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2013 Audi Q5 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2013 Audi Q5 carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering wiring and cooling system. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Notchy electromechanical steering feel.” Audi follows the VW Group Longlife service rhythm: oil and minor service every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, using oil that meets VW 502 00 / 504 00 (or 508 00 for newer 0W-20 engines) — generic synthetic does not qualify. S tronic dual-clutch gearboxes need fluid service every 40,000 miles despite 'lifetime fill' claims. Fully electric models (e-tron, e-tron GT) skip oil service entirely but keep brake-fluid, cabin-filter, and coolant-circuit intervals.

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5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #17V622000 · May 10, 2017

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.

Risk: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Campaign #17V002000 · Mar 1, 2017

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.

Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Campaign #17V001000 · Mar 1, 2017

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Campaign #18V229000 · Nov 4, 2018

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #17V298000 · Mar 5, 2017

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2013 Audi Q5.

Reported to NHTSA

Notchy electromechanical steering feel

STEERING

10 NHTSA complaints · 2013-01 → 2019-09

“STEERING HAS A NOTCHINES TO IT. DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. FEELS LIKE A GEAR WOULD WHEN MISSING A TOOTH. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT SEEM SPEED DEPENDANT.OTHERS HAVE REPORTED DEFECTIVE STEERING RACKS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10501368
“THERE IS A NOTCHINESS FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND MAKES THE CAR HARD TO KEEP STRAIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10500833
“NOTCHY STEERING WHEN DRIVING. NOTICEABLE DURING BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, HOWEVER IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE DURING SMALL TURNS SUCH AS CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. OCCURS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11192121

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Timing chain and tensioner failure

ENGINE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2020-06

“ENGINE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11052796
“VEHICLE BEGAN STARTING ROUGHLY 1/4/2018. TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER HAVE FAILED. VEHICLE HAS 50,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11064249
“DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. DEALER HAS STATED IT IS CRITICAL TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. THE VEHICLE HAS 89900 MILES AND HAS ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11330273

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear subframe corrosion under stone guards

STRUCTURE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-05

“Took vehicle in for state safety inspection. Found heavy rust on subframe nearly all the way through. Was told if it gets any worse it will not pass inspection next time. Apparently there are plastic rock shields on subframe that trap water causing it to rust”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11677300
“There is considerable rust to the point that the subframe has been structurally compromised. I also contacted Audi USA regarding this issue, but they advised that they could not provide any assistance and closed my case”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739161
“I was doing maintenance on car. Had new tires and alignment done. The alignment tech found rotted out rear sub-frame underneath plastic covers. Said that it was unsafe to drive”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11622403

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Coolant pump leak and engine compartment fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

13 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2024-03

“AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAR WAS PARKED. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES (VERY SMALL). WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT WITHOUT VEHICLE DAMAGE. TOWED TO DEALER AND AM AWAITING RESULTS FROM AUDI”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11036035
“NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED.....YET. THIS IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP. 19N4. NOTICE RECEIVED 6/22/18”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11103602
“THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 65MPH DUE TO COOLANT LEAK/WATER PUMP LEAK. EMERGENCY STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS NECESSARY AS WELL AS VEHICLE TOWING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10882444

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive engine oil consumption

ENGINE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2019-09 → 2024-05

“The contact owns a 2013 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she had been adding a quart of oil to the vehicle every 200 miles driven”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11548190
“EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MY ENGINE BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL. I HAVE TO ADD MORE OIL AFTER DRIVING EVERY FEW 100 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11354980
“OIL CONSUMPTION- I LITERALLY JUST GOT AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN 90 DAYS AGO AND I NEED MORE OIL. THIS IS A USED VEHICLE PURCHASE FOR US AND HAS HAPPEN TWICE SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE- LESS THAN A YEAR! EVERY SO MANY MILES I'M ADDING A QUART OF OIL!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11257129

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of power steering with do-not-drive warning

STEERING

8 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2025-02

“WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061644
“Driving and warning light came on “steering defective do not drive.” Power steering and use of wheel went out, and wheel would not turn or move in the middle of driving down the street”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11493317
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE MESSAGE "DO NOT DRIVE" WAS DISPLAYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11099810

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Spontaneous sunroof and rear window glass failure

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-09 → 2022-01

“The sliding sunroof exploded out of nowhere with no impact while on the Interstate. The glass rained down on us as we were traveling around 65 mph”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11448642
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11288647
“REAR WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN DOOR CLOSED, NO SLAMMED. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE ON 80-DEGREE DAY. REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10908634

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Longlife Service)

Every 10,000 mi

Replace oil and filter every 10,000 miles or 12 months with VW 502 00 / 504 00 / 508 00 spec oil. S and RS models driven hard: many owners shorten to 5,000-7,500 miles. Wrong-spec oil is the leading cause of TFSI timing-chain tensioner and PCV problems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate every 10,000 miles with the oil service. quattro models: keep all four tires within 4/32" of each other — mismatched wear stresses the center differential.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and wear sensors every 10,000 miles. Audi uses electronic pad-wear sensors on most models — replace the sensor with the pads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 4 brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage — Audi's published schedule is time-based because the fluid absorbs moisture.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

S tronic Dual-Clutch Fluid

Every 40,000 mi

S tronic (DSG) gearboxes on A3/S3/RS 3, Q3, TT, and many A5/Q5 models: replace fluid and filter every 40,000 miles with the VW Group-spec fluid for your gearbox code. Skipping this service is the most common cause of mechatronic failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$470–$640

Shop

~$330–$450

DIY

Pro only

VW/Audi DSG service needs a fluid-fill procedure at a specific temperature — shop equipment territory.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

quattro Coupling Fluid (Transverse Models)

Every 40,000 mi

A3/S3/RS 3, Q3, and TT use a Haldex-style rear coupling: replace its fluid roughly every 40,000 miles (some model years specify sooner — check your manual). Longitudinal quattro (A5-A8, Q5, Q8) has no coupling service; see differential fluid instead.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$220–$290

Shop

~$155–$205

DIY

~$40–$90

VW/Audi/Volvo AWD coupling — specific fluid required. Filter usually swapped at the same time.

Spark Plugs

Every 40,000 mi

TFSI turbo engines: new plugs every 40,000 miles. RS models with the 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder: consider 30,000 miles under track or hard street use.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 40,000 mi

Replace every 40,000 miles; inspect at 20,000 on turbocharged engines — a clogged filter shows up as sluggish boost response first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Timing Chain (EA888 — Inspect Tensioner)

On condition / lifetime

2.0 TFSI (EA888) engines before roughly 2013 had timing-chain tensioner failures — have the tensioner revision checked by 80,000 miles on earlier cars. Later engines carry the updated design with no scheduled service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Differential Fluid (Longitudinal quattro)

Every 60,000 mi

Q5, Q8, and A5-A8 quattro: independent Audi specialists recommend front/rear differential fluid service around 60,000 miles even where Audi lists it as lifetime fill.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Dust & Pollen Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles or 2 years. Audi specifies an activated-carbon filter on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

G12evo / G13 Coolant

On condition / lifetime

Audi coolant is labeled lifetime fill. Independent VW/Audi specialists recommend a refresh around 5 years or 100,000 miles to protect the water pump and thermostat housing — and only with the correct pink/lilac VW Group coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

4 crashes 1990–2024

How the 4 occupant deaths break down

2

driver deaths

2

passenger deaths

4

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

1

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2013 Audi Q5 reflects Audi's published service intervals and the Audi Service Interval Display system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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