RoadVitals

2010 Audi A5

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.
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Latest Aug 17, 2021
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Audi A5, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and body & structure categories. 888 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

  • Airbags1438.9%
  • Engine1130.6%
  • Body & structure38.3%
  • Visibility25.6%
  • Fuel system12.8%
  • Powertrain (other)12.8%
  • Steering12.8%
  • Suspension12.8%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Audi A5. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure could be related to the catalytic converter, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that her son inspected the vehicle and discovered that all the fluids were low. The fluids were topped off to the proper level. The warning light disappeared; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated a month later. The contact stated that her son completed a diagnostic test and retrieved a fault code for a defective catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,960.

NHTSA ID
11429505
Incident
May 2, 2021
Mileage
98,960 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2020

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE AND TO START PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL 1QT OF OIL ON EVERY 1000 MILES...NOW FEW MINTS LATER I HAVE TO DO THAT MORE OFTEN ON EVERY 500MILES... AND RECENTLY I HAD TO ADD COOLING AND NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN NEW ISSUE... MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MY CAR AND HE IS SURPRISED AUDI HASN'T DONE A RECALL ON IT. MY CAR IS UNDER 90K AND MAY REQUIRE AN ENGINE CHANGE FOR OVER $3-4K. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!

NHTSA ID
11361935
Incident
Jun 19, 2020
Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2019

CAR RUNS OUT OF ENGINE OIL WITHIN 2 TO 3 WEEKS OF OIL CHANGE, I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL THREE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2.5 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
11290000
Incident
Dec 5, 2019
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2019

WHEN THERE IS SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE IN THE AIR THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. AN INTENDED RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL CAUSE THE LEFT SIGNAL TO FIRE INSTEAD, BUT IT WILL ALSO ERRATICALLY FIRE THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. THE ISSUE TENDS TO REDUCE IN FREQUENCY THE LONGER THE CAR IS RUNNING. I READ ON AN AUDI OWNERS FORUM THAT THE BLINKER SWITCH IS AFFECTED BY HIGH MOISTURE AND CAUSES THIS ISSUE IN 2008-2010 MODELS.

NHTSA ID
11282356
Incident
Nov 25, 2019
Mileage
75,640 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2019

THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALLS, ON BOTH SIDES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES, LOW PRESSURE, PULLING ETC. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR DRIVING NORMAL. I STARTED TO HEAR A PULSATING VIBRATION SOUND LIKE A WHEEL BEARING. I LET OFF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN A BIT AND LISTEN, THEN THERE WAS SOME LOUD NOISES, I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY ALL THE WAY AROUND.

NHTSA ID
11267936
Incident
Oct 7, 2019
Mileage
3,700 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2019

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR STALLED NEARLY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS SMELLING GASOLINE SO I HAD TO BRING IT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING WITH MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE DETECTED. AS THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER AUDI FOR FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS, I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER DEFECTED FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC CLEARED THE CODE FROM MY CAR'S SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. BECAUSE THE FAULT CODE WAS CLEARED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AUDI IS REFUSING TO FIX THE FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DOCUMENTATION WITH THE FAULT CODES THAT SHOWS THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING AND THE REASON MY CAR STALLED. THE AUDI SERVICE SPECIALIST TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING MY CAR UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I KNOW THAT AUDI CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL ON SOME AUDI MODELS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR CAUSING FIRE RISKS, AND I KNOW THAT DRIVING WITH A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR WILL LEAD TO MAJOR ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR KNOWING THAT THE LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN MY CAR AND WILL CAUSE ME TO ONCE AGAIN BREAKDOWN. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION, HOWEVER, IT INCLUDES MY VIN AND THE NOTE ON THIS WEBSITE SAYS NOT TO INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL INFO INCLUDING THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
11222261
Incident
May 15, 2019
Mileage
61,447 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2019

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK I NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WITH MY CAR, WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR TO PULL UP IN A GARAGE I FELT THE CAR LOOSING POWER AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO GO OFF, I WILL THEN HAVE TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GIVE IT POWER AND KEEP IT GOING WHICH WAS NOT THE SAFEST, KNOWING THAT I SHOULD BE DECELERATING IN SUCH INSTANCES. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, AND THEN 3 DAYS LATER AFTER PARKING IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 12 MINUTES, I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND IT NOT STARTING UP. IT WILL BEGIN TO CRANK BUT NEVER STARTED. I TRIED TO JUMP START IT WITH A POWER STARTUP BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAULT WITHIN THE ENGINE. THIS WILL TAKE SOME DAYS TO REPAIR AND I HAVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE FOR WORK. I WAS TOLD THIS FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR MY CAR MAKE/MODEL.

NHTSA ID
11191567
Incident
Mar 21, 2019
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2019

INFERIOR PISTON RINGS BURNING OIL INSIDE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
11180634
Incident
Oct 13, 2018
Mileage
55,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

SM 01-2026

ENGINE

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

TSB_2070568_6

This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool

TSB_2024323_13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance gives false warnings.

TSB_2024323_12

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance gives false warnings.

TSB_2060750_5

ENGINE

This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025720
2024800
2023800
2022620
2021750
2020604047.5
2019123046.2
2018366060.0
2017020
2016730
2015830
2014283044.0
2013353057.8
2012220037.7
2011240032.6
2010Viewing340029.6
2009111031.0
2008510

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.