaired is usually the better deal.
- Check Q5 recalls first. Put the VIN into nhtsa.gov/recalls. A 2021-2023 with a failed engine may fall under 22V753. See open recall.
- 3.2 V6 with a secondary air fault? That carbon buildup is the known first-generation issue. Weigh it with repairs that cost more than the car.
- Oil starvation or a spun bearing? Read engine sludge and blown engine.
- Water in the cabin and dead modules? That pattern lines up with 21V947. Electrical problems helps you decide.
Selling the whole Q5
- Note the VIN, mileage and the fault. Say if it rolls in Neutral and if all four wheels are on.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Tell us where it waits: a parking garage, a driveway, a curb, or a shop that already towed it in. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Leave it whole. If a part is already off the car, say which one.
- Have the title and your license handy when the truck shows up. Loan still open? Read still owe on the loan.
More Audi SUVs: the Q7 and Q3. All models are on our Audi page.
Questions people ask
- Which Q5 year has the most complaints?
- The 2018. This Q5 year drew 231 owner complaints through October 10, 2026. Electrical problems top the list (63), followed by suspension (24) and engine (23). The 2012 (168) and 2011 (143) come next.
- Is there a recall for a failed engine on a newer Q5?
- Recall 22V753 covers some 2021-2023 Q5 and Q5 Sportback models whose connecting rod bearings may be damaged. A dealer checks the Q5 engine and swaps it out if it needs one. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- What was the problem with the first-generation 3.2 V6?
- Wikipedia says the first-generation 3.2L FSI engine is prone to carbon buildup in the secondary air injection system, a costly repair that often appears after the warranty ends.
- Will you buy a Q5 that was towed home and won't run?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- EPA fuel economy data (Audi Q5 model years 2009-2027) fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA complaints flat file, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V078000: driver air bag inflator nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V082000: driver air bag inflator nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V001000: side head air bag and sunroof drainage nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V660000: fuel pump flange nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V298000: fuel pump flange nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V002000: coolant pump software nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V229000: coolant pump replacement nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V369000: rear brake calipers (do not drive) nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 19V416000: wheel arch trim nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 19V737000: rear wheel arch trim nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 21V947000: gateway control module and underbody seam nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 22V753000: connecting rod bearings nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 25V294000: cylinder head cover screws nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 23V842000: plug-in hybrid charging cable nhtsa.gov
- Wikipedia: Audi Q5 (generations, engines, 3.2 FSI carbon buildup) en.wikipedia.org