8 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2021 and 2022 Audi cars and SUVs because of a software problem with the backup camera display. When the vehicle is put into reverse, the screen may go blank or black instead of showing the view behind the vehicle. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal safety rule for rear visibility. Dealers will update the software in the infotainment unit, the system that runs the center screen.
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2019 through 2021 Audi cars and SUVs, including A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, Q8 and S and RS versions. These vehicles had repairs done under an earlier recall, and the rear axle alignment may not have been checked afterward as it should have been. Rear axle alignment that is off can wear the tires out early or wear them unevenly.
Audi is recalling certain 2017-2020 cars because of a fault in the cable that connects the passenger seat heater to the system that detects whether someone is sitting in the front passenger seat. A poor connection can make the software read a fault that is not there and switch off the passenger airbag. Dealers will replace the cable and either the seat heating mat or the whole seat cover. This recall expands an earlier recall, and vehicles already repaired under that one need to return for the new repair.
Volkswagen and Audi are recalling certain 2021 and 2022 cars and SUVs because of a problem with the rear seat belts. The part of the belt that locks it in place for a child seat may switch off too early, so the child seat may not be held securely. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rule on protecting people in a crash. Dealers will check the middle rear seat belts and replace them if needed.
On certain Audi models, the lock nut on a rear axle trailing arm may break because of corrosion. If this happens, the rear axle can become misaligned, affecting how the vehicle handles.
On some A5 and S5 Sportback vehicles, the wiring for the rear lights may be missing a protective covering near the spare tire area. Without that covering, the wires could be damaged in a rear-end crash. If that happens, the doors might not open from the outside, and the hazard lights could stop working. Dealers will add the missing protection at no cost.
Corrosion (oxidation) can build up on the cable connecting to the Passenger Occupant Detection System. When this happens, the system's software may wrongly decide there is a malfunction, and in response it disables the passenger air bag. With the air bag disabled, it will not deploy the way it's supposed to if the vehicle is in a crash.
Certain Audi Q7, Q8, and S5 vehicles have front shock absorbers with metal forks that may develop cracks over time. If a fork cracks, the shock absorber it holds in place can become loose. A loose shock absorber can affect how well the vehicle steers and handles the road.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls covering the 2018–2021 Audi S5. 6 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Audi backup camera screen may go blank in reverse" (NHTSA campaign 22V742000), reported Oct 5, 2022.
The 2021 Audi S5 has the most, with 5 recalls. The 2018 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 2. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
No. None of the 8 Audi S5 recalls on file carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Audi dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: