RoadVitals

2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Sep 26, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jan 30, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet, most frequently naming the airbags and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 968 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V082000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 30, 2018
162,782 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 69R6View on NHTSA.gov
16V078000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Feb 10, 2016
659,493 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
Filed Sep 26, 2018

THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TOP AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE.GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI I WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT FIX THIS BUT INSTEAD TO GET A NEW TOP.AFTER I PAID FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THE TECHNICIAN DIDNT HAVE A CLUE.THAT WINDOW AND TOP HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI DOESNT WANT TO OWN UP TO.I DRIVE THE FREEWAY TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY.AT HIGH SPEEDS I FEAR THAT THING WILL COME OUT AND HURT SOMEONE ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY SOON.I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE LAST YEAR AND HAVE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION BESIDES "GET A NEW TOP".

NHTSA ID
11131789
Incident
Jul 7, 2017
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2018

MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND ONLINE REVIEWS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY MODEL OF AUDI HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE FACT THAT MANY A5'S HAVE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURES BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHY AUDI HAS NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE AND WHY THE ENGINES WERE ALLOWED TO BE RELEASED THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY SUB OPTIMAL AND WEAK!

NHTSA ID
11112964
Incident
Jun 2, 2018
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 13, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. AUDI OF AMERICA INC. KEEPS SENDING OUT RECALL NOTICES AND THE DEALER KEEPS CLAIMING THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AVAILABLE. ENOUGH ALREADY, EITHER MAKE REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE OR STOP SENDING NOTICES.

NHTSA ID
11078916
Incident
Feb 14, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE CALL FOR THE PAST YEAR TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT HAS THE PARTS. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY WILL CALL WHEN THE PARTS ARE IN. AS I MENTIONED IT HAS BEEN A YEAR, AND I HAVE CHECKED IN WITH THEM SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11078688
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 14, 2017

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED 1ST LETTER APR 2016. NO ACTION. COMPLAINT FILED WITH SAFERCAR.GOV 11/13/2016. RECEIVED TEMP FIX LETTER 8/14/2017. LOCAL DEALER SAYS ONLY TEMP BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS ANYWAY. CONTACTED CORPORATE AUDI SEP 2017. THEY SAY LOCAL DEALER HAS PARTS. LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO PARTS. RECEIVED CARD FOR RECALL 11/13/2017. LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO PARTS! ??? RUN-AROUND ???

NHTSA ID
11045939
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS DO TO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE DEALER (AUDI FAIRFIELD, 435 COMMERCE DR, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825 (203) 951-6570) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT EACH DEALER RECEIVED A FEW REPLACMENT PARTS EVERY MONTH. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM TK HOLDINGS, ALERTING HIM THAT THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11042630
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A5 CABRIOLET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10966273
Incident
Apr 18, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 1, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. I AM TRYING TO TRADE IN MY CAR AND DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR/REPLACE MY AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
10938973
Incident
Dec 31, 2016

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_2082846_1

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

TSB_2073282_1

STRUCTURE:BODY

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

TSB_2034863_5

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin provides infomraiotn when there is a gearbox malfunction message in the instrument clostuer; DTC P0706; vehicles with 0AW gearbox.

TSB_2028405_5

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin provides infomraiton when there is a Gearbox warning light; DTC P060B00 stored in the Transmission Control Module.

TSB_2074729_3

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.

TSB_2059335_7

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A5 Cabriolet by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025000—
2024000—
2023000—
2022010—
2021030—
2020010—
2019000—
2018010—
2017220—
2016010—
2015110—
2014110—
2013310—
2012142044.3
2011Viewing142043.7
2010162044.9
2009000—
2008000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.