2018 Audi Q5 Engine Problems

My 2018 Audi Q5 experienced significant water intrusion due to a failure of the panoramic sunroof drain system. Water entered the vehicle interior and traveled down into the electrical compartment, submerging the comfort module and damaging multiple wiring harnesses. This caused the vehicle to become inoperable and unable to start. Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin 2075969/2 describing this exact defect. The bulletin states that the sunroof drain hoses can be kinked during factory installation of the headliner, which blocks drainage and causes water to enter the vehicle. This is a manufacturing defect affecting multiple model years of the Audi Q5. In my case, the water intrusion caused electrical failure, loss of vehicle function, and required thousands of dollars in repairs. Audi declined to cover the defect and stated the vehicle was not maintained on schedule, even though maintenance has no relationship to kinked or improperly routed sunroof drains. This defect poses a safety risk because water intrusion into electrical components can cause sudden vehicle failure, electrical shorts, corrosion, and loss of critical systems. The failure occurred without warning. I am reporting this because the issue appears to be widespread, documented by Audi, and has the potential to disable vehicles unexpectedly.

NHTSA ID

11751123

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

I was driving home from the farmers market with my two young kids. I was turning left at a busy intersection when the engine died and an engine warning flashed on the dash (I don't recall the exact message; it sounded catastrophic). There were no "check engine" or any other warning messages prior to the incident. I was able to restart the car immediately and give it a lot of gas to get out of the intersection - thank goodness - but didn't feel it was safe to drive the full 1 mile home, as there are several inopportune locations for an engine to die along the route, so I parked it in a residential neighborhood and walked home with my kids. My instinct there seems correct as it would not start again thereafter. I got it towed on the Monday and the mechanic called me to tell me that a piston had broken off in the engine and there is complete engine failure. I've attached a photo he took. This is a car we've had for 5 months with only 47,000 miles on it, regular service according to Carfax, and full/clean oil. No error messages or warnings prior. It was really scary to be in a busy intersection with a dead engine and young kids in the car.

NHTSA ID

11733919

Incident

Apr 18, 2026

Vehicle: 2018 Audi Q5 Prestige Mileage: Approximately 34,000 miles On December 14, 2024, while driving at normal road speeds, my vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed multiple warning messages, including drivetrain and system malfunction alerts. The vehicle became unstable and unsafe to operate while I was in traffic, forcing me to carefully maneuver off the roadway. This occurred without any prior warning or abnormal engine behavior, it was just so sudden. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealership the following day. After inspection, the dealership diagnosed a catastrophic internal engine failure, identifying a cracked/chipped valve in cylinder 3. The dealership technicians and service staff stated that this type of failure is extremely rare on a vehicle with such low mileage and normal maintenance history. They also indicated that they had not encountered this type of valve failure on a similarly maintained Audi vehicle at this mileage. There was no evidence of carbon buildup or abuse, and no external contributing factors were identified. The failure resulted in sudden engine malfunction and loss of drivability while the vehicle was in motion, creating a significant safety risk. The dealership recommended replacing the engine cylinder head, with an estimated repair cost approximately $9,100. The dealership could not confirm whether debris from the damaged valve remained in the engine or whether the repair would fully mitigate future safety risks. I am submitting this complaint due to concerns that this failure represents a potential manufacturing or materials defect that can lead to sudden engine malfunction or loss of power while driving, posing a safety hazard to vehicle occupants and other road users.

