RoadVitals

2023 Audi Q5 Sportback

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.
6
Latest Oct 20, 2023
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 May 7, 2025
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.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 606 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

  • Body & structure222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Driver assistance111.1%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Other / unspecified111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%
  • Steering111.1%

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

ENGINE

May 7, 2025
89,417 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Q5 Quattro and Q5 Sportback Quattro vehicles. The cylinder head cover screws may have been improperly tightened.
The risk: The screws can loosen, allowing oil to leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the screws as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 15ZK.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 15ZKView on NHTSA.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Oct 7, 2022
76,515 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
The risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number VW: 13i4, Audi: 13i5View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while using the liftgate to load or unload the rear cargo compartment, the motion-sensor used to activate the liftgate would close or open the liftgate due to the slightest movement. The contact stated that he had been struck on the head by the liftgate after barely moving his foot near the sensor while loading the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was no fix for the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 856.

NHTSA ID
11550997
Incident
Oct 5, 2023
Mileage
856 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Audi Q5. The contact stated that after opening the trunk door and reaching into the trunk, the trunk door inadvertently released, and the door struck the contact on the neck. No medical attention was sought. The contact stated that the trunk door was difficult to manually raise up. The contact heard a beeping sounding and was able to get out of the way before the trunk closed independently. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not contacted. The failure mileage was 1,820.

NHTSA ID
11541217
Incident
Mar 6, 2023
Mileage
1,820 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 5, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

The contact owns a 2023 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH over a speed pump the driver pressed the brake pedal while approaching a stop sign when suddenly the vehicle accelerated forward at a high rate of speed and crashed into a fence and brick wall. During the crash, the driver sustained a fractured nose, head and face lacerations, neck and lumbar pains, and a right arm laceration which required stitches. The front passenger sustained neck, lumbar and chest injuries. Both occupants required immediate medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away and later listed as destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,030.

NHTSA ID
11530395
Incident
Jun 9, 2023
Mileage
1,030 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 16, 2023

Brand new vehicle with less than 1000 miles. Whenever I take an exit from highyway vehicle's rear wheel slips and shakes. It shakes and slips when I change lanes in a curvy highway such as Hardy Toll Road in Houston. Happened several times. I am taking it to the dealer this week to have it checked out. I suspect that a recall may be needed here!

NHTSA ID
11501976
Incident
Jan 15, 2023
Filed Dec 20, 2022

Once the car is programmed to open/close your garage door, the car must be running in order to use this feature. This means that you must start the car BEFORE opening the garage door when you want to pull out and likewise you need to close the garage door before turning off the motor when you pull into the garage. I consider this a safety defect. The garage door should always be open before you start the car and the car should be off before you close the door.

NHTSA ID
11498255
Incident
Dec 5, 2022
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2022

WA15AAFY9P2019936 New Car with ReCall beign sold by the dealer.

NHTSA ID
11494963
Incident
Nov 24, 2022

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_2081573_4

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when DTC B105A1A, B103E25 is stored in 0017; fuel tank level implausible.

TSB_2078648_2

STRUCTURE:BODY

This service information TSB provides warranty coverage information for vehicles with a broken sunroof panel.

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_2073747_4

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides informatoinw hent here are scratches or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles inside of the housing.

TSB_2081573_3

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when DTC B105A1A, B103E25 is stored in 0017; fuel tank level implausible.

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 Q5 Sportback by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025010
2024010
2023Viewing620
2022235048.5
2021000

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.