2009 Audi Q5 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Audi Q5, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1648.5%
- Fuel system618.2%
- Engine39.1%
- Suspension26.1%
- Brakes13.0%
- Interior & seats13.0%
- Steering13.0%
- Driver assistance13.0%
- Transmission13.0%
- Electrical13.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was in an accident where I hit a herd of elk. My car was totaled. The airbags did not deploy and they definitely should have. It was hit on the front, and both front sides. There is no way the airbags shouldn’t have deployed.
Front left door pillar is becoming soaked from an apparent water leak possibly coming from the panoramic sunroof or windshield. Regardless it has to be running into the pillar airbag and has to be a safety concern.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP UNDER PASSENGER 'S SEAT AFRAID TO DRIVER IT BECAUSE AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE FUEL CONTINUE TOO LEAK WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY!!
FUEL LEAKING ON RIGHT SIDE JUST UNDER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT ON GROUND WHEN CAR IS RUNNING
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking. There was antifreeze and oil leaking from the vehicle. While driving, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal became stuck, and the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal oil burning odor, fuel, and antifreeze. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The gear shifter button was also stuck. The gear box malfunctioned, and a message to restart vehicle was displayed. Additionally, the tailgate seized while going up and down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where additional oil was added several days. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer where the antifreeze was changed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
ON 7/02/09 MY AUDI Q5 (VIN# [XXX]) WAS PURCHASED FROM, AND SERVICED BY BARRIER AUDI BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON; NOW DOING BUSINESS AS AUDI BELLEVUE A DEALERSHIP OWNED AND OPERATED BY AUTO NATION. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS [TSB] WERE SENT TO SOME AUDI OWNERS ON 12/6/2013 CONCERNING REPAIR AND CLEANING OF THE SECONDARY AIR CONTROL VALVE WITH A WARRANTY EXTENDING THROUGH 07/02/2019. THIS PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY CORRECTED ON 12/27/2013 @44,445 MILES, MY LAST SERVICE WITH BARRIER WAS 09/13/2018 AND AT NO TIME HAD I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD RESURFACE. THE TSB PROVIDES : "THE SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES IS USED TO HEAT UP THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS QUICKLY DURING COLD-START CONDITIONS?. OVER TIME, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING STYLES, CARBON WILL BUILD UP IN THESE SMALL 10MM PORTS AND CAUSE FAULTS IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FOR SECONDARY AIR, BANK1/BANK2 INSUFFICIENT FLOW? SOME MODELS DO HAVE A WARRANTY EXTENSION, WHICH COVERS THE SECONDARY AIR PORT CLEANING UP TO 10 YEAR/110,000 MILES. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR DETAILS. KEEP IN MIND, IF ANY OF THE CONTROL VALVES, COMBI VALVES, OR SUPPLY LINES ARE DAMAGED, OR FAULTY, THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE PORT CLEANING CAN BE PERFORMED." ON 10/01/ 2019, AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS DETECTED ON THE Q5 WITH APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON 10/28/2019 A CLAIM [#190822437]` WAS FILED WITH AUDI USA AND DENIED AS UNTIMELY FILED. AUDI BELLEVUE CARRIED OUT REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE FOR $ 2045.75. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO NOTICE, THE CONTINUED WARRANTY PERIOD SHOULD BE EXTENDED BY AUDI USA AND THE COSTS OF REPAIR REIMBURSED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS ON THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking. There was antifreeze and oil leaking from the vehicle. While driving, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal became stuck, and the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal oil burning odor, fuel, and antifreeze. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The gear shifter button was also stuck. The gear box malfunctioned, and a message to restart vehicle was displayed. Additionally, the tailgate seized while going up and down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where additional oil was added several days. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer where the antifreeze was changed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Cybex Sirona S is marketed as a 360 car seat that rotates and swivels, but when in forward-facing mode for functionality it does not tether. The guidance is to use the load leg to keep the swivel and rotation but then not use the tether. The tether strap is critical for safety and part of CPST guidance. People purchasing this seat are being made to compromise safety for functionality.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED ON SCHEDULE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE CAR SAT IDLE ALL NIGHT, ON THE MORNING THE NEXT DAY, I TRIED TO TO START TO CAR. THERE WAS BIG POP SOUND. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINS AND NOTICED, MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ALTERNATOR FAULT. OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE POWER STEERING BEING COMPLETELY DISABLED. BATTERY STOPPED CHARGING. VERY VERY LUCK THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE. THE CAR WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AS THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. SECONDLY THE BATTERY STOPPED CHARGING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS NO ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAUSES THIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH SERVICE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. VERY CONCERNED IF SUCH ISSUES HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. HOW CAN A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE PLUS COMPLETE MAINTENANCE HAVE SUCH ISSUES. AUDI HAS SO MANY INBUILT SENSORS AND YET THERE WAS NO INDICATION SOMETHING IS WRONG. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking. There was antifreeze and oil leaking from the vehicle. While driving, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal became stuck, and the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal oil burning odor, fuel, and antifreeze. The vehicle was also consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The gear shifter button was also stuck. The gear box malfunctioned, and a message to restart vehicle was displayed. Additionally, the tailgate seized while going up and down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where additional oil was added several days. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer where the antifreeze was changed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI Q5. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DOWN SHIFT FROM 2ND TO FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2900. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/06/09.*J
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED ON SCHEDULE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATIONS ON THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AFTER THE CAR SAT IDLE ALL NIGHT, ON THE MORNING THE NEXT DAY, I TRIED TO TO START TO CAR. THERE WAS BIG POP SOUND. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINS AND NOTICED, MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING ALTERNATOR FAULT. OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE POWER STEERING BEING COMPLETELY DISABLED. BATTERY STOPPED CHARGING. VERY VERY LUCK THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE. THE CAR WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AS THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. SECONDLY THE BATTERY STOPPED CHARGING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE HAS NO ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAUSES THIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH SERVICE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. VERY CONCERNED IF SUCH ISSUES HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. HOW CAN A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE PLUS COMPLETE MAINTENANCE HAVE SUCH ISSUES. AUDI HAS SO MANY INBUILT SENSORS AND YET THERE WAS NO INDICATION SOMETHING IS WRONG. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .