2013 Audi Q5 Steering Problems

When at highway speed, the vehicle veered hard to the left without any driver input, causing the car to cross several lanes of traffic and hit a concrete divider at ~65mph. The driver fractured her back, and one of three children in the car experienced injury. The vehicle was declared a total loss by insurance. The driver (my wife) indicated that a similar incident happened at low speed in a parking lot, but it resolved after shut down and restart of the engine. It is my understanding that the vehicle is currently either at or on the way to a Copart lot.

NHTSA ID

11641442

Incident

Feb 2, 2025

Driving and warning light came on “steering defective do not drive.” Power steering and use of wheel went out, and wheel would not turn or move in the middle of driving down the street.

NHTSA ID

11493317

Incident

Nov 12, 2022

2013 AUDI Q5 PREMIUM PLUS. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL , IT ACTS WEIRD AND FEELS DIFFERENT THAN USUAL. IT FEELS SOFTER AND THEN STIFF DURING THE SAME MANEUVER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND TURNING ON A DIFFERENT CITY STREET , AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 40 MPH . THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 86 K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11255793

Incident

Sep 15, 2019

Mileage

86,000 mi

NOTCHY STEERING WHEN DRIVING. NOTICEABLE DURING BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, HOWEVER IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE DURING SMALL TURNS SUCH AS CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. OCCURS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. ISSUE IS ONGOING AND CAN BE DANGEROUS AS NOTCHINESS CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED OVER STEERING. NOT SURE IF I SHOULD ADD THIS BUT THIS IS A WIDE ISSUE ACROSS MY SEARCHES. I INCLUDED JUST ONE OF MY FORUMS FOUND RELATING TO MY ISSUE BELOW: HTTPS://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/690756-NOTCHY-STEERING

NHTSA ID

11192121

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET AND THE RED LIGHT CAME ON. " STEERING DEFECTIVE! DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE!" AT THAT MOMENT THE STEERING WAS DISABLED. IT WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THANK GOD I WAS ON A LOW SPEED LIMIT STREET. I GOT VERY SCARED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11113570

Incident

Jul 24, 2018

Mileage

55,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE MESSAGE "DO NOT DRIVE" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAY CATENA AUDI OF FREEHOLD (3561 U.S. 9, FREEHOLD, NJ 07728, (732) 810-8000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD WATER DAMAGE AND THE CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11099810

Incident

May 27, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11091935

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND SEIZED. THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (AUDI VALENCIA, 23923 CREEKSIDE RD, VALENCIA, CA 91355, 661-888-1453) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK MODULE AND THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER (SAMANTHA AT 1-800-822-2834, EXT 43358) WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 180034706. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11062462

Incident

Jan 9, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED

NHTSA ID

11061644

Incident

Jan 9, 2018

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI Q5. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BROOKLYN AUDI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR AND STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V452000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

NHTSA ID

11005955

Incident

Jun 27, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

NOTCHINESS, FRICTION WHILE ROTATING STEERING WHEEL WITHIN FEW DEGREES FROM 12'O CLOCK POSITION EITHER SIDE. PROBLEM PERSISTED DESPITE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. ANOTHER ISSUE WAS WHISTLING SOUND FROM SIDE MIRROR. AT TIMES PARTICULARLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, IT GET SO PRONOUNCED AS IF A "FLY" IS BUZZING NEXT TO THE DRIVERS EAR. I COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP AND AUDI ON 09/14/2013. SINCE THEN I'M DRIVING LOANER. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO RETURN CAR ON 09/17/13, NONE OF THE ISSUES WERE FIXED. I RETURNED CAR TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I COMPLAINED AGAIN TO AUDI OF USA. NOW, I AM TOLD THAT SIDE MIRRORS ARE REPLACED AND FIXED. HOWEVER, NOTCHINESS/FRICTION IN STEERING WHEEL STILL PERSIST. THERE IS NOTHING AUDI CAN DO TO FIX THIS. DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING ME TO ACCEPT MY CAR. HOWEVER, I AM RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT DUE TO CONCERN OF POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10545446

Incident

Aug 16, 2013

Mileage

6,000 mi

FREQUENTLY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON STRAIGHT HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL DRIFT TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE MUST BE CONTINUALLY CORRECTED THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN A LANE. AT TIMES A "NOTCH" FEEL APPEARS AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE WHEEL THAT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION WITHOUT CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. ON SEVERAL OCCURRENCES THE WHEEL JERKED TO CENTER UNCONTROLLED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON WILL RESET THE ISSUE AND THE OCCURRENCES ARE RANDOM. IT IS VERY ANNOYING BECAUSE THE DRIVER DOES NOT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2013 AUDI Q5 THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...AUDI INSTALLED A NEW ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING SYSTEM IN THE 2013 Q5 AND APPARENTLY THIS IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY TO DETERMINE IF THE STEERING IS SAFE !!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10509971

Incident

Mar 7, 2013

Mileage

250 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 30-70MPH, REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS, ANY ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT PATH IS MET WITH A SEVER NOTCH AT THE 12'OCLOCK STEERING POSITION MAKING IT DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN SAID STRAIGHT PATH...REPORTING THIS TO THE DEALER HAS RESULTED IN THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM, TAKING MY INFORMATION AND STATING THEY WILL CONTACT ME AS SOON AS AUDI HAS A PERMANENT FIX (AND IF I DO NOT HEAR BACK FROM THEM WITHIN 30 DAYS TO REACH BACK OUT TO THEM). *TR

NHTSA ID

10503726

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

1,500 mi

ON A FREQUENT BASIS WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON STRAIGHT, NON-CROWNED PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE WILL DRIFT TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE MUST BE CONTINUALLY CORRECTED THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN A LANE. AT TIME A "NOTCH" FEEL APPEARS AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE WHEEL THAT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION WITHOUT CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. ON TWO OCCURRENCES THE WHEEL JERKED TO CENTER UNCONTROLLED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON WILL RESET THE ISSUE AND THE OCCURRENCES ARE RANDOM BUT FREQUENT. IF AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE A VEHICLE WAS OCCUPYING THE ADJOINING LANE AN ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR. ON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT APPEAR IN NUMEROUS FORUMS AFFECTING AUDI 2013 MODELS WITH NEW ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING SYSTEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503217

Incident

Mar 12, 2013

Mileage

3,420 mi

STEERING HAS A NOTCHINES TO IT. DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. FEELS LIKE A GEAR WOULD WHEN MISSING A TOOTH. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT SEEM SPEED DEPENDANT.OTHERS HAVE REPORTED DEFECTIVE STEERING RACKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501368

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

5,100 mi

WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, THERE APPEARS TO BE A NOTICEABLE NOTCH IN THE STEERING. THE WHEEL WILL HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO STRAY FROM THIS NOTCH AS IF ROLLING OFF A BUMP. IT IS NOT ALWAYS AS NOTICEABLE. AT IT'S WORST IT FEELS AWKWARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE TRAVELING STRAIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501365

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi

THERE IS A NOTCHINESS FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND MAKES THE CAR HARD TO KEEP STRAIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500833

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

STEERING IS VERY IMPRECISE AND HAS A NOTCHINESS EFFECT. WHEN I'M GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY STRAIGHT, I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING IT STRAIGHT. IT FEELS UNSAFE WHEN I'M GOING ON A CURVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL MAY SHIFT. CONFIRMED BY DEALERSHIP NOTHING IS WRONG WITH STEERING AND ALIGNMENT, BUT STEERING OF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495057

Incident

Jan 7, 2013

Mileage

5,100 mi