2018 Audi A5 Problems

I own a 2018 Audi A5. Many critical cooling system parts — including the thermostat housing, water pump housing, radiator end tanks, breather tubes, and quick-connect hoses — are made of plastic and sit in constant exposure to coolant temperatures over 200°F. Over time, these components become brittle, crack, and fail prematurely. Recently, the plastic breather/return hose between the coolant reservoir and the radiator broke apart during routine service due to brittleness. When these parts fail, coolant leaks quickly, which can cause sudden overheating, engine damage, and potential vehicle disablement while driving. Based on owner reports and my own experience, this appears to be a widespread issue across Audi/VW vehicles of this generation. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the use of plastic in these high-heat, high-pressure components represents a design defect that creates a safety hazard.

The vehicle has 36000 miles on it and the oil cooler has failed. The car is meticulously maintained. This failure compromises the ability for the engine to cool properly. Because of the failure, coolant is then forced into the engine oil potentially destroying the engine. Engine replacements are 10,000 for these types of cars. Audi is aware of this issue and should repair all vehicles with this known issue

I was driving along the express way when I heard a loud explosion, I look up to see my sunroof exploded and there was glass all over the kids and I. The explosion was so loud I lost control of the car and almost veered off the road. It was terrifying. It happened last year in the winter then happened this year as well. The temperature outside was about 30degrees, and I was driving about 70mph. There were no other cars in front of me at the time. My daughter and I had scratches from the glass on our back

Sunroof exploded while driving down the highway. There was no impact from foreign objects and glass breakage shows upward breaks. No injury sustained due to shade being closed.

I am writing to formally bring to your attention a potential violation of federal vehicle safety reporting requirements by Audi regarding an Electronic Control Unit (ECU)/Comfort Control Module failure in my 2018 Audi A5. As the original owner of this vehicle, I experienced a critical ECU failure approximately 2yrs after purchase (Sept 2017), which I believe qualifies as a major safety defect under 49 CFR 573.6-577.7. According to federal regulations, manufacturers are required to report such safety defects to the NHTSA within five (5) days of discovery. Furthermore, a root cause analysis should have been conducted & its findings reported w/in sixty (60) days. However, I have strong reason to believe that Audi failed to meet these reporting obligations, as I have never been provided with any findings from the investigation, nor have I seen any publicly available reporting on this defect. Key Concerns: • Unexplained ECU Failure: My vehicle’s ECU/Comfort Control Module failed inexplicably despite being only 2yrs old at the time. • Failure to Report to NHTSA: I haven't found record of Audi disclosing this issue to the NHTSA, despite clear requirement to do so. • Root Cause Analysis Not Provided: Audi informed me that analysis was conducted in Germany, but I was repeatedly told that the results were “not yet available.” This raises concerns that the findings may have revealed a broader defect affecting multiple vehicles of the same model/yr. • Potential Safety Risk: If this is not an isolated case, other Audi A5 owners may unknowingly be at risk of ECU failures, which could lead to critical vehicle malfunctions, including loss of control, electrical failures, or immobilization while driving. Given the seriousness of this issue, I urge the NHTSA to investigate Audi’s compliance with 49 CFR 573.6-577.7 & determine if this defect affects a broader range of vehicles. If Audi has indeed failed to report this defect properly, appropriate action be taken for consumer safety

