AUDI S5 · model year

2013 AUDI S5

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.

18
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN9
STEERING3
ENGINE3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20250303POWER TRAIN

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.

20230411FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it’s hard to be in the car it’s a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine

20230411ENGINE

I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it’s hard to be in the car it’s a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine

20230202POWER TRAIN

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

20210603POWER TRAIN

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.

20201106POWER TRAIN

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

20200824FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

20200818POWER TRAIN

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

20190727ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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

20190727ENGINE

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

20190727POWER TRAIN

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

20190424POWER TRAIN

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

20190424POWER TRAIN

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

20190305STEERING

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

20181113ENGINE

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

20180721POWER TRAIN

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

20140203STEERING

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

20131231STEERING

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

Compare 2013AUDIS5 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 AUDI S5 have?
The 2013 AUDI S5 has 18 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 AUDI S5?
The 2013 AUDI S5 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 AUDI S5?
The most-complained component for the 2013 AUDI S5 is POWER TRAIN with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ENGINE.
Is the 2013 AUDI S5 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2013 AUDI S5 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.