2019 Audi A5 Owner Complaints

I drive an 2019 Audi A5 and there is a terrible Auto start/stop malfunction and cruise control malfunction that has made this car unsafe to drive. The Auto start is featured on the A5 to "save gas," but however malfunctions and cuts off while driving or coming to a stop. Tonight on 1/21/2025 at 1:44 am it did just that. While sitting at the light it stalled out, manually crank it up attempt to get thru the light and it cuts off leaving my son and I stranded dead center of the intersection leaving the two of us sitting ducks. I look and there is traffic coming and we were nearly taken out by an oncoming vehicle after my 5th attempt to start up the car before finally pulling off. Prior I was alone in traffic where the auto stop again malfunctioned, cut off, and caused me to roll backwards almost hitting a vehicle behind me. The cruise control also malfunctions at random. This vehicle has become not only a high risk but a danger to operate on any highway at this point and I've only had it 2 years. It is an extremely beautiful car, but is not worth my life, my son's, or anyone else sitting in the car.

NHTSA ID

11637225

Incident

Jan 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse(R), the message "SOS System Deactivated" was displayed, and the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact shifted to park(P) and shifted back to reverse(R); however, the failure persisted. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle and shifting to reverse(R), the rearview camera became operable, but the message "SOS System Deactivated" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while his wife was at a complete stop two weeks later, the Audi pre-sense warning light illuminated, and an alarm sounded. The windows rolled up independently, and the front driver's side seat belt tightened around the waist of the contact's wife. The contact stated that the seat belt untightened, and his wife was able to drive to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11587709

Incident

Apr 30, 2024

Mileage

25,000 mi

Hello, I was driving down highway at 55mph when my Electric Power steering Failed suddenly. I almost crashed to the barrier as I was in the passing lane. My steering failure message popped up on my instrument cluster and steering wheel became stiff. I had my mom and niece in the vehicle with me. This vehicle could had hurt all three of us. It is difficult to turn the steering wheel now. Failure message is still active.

NHTSA ID

11500191

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V874000 (Seats, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11470284

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, all four doors of the vehicle locked independently while she was outside of the vehicle and in possession of the keys. The contact was unable to unlock the door of the vehicle using the key fob or the keys manually. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son who was occupying the vehicle assisted her in unlocking the doors. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her two-year-old daughter was in the car seat on the rear passenger’s side. The contact was unable to unlock the door of the vehicle using the key fob or the keys manually. The contact was finally able to unlock the vehicle with the assistance of the fire department. Additionally, the contact stated that the child safety lock of the vehicle was manual and would unlock inadvertently while driving, which made it possible for her daughter to open the door. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11467198

Incident

Nov 2, 2021

Mileage

20,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Steering Malfunction" message displayed on the instrument panel and continued flashing. Moments later the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who discovered that the power steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 17,000.

NHTSA ID

11445976

Incident

Dec 9, 2021

Mileage

17,000 mi

I was driving when the rear of my car began vibrating, then fishtailing and I lost control and hit a curb resulting in mostly forward damage. In reviewing the Preliminary Estimate from the auto-shop and insurance adjuster, there was quite a bit of damage to the Rear Suspension including a broken Trailing arm lock nut, washer, and bolt, as well as the Protector lining, lower control arm, its lock nut and the control arm mount bolt. The broken rear axle components caused me to lose control of my vehicle resulting in forward impact with a curb. My car was deemed a total loss with $28K in estimated repairs.

NHTSA ID

11436024

Incident

Sep 21, 2021

On three different occasions, I have experienced automatic emergency braking of the car which, rather than keeping me safe, placed me in a very dangerous situation. Each time, I was in a controlled intersection on a green light and in the left turn lane, with oncoming traffic also having a green light. When it was amply safe to make the left turn, with oncoming traffic at a safe distance from the intersection, I began my left turn. Just as my car was turning in front of that oncoming traffic, and just as I needed to proceed safely and promptly through the intersection, the Pre-Sense system jammed on the brakes, stopping my car in the path of oncoming traffic. In the time it took to get over the shock of that happening and finish the turn, and if the oncoming traffic had not been paying attention, serious accidents could have resulted. Please note that all three of these incidents occurred with the Pre-Sense system set at its least sensitive position. I have since turned the system off completely. I have not contacted the dealer or the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11432815

Incident

Aug 3, 2021

WATER IS COLLECTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WELL OR THE DOOR SILL. WATER SLOSHING IS HEARD WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING FROM STOP. PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE AFTER RAINS OR CAR WASHES.

NHTSA ID

11415053

Incident

Apr 24, 2021

Mileage

15,000 mi

ON TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR, WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM DETECTED AN ONCOMING CAR WAY TOO EARLY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD JUST AS I WAS WELL INTO THE TURN AND NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I BECAME A DANGER TO THE ONCOMING CAR. THIS PUT ME INTO A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM AWARE THAT THE SENSITIVITY CAN BE ADJUSTED BUT, IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS NO DANGER AT ALL UNTIL MY CAR BRAKED SUDDENLY AS I WAS TRYING TO COMPLETE MY TURN SAFELY. THAT ACTUALLY CREATED A HAZARD. AS WITH OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT, I BELIEVE THAT THE SOFTWARE IS STILL SOMEWHAT IMPERFECT. I HAVE SINCE SELECTED THE LEAST SENSITIVE SETTING AND HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM HAS ALSO BRAKED HARD SEVERAL TIMES WHEN BACKING UP EVEN THOUGH ANY POTENTIAL DANGER WAS STILL WELL AWAY FROM MY CAR. THE BRAKING IS SO HARSH AND STARTLING, THAT ALONE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

NHTSA ID

11298504

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

Mileage

7,000 mi

THIS IS ANOTHER OCCURRENCE THEREFORE A CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINT NUMBER 11258717. ON A SECOND OCCASION WHILE DRIVING IN THE EXPRESS LANES OF AN EXPRESSWAY, THE PRE-SENSE DISPLAYED A CROSSROAD INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON A LIMITED ACCESS EXPRESSWAY IN THE EXPRESS LANES. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD A CAR TAILGATING ME AT THAT TIME? THERE IS SOME SERIOUS SOFTWARE DEFECTS WITH THIS SYSTEM. IS ANYONE GOING TO RESPOND TO THIS?

NHTSA ID

11266473

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

2,150 mi

I WAS STOPPED IN A TURN LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS 3 LANES OF OPPOSING TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR US HIGHWAY. . I STARTED THE TURN AND THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM STOPPED THE CAR AS IT WAS ENTERING THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A DISASTER AS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS MOVING APPROXIMATE 50-60 MPH. FORTUNATELY FOR THE ONCOMING CAR, THE LANE ADJACENT WAS EMPTY AT THE MOMENT SO THEY COULD MOVE OVER AND PASS ME SAFELY AS I WAS STUCK IN THE LANE OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED.

NHTSA ID

11258717

Incident

Sep 28, 2019

Mileage

1,950 mi