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AUDI · vehicle model

AUDI SQ5

131 NHTSA complaints and 14 safety recalls across model years 2013–2025.

Complaints
131
Recalls
14
Model years
13

The AUDISQ5 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 131 consumer safety complaints and 14 recall campaigns across 13 model years (2013–2025). That averages roughly 10 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 9 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20253
20248
20233
20221
202114
202010
201924
201835
20175
20166
20158
201413
20131

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 46 in 2017-2021 to 77 in 2022-2026, a rise of 67.4%. That is the 78th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

1
’14
3
’15
4
’16
6
’17
5
’18
10
’19
11
’20
14
’21
11
’22
16
’23
24
’24
25
’25
1
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare AUDISQ5 to Similar Vehicles

AUDISQ5 vs HYUNDAIIONIQ 6 → AUDISQ5 vs TOYOTASUPRA → AUDISQ5 vs HONDAS2000 → AUDISQ5 vs PONTIACPONTIAC →

NHTSA Investigations

EA22001Engineering AnalysisClosed2022-04-04

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

PE21009Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-03-29

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

EA04017Engineering AnalysisClosed2004-06-30

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE

PE04023Preliminary EvaluationClosed2004-03-05

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE

EA03025Engineering AnalysisClosed2003-11-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASH FIRE

PE03035Preliminary EvaluationClosed2003-07-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASHBOARD FIRE

DP87007Defect PetitionClosed1986-12-16

1980 AUDI 5000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION

DP87002Defect PetitionClosed1986-10-30

1979-86 AUDI 4000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION

EA85037Engineering AnalysisClosed1985-07-31

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the AUDI SQ5?▼
The AUDI SQ5 has received 131 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2013 to 2025, with 14 recalls. That averages about 10 complaints per model year.
What years of AUDI SQ5 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the AUDI SQ5 from 2013 to 2025 (13 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the AUDI SQ5 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many AUDI SQ5 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common AUDI SQ5 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the AUDI SQ5 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my AUDI SQ5 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. AUDI SQ5 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.