Buying a used 2021 Audi Q5? Check these 8 recalls first
The busiest Q5 year listed here, with eight recalls and three rated critical: engine bearings that can fail, an overheating portable charging cable, and a hybrid battery that can overheat and catch fire. Also engine power loss, a rear suspension nut, a rear belt that may not hold a child seat, axle alignment and a blank backup camera. NHTSA logged 71 unverified owner complaints, weighted to electrical (26), engine (17) and power train (12), with two crashes and two injuries reported.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm by VIN that the engine bearing and hybrid battery recalls are closed
- On plug-in hybrid versions, ask what battery remedy was applied and when
- Test the backup camera and check the rear belt locks a child seat properly
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Audi dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Audi Q5
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Audi Q5 and VW Atlas engine bearings can fail | Engine And Engine Cooling | critical |
| Audi electric models: portable charging cable can overheat | Electrical System | critical |
| Audi Q5 hybrid battery can overheat and catch fire | Electrical System | critical |
| Audi Cars and SUVs: Rear Suspension Nut Can Break | Suspension | high |
| Audi and VW rear belts may not secure child seats | Seat Belts | high |
| Audi Q5 and SQ5 can lose engine power | Electrical System | high |
| Audi rear axle alignment may not have been checked | Tires | medium |
| Audi backup camera screen may go blank in reverse | Back Over Prevention | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
71 complaints filed for this model year, including 2 mentioning a crash, 0 a fire and 2 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 26 | Yes |
| Engine | 17 | Yes |
| Power Train | 12 | None found |
| Driver Assistance | 10 | None found |
| Fuel System | 4 | None found |
| Brakes | 4 | None found |