AUDI SQ5 · model year

2017 AUDI SQ5

5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2017AUDISQ5 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 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 2017 SQ5 is visibility/wiper with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and vehicle speed control (1). 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 2017 SQ5. 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.

5
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
2017 AUDI SQ5 — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2017 AUDI SQ5. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
STEERING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recent Complaints

20210930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2017 Audi SQ5. The contact stated there was excessive heat coming from the engine. Additionally, there was moisture on the water pump. A message stating “Pull Over Immediately” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the water pump failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20210418STEERING

THE STEERING SYSTEM FROZE DURING OPERATION. SENSORS INDICATED CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN STORM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHICH ALLOWED WATER INTO STEERING RACK MODULE. THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH AUDI SQ5 BASED ON MY RESEARCH AFTER INCIDENT. MY CONCERN THIS SYSTEM FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT IF FAILURE OCCURRED DURING HIGH SPEEDS AND HIGH TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE CAR HAD ITS REGULAR MAINTENANCE A FEW WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT.

Mileage: 51,000

20191113CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2017 AUDI SQ5. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONCRETE HOLDING THE STREET LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

Mileage: 24,000

20170818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 (NA) AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO HIS RESIDENCE BY THE DEALER (BEVERLY HILLS AUDI IN BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA) AND WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. ON AUGUST 2, 2017, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PROGRAM THE CELLULAR PHONE AND THE OTHER FEATURES THAT THE NEW VEHICLE OFFERED. THE CONTACT PRESSED A BUTTON THAT CHANGED THE DRIVING MODE AND A PARKING BRAKE ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED, ASKING THE DRIVER TO CONTACT AUDI TECHNICAL SUPPORT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTACT AUDI TECHNICAL SUPPORT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (BEVERLY HILLS AUDI) AND WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK TO SEE IF THE MESSAGE ERASED ITSELF AND, IF SO, NOT TO CALL BACK AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER (SANTA MONICA AUDI IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 171182952. THE VEHICLE W

Mileage: 37

20161103CrashVISIBILITY/WIPER

DRIVERS VIEW IS LARGELY OBSTRUCTED (YOU COULD LOSE SIGHT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE) BY THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO ALL PEDESATRIANS CROSSING IN FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE THAT IS TURNING LEFT. AND ALSO AFFECTS THE VIEW ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED A LOW SPEED CRASH DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 300

Compare 2017AUDISQ5 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2017 AUDI SQ5 have?
The 2017 AUDI SQ5 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 AUDI SQ5?
The 2017 AUDI SQ5 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 AUDI SQ5?
The most-complained component for the 2017 AUDI SQ5 is VISIBILITY/WIPER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2017 AUDI SQ5 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 2017 AUDI SQ5 has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. 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.