RoadVitals

2014 Audi Q5 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
9
Latest Jul 2, 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 105 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Audi Q5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 electrical

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2025

Invoice from mechanic states my water pump failed along with other engine components which led to a domino effect of system failures and leaks with potential to cause fire. Similar recalls have been issued for 2014 Audi Q5s

NHTSA ID
11670746
Incident
Jun 24, 2025
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 4, 2025

It has been very cold here in the North East. Under freezing for more than a month. My door lock sensors stopped working about 4-5 weeks ago. Two days ago I was driving and the power steering stopped working. Then after about 2 days it began working again. Just as the temps went above freezing. And the door lock sensors started working again. I had noticed over the last month or so that papers I had behind the front seat when I went to retrieve them were very wet, soaked. I took my car to my mechanic today and he told me that the computer is under the front seat. And water in this area may be causing the failure of the power steering and the door locks. So he said I should report it to you and you could possibly help.

NHTSA ID
11646161
Incident
Mar 2, 2025
Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 2024
Fire reported

On 12/1, around 7:20am my fiancé and I were getting ready to leave for work; there was frost on the car so my fiancé went out to start it and turn on the defrosters. After starting the car, he turned on the heater and front and rear defrosters, he then went inside to retrieve some items we needed to load into the car. He was inside for about 5 minutes before coming out to see smoke emanating from right side of the trunk, which quickly turned into a small fire, whose point of origin was the rear fuse compartment. He ran inside to grab water to try and put it out, but due to how quickly it was spreading, as well as the fact that it was electrical nature, the water only served to temporary diminish but not extinguish the flames. We then used an ABC rated fire extinguisher from our kitchen, which did suppress and extinguish the fire. The vehicle still started, and we were able to drive it from our driveway to the side of our home, however, with the risk of it igniting again or creating any other failures, in addition to the guidance provided by our insurance company and Audi Corporate, we had the vehicle towed to an Audi dealership for further investigation. There was no indication prior to this that would lead us to believe the car would catch fire. We consider ourselves to be lucky that we were not driving as we would have no way to extinguish the fire on the side of the road. Since this incident, an investigation was done by Audi corporate. It was determined that there was corrosion within the right trunk compartment caused by water at some point which caused a short considering the body module and fuses are located there. However, Audi claims no responsibility in the water getting into the trunk or any manufacturing defects. Upon our own research though, we’ve seen many reports of Q models have sunroofs draining into the interior. The car has since been totaled by insurance due to repair estimates nearing $29,000 and taken to Copart auction.

NHTSA ID
11563997
Incident
Dec 1, 2023
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 6, 2021

WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN SUDDENLY SHE WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY STEER. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE AUDI SQ5, BUT NOT THE Q5. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, MULTIPLE AUDI Q5 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11415388
Incident
Apr 28, 2021
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 6, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I APPROACH A CITY INTERSECTION AT THE FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT AND HAD NO BRAKES, STEERING, OR ACCELERATOR CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I FLEW THROUGH THE INSPECTION HITTING THE CURB AND LAUNCHING MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 50' OF DISTANCE OVER A DRAINAGE DITCH SLAMMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE SPEED WAS AT LEAST 40-50MPH AT THAT MOMENT, MAYBE FASTER SINCE THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED BUT WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STEER. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED AND AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE FRAME LITERALLY SHATTERED ON IMPACT. I SUSTAINED SERIOUS TRAUMA TO MY FACE AND BACK AND ANKLES.

NHTSA ID
11343683
Incident
Jul 19, 2020
Mileage
59,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 23, 2018

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AUDI AND HAD IT PARTIALLY FIXED. THEY STATED THERE WERE TWO PARTS TO THIS PHASE. I COMPLETED PHASE 1; HOWEVER, THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED BECAUSE PHASE 2 HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED BY AUDI TO THE DEALERSHIPS YET. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAPPEN LATE THIS WINTER. THE PROBLEM I FACE IS THAT I HAVE TO SHIP MY POV TO GERMANY FOR A MILITARY ASSIGNMENT THERE. I NEED TO HAVE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE IN ORDER TO DO SO. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11142182
Incident
Oct 19, 2018
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 24, 2018

AUDI DEALERSHIP KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO OPEN TIME FOR APPOINTMENT ON MONDAYS; THE ONLY DAY I HAVE OFF AT WORK. I CAN ONLY TAKE THE VEHICLE ON A MONDAY.

NHTSA ID
11130881
Incident
Sep 3, 2018
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 29, 2018

I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD TODAY THAT AUDI PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL, THEIR NUMBER 19M1, FOR THESE CARS INCLUDING MY CAR (2.0T ENGINE) TO REPROGRAM THE AUXILIARY COOLANT PUMP TO PREVENT FIRES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR MAINTAINED BY AUDI, AND HAVE HAD OTHER RECALLS PERFORMED BEFORE AND AFTER THIS PERIOD, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE FROM AUDI. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE RECALLS THAT ARE APPARENTLY NOT BEING SENT OUT. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS RECALL MENTIONED BY ANY DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS THERE FOR OTHER PURPOSES, EITHER. AUDI HAS ISSUED A NEW SECOND RECALL STATING THAT THE ENTIRE PUMP WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR HEELS, CLAIMING IT WILL BE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS (2019) BEFORE THEY HAVE ANY IDEA OF A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. SIX MONTHS TO ACT ON A FIRE DANGER IS ARGUABLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
11104767
Incident
Jun 27, 2018
Mileage
16,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 17, 2018

DRL (DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS) BURN OUT PREMATURELY.

NHTSA ID
11063274
Incident
Dec 15, 2017

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 .