Total Complaints
18 filings
AUDI S5 · model year
18 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2013AUDIS5 carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 S5 is power train with 9 filings, followed by steering (3) and engine (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2013 S5. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
18 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 9 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
I had a very pricey service performed on my vehicle and during that service they said there was a service bulletin or recall that required a software upgrade for the transmission (Audi of El Paso, TX). Once that occurred, my transmission would shift very hard especially going from 1st to 2nd gear or downshifting from 2nd to 1st gear. My service advisor told me that my vehicle had to learn again and that it would smooth out in time. It never has. My vehicle with only 79,000 miles on it should certainly not be having any transmission issues, especially since they were non-existent until the software upgrade was applied. I have researched the issue and have found that it is a common and widely known issue in Audis with similar electronic transmissions. I was able to find well over a hundred Audi owners who documented the same issues. Due to this update my vehicle showed simultaneous warning for a TPMS failure and gearbox failure.
I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad itâs hard to be in the car itâs a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine
I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad itâs hard to be in the car itâs a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine
mechatronic unit failed incident : random jerking when driving had to pull the car over car lost power "gear box malfunction" code on my dashboard. after replacing the mechatornic unit had to pay 5127 dollars out of pocket to get fixed
while driving, got a notification on the dash board "transmission malfunction, limited functionality" and a "tpms malfunction" notification. Car seemed like it was skipping 1st and 2nd gear after i continued driving.
AFTER THE CAR SITS OVER NIGHT, AND IS DRIVEN W/O BRING WARMED UP IT SLIPS GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, ROUGH DOWNSHIFT OR SLIGHT BUMP WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND A ROUGH IDLE AND NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IN PARK. CAR HAS 87K.
Mileage: 79,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GREEN AUDI (3881 WABASH AVE, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62711) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V019000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,618.
Mileage: 56,618
MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE AND COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE MECHATRONIC UNIT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE WHEN I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD. IT SAID CONTINUE TO DRIVE BUT I COULDN'T. IT HAPPENED AT 65K MILES. I HAD IT REBUILT FOR OVER $2000 AND THE CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED.
Mileage: 65,000
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A PARTICULAR PLANT OR PROVIDER. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE 'LOSS OF LIFE' AS IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC. I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN METRO ATLANTA GA, WITH OUR FAST PACE TRAFFIC, ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $15K. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPED TO A $60-$75 HIGH-END VEHICLE. HAVE VIDEO'S OF THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ERROR AND CAN UPLOAD TO YOU. I WAS OFFERED 15% ON THE REPAIR, WHICH
Mileage: 88,000
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A PARTICULAR PLANT OR PROVIDER. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE 'LOSS OF LIFE' AS IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC. I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN METRO ATLANTA GA, WITH OUR FAST PACE TRAFFIC, ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $15K. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPED TO A $60-$75 HIGH-END VEHICLE. HAVE VIDEO'S OF THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ERROR AND CAN UPLOAD TO YOU. I WAS OFFERED 15% ON THE REPAIR, WHICH
Mileage: 88,000
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A PARTICULAR PLANT OR PROVIDER. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE 'LOSS OF LIFE' AS IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC. I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN METRO ATLANTA GA, WITH OUR FAST PACE TRAFFIC, ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $15K. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPED TO A $60-$75 HIGH-END VEHICLE. HAVE VIDEO'S OF THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ERROR AND CAN UPLOAD TO YOU. I WAS OFFERED 15% ON THE REPAIR, WHICH
Mileage: 88,000
VEHICLE IS THROWING TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES, SHIFTING AS IF THE TRANS IS IN LIMP MODE, WHEN STOPPED AND THEN GOING, THE TRANS BOGS, AS WELL AS BETWEEN SHIFTS. DOESN'T GO INTO MANUAL MODE EITHER FOR THE DSG TRANS MY CAR HAS. A SHOP SAID THE METATRONIC UNIT NEEDS REPLACEMENT.
Mileage: 89,000
TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE POPPED UP. TRANS BOGS WHEN TRYING TO START, ALMOST IN A LIMP MODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CODE COMES ON AND OFF SOMETIMES, AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO GO INTO MANUAL MODE. THE TRANS IS A DSG, AND IS ACTING VERY WEIRD. MECHATRONIC WAS TOLD TO BE REPLACED BY A EUROPEAN AUTO SHOP.
Mileage: 89,000
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITH EITHER WATER INFILTRATION INTO THE CONTROLLER, OR WITH SEVERE COLD WEATHER. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY AUDI USA BY THEY ARE REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IN MN IN THE MONTH OF 2/2019 3 AUDI DEALERS EACH TOLD ME THAT THEY EACH REPLACED 20+ STEERING RACKS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE CAUSE THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING TO FAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE ALL POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING YOUR POWER STEERING TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SERVICE ADVISER I WORKED WITH AT ONE OF THE AUDI DEALERS SAID THIS PERSONALLY HAPPENED TO HIM ON 2 DIFFERENT CARS HE OWNED. THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN EVERY AUDI FORUM ON THE WEB.
Mileage: 93,500
AFTER ~106,000 MILES, AN ERROR CODE 'TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. YOU CAN KEEP DRIVING', WITH ERROR CODE P179D00 (PER DEALER). CAR HAS HESTITATION AT LOW RPM OR WHILE STOPPED (AS AT A LIGHT OR HEAVY TRAFFIC) AND OCCASIONALLY JERKS FORWARD, DESPITE BRAKES BEING FIRMLY APPLIED.
Mileage: 106,000
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND FELT JERKY MOVEMENTS I HAD TO PULL OVER. OBVIOUSLY I HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND GEARBOX MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. THE PROBLEM TURNS OUT TO BE A MECHATRONIC ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE THERE'S A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT TSB NUMBER IS 10054213-2278. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO OPEN A CASE WITH AUDI USA. MY CASE GOT DENIED BECAUSE THEY STATED THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE VEHICLE MODEL. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WARRANTY PART BUT TO SAY THAT IS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE THAT QUALIFIES AS A NON ACCURATE STATEMENT SINCE THERE'S IS AN OFFICIAL TSB ON THE MATTER AND I TAKE THAT AS AN INSULT HONESTLY. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND MAYBE HAVE AUDI ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM MORE OPENLY SINCE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTS ALOT OF CUSTOMERS AND AUDI IS GETTING AWAY WITH POOR QUALITY CONTROL ON THEIR VEHICLES. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY
Mileage: 76,000
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS RESISTANCE AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION IN THE STEERING. THIS RESISTANCE CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THE 'NOTCH' FEELING IN THEN ELECTRIC STEERING TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Mileage: 5,000
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND A MESSAGE CAME UP "STEERING DEFECTIVE. DO NOT DRIVE". THE DEALER PICKED UP THE CAR AND AFTER RESEARCHING INFORMED ME THE POWER STEERING MODULE HAD FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THEY NEED TO ORDER PARTS FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS. TODAY IS THE START OF THE 3RD WEEK AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 9,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.