AUDI PRE SENSE, IS THE TECHNOLOGY AUDI USES FOR PREDICTIVE SAFETY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL AUDI PRE SENSE BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUDI PRE SENSE IN MY VEHICLE WILL ABRUPTLY & VIOLENTLY COME TO A FULL STOP, WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE CAR. FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 405 HIGHWAY HEADING NORTH ON SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 24TH ST IN REDMOND, HEADING NORTH ON NOVEMBER 27TH AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 33 MPH..THE ROADS WERE CLEAR NO DRIVERS ANYWHERE IN MY VICINITY. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CAR COMES TO A VIOLENT SUDDEN STOP, RED HAZARD TRIANGLE APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD, THESE TWO THINGS HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE SEATBELT ENGAGES & I'M SLAMMED FORWARD. THE BRAKES EMIT A LOUD GRINDING & CRUNCHING SOUND. IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE I CAN BEGIN TO DRIVE AGAIN AS THE CAR IS LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO OBSERVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ROAD FOR IT TO MAKE THE CAR EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT FELT LIKE I HAD HIT SOMEONE/SOMETHING, THAT WAS HOW VIOLENT THE STOP WAS. IT IS TERRIFYING AND DANGEROUS. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN, MY CAR DID NOT GO OVER ANY HAZARDS OR OBSTRUCTIONS AS THE VEHICLE THINKS THERE WAS, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS IN MY VICINITY, THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND CLEAR. THE PRE SENSE HAS A MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN A BRAKING RESPONSE FAILURE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO AUDI SERVICES AND THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS & SAID THEY COULD NOTHING WRONG. THIS OCCURRENCE HAS HAPPENED 4X BEFORE, 1ST CLAIM NHTSA #11288922 AUDI INSISTS PRE SENSE IS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED & THERE IS NO FLAW. THEY WILL NOT WORK ON THE CAR ANY FURTHER. IF THIS OCCURRED DURING A TIME WHEN TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GRAVE DANGER TO ME & OTHER PASSENGERS. AUDI IS KNOWINGLY & WILLINGLY SENDING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

Malfunctioning sunroof: I was the only vehicle on a flat paved road, partly cloudy skies and 65°. I had issues last summer, where when the sunroof was in the tilted position, it would not close securely. When I exited the vehicle to see what the issue was, I noticed the driver side corner was still in the tilted position, whereas the passenger side corner of the panoramic sunroof, was latched and secured. Causing the glass to warp. After messing with the switch a few times, it finally “popped* alarmingly loud, but closed completely. I informed Audi of this issue the next day, and had them add it to my upcoming service. The sunroof functioned normally up until the appointment. Audi could not get it to reproduce the issue, and during other maintenance like fluid top offs, they greased the track of the sliding roof. Few months later it done it once again then was fine for a few more months, until yesterday 10/02/2022. I got in my car to drive to meet family for my birthday dinner, tilted my sunroof as I do. When I pushed the tilt, it popped loud like it did the first time but opened. I never touched it again. About 12 minutes into driving, I’m on the interstate going 65-70MPH when all the sudden I hear what sounds like a gunshot, followed the downward force of glass shards. The sunroof exploded. Glass projectiles all in my hair, eyes, shirt, and all over the vehicle and my face. Had it not been for having the “autopilot” engaged, I would have unavoidably wrecked. I called Audi this morning and got it into service asap so they could begin repairs. However they don’t want to admit fault to this, and say it should be insurance claim. I can not put into words how terrible that experience was, nor would I ever wish for it to happen to others, as it unfortunately does. Just googling “A5 sunroof exploding” opens cans of worms regarding this issue. Unless Audi will accept fault, this expense is expected to be a $3,000 repair bill. I’m still digging glass out of my skin.

DRIVING STRAIGHT, ABOUT 60 MPH ON A TWO LANE ROAD, FAR REMOVED FROM ANY OTHER VEHICLES, MY SUNROOF/MOONROOF GLASS EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS VISIBLE DAMAGE THAT I WAS AWARE OF. NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND TO HAVE 'KICKED UP' A ROCK OR STONE. EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING.

The MMI ( main screen) system randomly reboots every 5 minutes, even when using CarPlay, which is unsafe. Please check it out. Thank you!

I turned on my car and several malfunctions came on the dash,and would not start and went in limp mode. A local mechanic stated it's the electrical component of the coolant pump causing malfunction. He also stated that could lead the car catching fire if overheats since the 5V is dipping below due to the faulty coolant /water pump. Ultimately forcing the car in limp mode for safety precautions. The problem is I purchase my car at 87,000 miles from the Audi dealership, and the extended warranty that covers the car is 80,000 miles

My 2018 Audi A5 Sportback previously received Audi Safety Recall 74E3 on January 27, 2023. The recall repair documentation indicates a seat POD (Passenger Occupant Detection System) update was performed. Several years later, the vehicle developed another passenger airbag fault. The vehicle displays a message indicating the front passenger airbag is OFF even when an occupant is seated in the front passenger seat. Audi diagnosed fault code B12251B, "Passive Occupant Detection System Mat Resistance Too High," and determined that the seat POD occupancy mat and wiring are defective and require replacement. Audi has refused to cover the repair because more than 12 months and 12,000 miles have passed since the recall repair. I am concerned that the passenger occupant detection system involved in the previous safety recall has failed again, resulting in the passenger airbag being disabled while the seat is occupied. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the recall remedy adequately corrected this safety issue.

