RoadVitals

2014 Audi A5 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Apr 2, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 28 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Audi A5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 2, 2025

1) power steering module failed resulting in steering failing on highway. Car is not available for inspection due to being totaled. Issue was a known service bulletin by Audi however new owners had no way to know it was a life threatening issue. 2) The car lost control when power module failed, steering wheel locked up. 3) Yes 4) insurance and the dealership. The dealership refused to cover it because it was 10years past extended warranty even thought it had less than 125,000 miles. Apparently RAIN affects these units. 5) No.

NHTSA ID
11652206
Incident
Feb 8, 2025
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder. The check engine and EPS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with piston #3. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who confirmed the failure with piston #3. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to assist. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ID
11537257
Incident
Jul 29, 2023
Mileage
65,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 15, 2022

SIMILAR PROBLEM TO ANOTHER FILED COMPLAINT, MODIFIED FOR THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT....2014 AUDI A5 WITH APPROX 56K MILES. THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEGUN TO OFFER INCONSISTENT RESISTANCE TO DRIVER INPUT, WHICH IMPACTS DRIVER'S ABILITY TO JUDGE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE DESIRED POSITION.

NHTSA ID
11479290
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2021

January 2021 driving straight - 30 MPH. RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION DYNAMIC STEERING "STEERING DEFECTIVE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL AND IT DID A TOTAL LOCK UP. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL. THE WHOLE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING OVER $3,000 BECASUE THE ELECTRONIC CHIP WASNT ABLE TO BE REMOVED ITSELF. CAR HAD UNDER 50K MILES. I ASKED HOW DOES THIS GO OUT SO SOON WITH LOW MILEAGE? THE AUDI DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT CAN JUST BE A BAD BATCH MEANING THE ELECTRONIC CHIP INSIDE THE STEERING RACK THAT CONTROLS THE STEERING RACK WAS A BAD BATCH AND JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENS. THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED 8 TIMES INDICATING THAT IT WAS A BAD DESIGN. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A BAD DESIGN????? THERE ARE MANY CASES THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. REPAIRS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE VEHICLE OWNERS EXPENCE DUE TO WEAR NOT A BAD BATCH OR BAD DESIGN FOR THE CUSTOMER/OWNER OF THE VEHICLE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR.

NHTSA ID
11433851
Incident
Jan 8, 2021
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 2021

NO INCIDENT CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR - RANDOMLY ONE DAY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN - AN ISSUE AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEED - INTERMITTENT SO NO IDEA EACH TIME GO TO CHANGE LANES OR TURN A CORNER IF GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL - INITIALLY IT IS SPORADIC, HOWEVER, WITH TIME/USE OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN LOTS OF INFORMATION/COMPLAINTS ONLINE - APPEARS TO BE STEERING SHAFT / SEIZURE OF U-JOINTS: THERE WAS A AUDI ISSUED TSB 481461, THAT COVERS THIS PROBLEM. A REVISED PART WAS ISSUED FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT CORRECTED THIS ISSUE. ONE OR BOTH UNIVERSAL JOINTS WAS SUBJECT TO SEIZURE. 8K1419753H WAS ISSUED AND SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS EDITIONS (53A-53G). RECOMMEND OWNERS ENSURE THERE EXISTS NO EXCESS PLAY IN EITHER IMMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT AFTER LUBING.

NHTSA ID
11398022
Incident
Nov 30, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2020

I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN RETURNED SHOW POWER STEERING IS DEFECTVE WHEN I SEARCH THE DEFECT ON INTERNET SHOW SEVERAL SIMILAR CASES

NHTSA ID
11354618
Incident
Sep 10, 2020
Mileage
49,950 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 3, 2020

MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 36K MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH ANY PUDDLES OR POTHOLES. ONE DAY I DROVE MY CAR DOWN THE STREET BACK TO MY GARAGE AND AS I WAS PARKING I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION "STEERING DEFECTIVE DO NOT DRIVE". THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING $3,000 (PART WAS $2,127). THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT AFTER SPEAKING WITH AUDI, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED 8 TIMES INDICATING THAT IT WAS A BAD DESIGN. THERE ARE MANY CASES THAT I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327151
Incident
May 20, 2020
Mileage
36,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2020

2014 AUDI A5 WITH APPROX 62K MILES. THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEGUN TO OFFER INCONSISTENT RESISTANCE TO DRIVER INPUT, WHICH IMPACTS DRIVER'S ABILITY TO JUDGE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE DESIRED POSITION. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL FROM CENTER TO EITHER STOP, THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTORS WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE ASSIST IS WORKING, AND SEVERAL WHERE THE STEERING GETS HEAVY AND HARD TO TURN. THE ISSUE OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE STOPPED. IT SEEMS SIMILAR TO ISSUES REPORTED WITH 2013 A4 AND A5 MODELS.

NHTSA ID
11302952
Incident
Jan 22, 2020
Mileage
62,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 14, 2019

WHEN TURNING, THE STEERING FEELS STIFF AND OCCURS EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY

NHTSA ID
11207546
Incident
May 12, 2019
Mileage
46,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .