RoadVitals

2013 Audi Q5 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
8
Latest Jul 30, 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.
9%
of 89 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 vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Audi Q5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 body or structure

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

Body & structure
Filed Jul 30, 2025

Took vehicle in for state safety inspection. Found heavy rust on subframe nearly all the way through. Was told if it gets any worse it will not pass inspection next time. Apparently there are plastic rock shields on subframe that trap water causing it to rust. Took it to dealer and they want to charge close to $4000 to replace. This seems like an engineering defect. The vehicle is kept in a garage and doesn’t have any other rust on it.

NHTSA ID
11677300
Incident
Feb 17, 2025
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Oct 15, 2024

The rear subframe has plastic "stone guards" to protect the frame from being damaged in off-road conditions. Where these stone guards are attached, the subframe has rotted/rusted large holes. Water and salt from winter seasons can get trapped behind these guards. A subframe on a vehicle at this age should NOT have complete holes rotted through. Let alone a vehicle brand such as Audi, known for quality. The rear subframe connects the rear suspension and AWD drivetrain to the unibody of the vehicle. This is a major safety concern. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer; my Audi dealer denied this could happen. I am part of a few Audi groups/forums with others facing the same issues, and Audi replacing the subframe under the corrosion warranty. This is a widespread issue amongst the forums. There are no warnings or symptoms as of yet. I noticed the holes 3/17/24. The vehicle has been somewhat sufficient to operate. I just don't want to be traveling down the road with my family in the vehicle if the subframe collapses. I am afraid to fully remove the stone guards as others on the forums claimed that Audi would do nothing for them after removing the guards. Being that they are "protection".

NHTSA ID
11619831
Incident
Mar 17, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2016

PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE 5-6 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. IT'S NOISIER DURING THE WINTER THAN DURING THE SUMMER. NOISE IS HEARD ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 50 MPH ON SMOOTH OR BUMPY ROAD MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ID
10894109
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2016

FRONT BUMPER PAINT PEALING OFF. HAD THE BUMPER REPLACED JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND PAINT IS ALREADY PEALING OFF THE NEW BUMPER. AUDI REFUSES TO REPLACE BUMPER AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S PAST THE WARRANTY. CAN'T EVEN WASH THE CAR WITHOUT MORE PAINT PEALING OFF.

NHTSA ID
10894105
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 5, 2015

CHRONIC SUNROOF RATTLING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, PANORAMIC SUNROOF RATTLES CONSISTENTLY WHILE CLOSED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT IS UNAWARE OF A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID
10808597
Incident
Sep 30, 2015
Mileage
26,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER ACCESSING THE POWER LIFTGATE, THE DOOR WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE ABRUPTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID
10544119
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
2,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVERY TIME THE ROOF WAS CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515158
Incident
Jan 2, 2013
Mileage
1,500 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Apr 16, 2013

WE HAVE KEY LESS ENTRY CAR. MY WIFE PUT MY SON IN CAR SEAT, PUT HER PURSE WITH KEYS AND CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO ENTER FROM FRONT DOOR THE CAR WAS LOCK, MY SON GOT LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR, EVEN WHEN THE KEY WERE INSIDE. CALLED THE AUDI CUSTOMER CARE, THEY SAID WHEN THE KEYS ARE INSIDE THE CAR IT, NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508456
Incident
Apr 15, 2013
Mileage
7,000 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 .