Previous recall 19V-547 and 74D9 impacting the passenger air bag turning off even when a passenger is in the vehicle was repaired improperly, and the problem is still happening.

The water pump failed on my vehicle. Initially reported 2/2025 at Authorized Audi Service Center. They claimed it was normal for coolant to dip. Audi USA Confirmed I have a settlement class vehicle in 03/2025. Mentioned an 80K Mileage limit. (Car only had 69K miles at the time) When the issue persisted I reached out for repair in accordance to Water Pump Settlement. McKenna Audi Service center initially stated the extended warranty expired 05/2025, and mentioned an 8 Year Limit (8/80K whichever comes first) 9/3 Reached out to Audi USA again and they initially provided an approval. Instructed to take to authorized service center for official diagnosis. 9/5 Audi USA recanted approval 2 days later. Instructed to Call Settlement Administrator. SA stated this is fully Audi responsibly warranty does not expire until 9/2025 unable to assist. Spoke to supervisor at Audi USA who stated extended warranty did not expire until 09/26/2025 09/08 Audi Beverly Hills confirmed water pump malfunction. Sent invoice to supervisor at Audi USA. $2338.25 Supervisor informed me later that warranty is expired after all. Stated a regional manager would look at it but no guarantees. At this point I have spent $350 for a diagnosis I did not need to satisfy the demands of the Audi warranty that is now being denied.

I am writing to formally bring to your attention a potential violation of federal vehicle safety reporting requirements by Audi regarding an Electronic Control Unit (ECU)/Comfort Control Module failure in my 2018 Audi A5. As the original owner of this vehicle, I experienced a critical ECU failure approximately 2yrs after purchase (Sept 2017), which I believe qualifies as a major safety defect under 49 CFR 573.6-577.7. According to federal regulations, manufacturers are required to report such safety defects to the NHTSA within five (5) days of discovery. Furthermore, a root cause analysis should have been conducted & its findings reported w/in sixty (60) days. However, I have strong reason to believe that Audi failed to meet these reporting obligations, as I have never been provided with any findings from the investigation, nor have I seen any publicly available reporting on this defect. Key Concerns: • Unexplained ECU Failure: My vehicle’s ECU/Comfort Control Module failed inexplicably despite being only 2yrs old at the time. • Failure to Report to NHTSA: I haven't found record of Audi disclosing this issue to the NHTSA, despite clear requirement to do so. • Root Cause Analysis Not Provided: Audi informed me that analysis was conducted in Germany, but I was repeatedly told that the results were “not yet available.” This raises concerns that the findings may have revealed a broader defect affecting multiple vehicles of the same model/yr. • Potential Safety Risk: If this is not an isolated case, other Audi A5 owners may unknowingly be at risk of ECU failures, which could lead to critical vehicle malfunctions, including loss of control, electrical failures, or immobilization while driving. Given the seriousness of this issue, I urge the NHTSA to investigate Audi’s compliance with 49 CFR 573.6-577.7 & determine if this defect affects a broader range of vehicles. If Audi has indeed failed to report this defect properly, appropriate action be taken for consumer safety

The contact owns a 2018 Audi A5. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the yellow message "Steering Malfunction - Safe to Drive" was displayed. The contact continued driving 40 MPH, and the message turned red, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was undrivable. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the power steering control module (PSCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

CLICKING AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS

In connection to my previous filing : NHTSA tracking # 11641542, please see the below, thank you. On June 24, 2022, I checked my 2018 Audi A5 into Audi Cherry Hill’s service department to diagnose and repair an issue with the front right tire. The dealership indicated that service would take approximately two days. However, upon returning for an update, I was shocked to learn that my car had been towed—without my knowledge, consent, or any lawful justification. Suspicious Connection to ECU Failure & Audi’s Potential Non-Compliance with NHTSA Audi Cherry Hill’s owner, Amanda DeMateo, attempted to justify the tow by stating that my ECU replacement two years earlier had been performed at Wynnewood Audi (Sept 2019) not Cherry Hill. This raises serious concerns about a second ECU failure, which Audi may have sought to conceal. If Audi Company failed to report an initial ECU failure to the NHTSA in 2019, a second failure would highlight this noncompliance. Audi Cherry Hill's actions appear to be linked to an attempt to obscure a recurring issue with the vehicle's Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Audi Cherry Hill’s owner, Amanda DeMateo, attempted to justify the unauthorized towing by stating that my previous ECU replacement had not been conducted at her dealership, implying an effort to avoid responsibility. This raises suspicion that my tire malfunction was a consequence of another ECU failure, possibly affecting the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) through an electrical malfunction. Given these violations and Audi Cherry Hill’s failure to act in accordance with consumer protection laws, I request a thorough investigation and appropriate enforcement action. I urge you, please to investigate Audi’s failure to report ECU failures to the NHTSA and whether my issue was part of a larger defect pattern. Thank you

passenger side safety seat belt buckle not fixing properly.

Driver's side rear coil spring was broken and both rear spring mounts were corroded. Vehicle did not pass Pennsylvania state inspection. I was not aware of these issue until the inspection - there were no obvious warning signs. Vehicle only has 30,236 miles on it. The vehicle has not been modified, does no towing, does not transport heavy loads, and does not traverse rough terrain or go off-roading. It has never been in an accident. It is parked in a heated garage and is serviced annually. Audi service tech noted they are frequently seeing premature coil spring issues in this model and year of vehicle, but there are no warranty recalls or service bulletins. Both coil springs and both mounts were replaced by service tech at owner's cost.

Start stop system failure Warning displayed Check engine light Car hesitates IF the start stop happens to decide to function At times it won’t work at all

The Audi pre-sense system will not stop malfunctioning. The specific message is: "Audi pre sense: Malfunction! Please contact Service It is not related to any specific event that I can tell but appears to happen mostly when there is another vehicle in front of me. I have spent over $400 in Audi dealership costs to solve the problem and they have been unable to solve it. The last time, they did a software update in September 2024 and after that, the malfunctions became more frequent. It now happens every time I drive the car. I have tried turning it off and resetting it, but it still does not reset or stop being a problem. There are numerous issues with this reported in Audi Forums and on the internet with no one seeming to have solved their specific problem. There was a class action lawsuit on this, but I was dealing with a death in the family and was unable to file the claim in time. And the lawsuit did not provide a remedy to fix it. I need help on this. Audi doesn't seem to know how to fix it.

On the dark evening of 23 January 2021 a deer from the side of the Ohio Turnpike came onto the edge of my lane of roadway, did a Uturn and kicked the front fascia of my car. I slowed but couldn’t avoid the collision because of NHTSA rule Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. I did not see the deer in time to slow further, which would have allowed emergency maneuvers. If I was driving this same car in Europe, or Canada or Japan, I would have Adaptive driving beams on my vehicle. There is often only seconds to act at night, at speed and the glare from oncoming drivers contributes to this lack of safety on American Roads. NHTSA has allowed Tesla to experiment with unproven technologies such as ‘AutoPilot’ on American retail vehicles, with LIDAR/RADAR, cameras, software and now the removal by TESLA of the LIDAR/RADAR functionality, which, allegedly, has resulted in deaths of drivers on US roads. However, NHTSA has been negligent by delaying passage of revisions to FMVSS 108 to allow ADBs on US Roads, a proven safety technology in the EU and around the world, requested by Toyota and MB and other manufacturers in 2013 and since. This is inexcusable on NHTSA part. This either represents incompetence or negligence on NHTSA part, since there has been insufficient regulatory revision in eight years! As a former Emergency Medicine Physician and now Radiologist who has traveled to Canada and the EU, and having cared for patients injured at night in vehicle crashes, as well as being involved in my own that could have been prevented, I can not understand the delay by NHTSA of eight years to complete this approval when the overwhelming evidence proves the technology of ADB not only safe and effective but enhancing safety of all concerned, including pedestrians. Here is a link to the most recent article supporting this proven technology: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/we-need-to-legalize-adaptive-driving-beams-already-for-safety-s-sake/ar-BB1gUAhR