NHTSA ID

11705757

Incident

Dec 14, 2025

BCM

NHTSA ID

11676529

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

My vehicle spontaneously began displaying emergency signals including engine malfunction, turn signal malfunction, parking brake malfunction, brake light malfunction. I would also turn the car completely off and brake lights would remain on asymetrically. Also, the related alert bells would go off intermittently. I have kept my car in good repair and on a regular maintanence schedule. I took the car first to my mechanic who evaluated and said I should take to the Audi dealership. After two days of diagnosis, they came back that the sunroof drains were clogged with debris which definitively caused water to enter and soak the "comfort module" After irrigating them, they did not find any damage and said they do not need replacement. However, the water soaked and heavily corroded the comfort module and say the entire module needs to be replaced along with a rebuild of the harness. They are quoting me $12,300. My safety was at risk in the malfunction of the engine system, and especially signalling capabilities and possible brake impact. The problem has been confirmed by two mechanics - mine and Audi I searched online and have discovered a number of other 2018 Audi Q5 owner accounts of the same and similar defect and result. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11666620

Incident

May 23, 2025

Fuel pump has been recalled on other models but not mine. I have a 2018 audi q5. It had a warranty extension but the previous owner never claimed but if it would have been a recall then I wouldnt be having this problem . Now I have to replace the water pump and pay almost $2k for something that wasn't a recall.

NHTSA ID

11660676

Incident

May 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally with the message "Engine Fault Detected" displayed. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle stalled and was unable to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the connecting rod bearings, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11650481

Incident

Mar 25, 2025

Mileage

49,000 mi

I have owned the car for 2 years, purchased a 2018 Q5 from an Audi dealer. Within the first year, my thermostat failed causing the car to lose power and turn off while driving with my newborn baby. I also received the passenger airbag alert daily, which I did see there was a recall for this prior to buying the car. I also received the “add a quart of oil” message about 3 months after an oil change. I would like this car to be reviewed for excessive oil consumption. At the times of these messages no oil leak was found. Now, my car went in for an oil change and an oil and transmission oil leak has been found. Within 2 years of owning a car that has had regular maintenance, I have spent over $6,000 on service and repairs, which is unusual. I need help.

NHTSA ID

11648525

Incident

Mar 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle had dealt with a loss of automotive power. A warning message "Shut off Engine, Check Cooling" had appeared in the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the engine temperate gauge had risen. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a cracked coolant line. The vehicle was repaired twice however, the failure had occurred. The vehicle was taken to another local independent mechanic for a second opinion where the vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however the failure occurred twice again. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11640878

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

Mileage

170,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The message "Shut off Engine, Check Cooling" was displayed on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the engine temperate gauge was elevated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a cracked coolant line. The vehicle was repaired twice however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another local independent mechanic for a second opinion and the vehicle was diagnosed and repaired; however, the failure reoccurred twice. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11640813

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

Mileage

170,000 mi

My truck was part of a recall regarding my water pump and coolant leaking. I went for service at the Naperville Audi dealership and they basically gave me the run around and didn’t honor the recall lied and said they replaced my thermostat and never did. I had my car towed twice on 10/22 basically left stranded. Audi corporate advised them to fix my car due to the recall and they failed to do so.

NHTSA ID

11621556

Incident

Oct 22, 2024

The comfort control module in the trunk of the car was sitting in water due to an ingress of water coming in the car. The car would not start due to this water ingress and could have shut off completely on the freeway or while driving. This caused my car to completely shut off and malfunction. There were no warning lamps or messages of the problem. I found out about the problem by taking the car to the Audi dealership. They originally thought the problem was the gateway module which has already been recalled due to the same problem of an ingress of water. The Audi dealership has claimed that the ingress of water is from a clogged drain pipe in the sunroof. They said there is nothing you can do to prevent this from happening.

NHTSA ID

11614106

Incident

Aug 19, 2024

The engine mounts on my car began to fail around the 55k, this causes the engine to shift while driving which can not only permanently damage the engine but also cause the car to malfunction and could cause a serious accident. This definitely puts the safety of myself as the driver and others on the road at risk. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center, and there are many other Audis with the 2.0 engine that have this same issue ranging as low as 25k miles that I have seen. No warnings or messages, car had began shaking when pressing on accelerator and when shifted in to reverse and braking, making it unstable on the road.

NHTSA ID

11604599

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Motor mounts leaking, car at only 45K miles Audi dealer indicates fix will be ~$3,200 Many posts online (AudiWorld discussion forums, etc.) - many drivers encountering issue at even fewer mileage Concerning that there was no warning on vehicle

NHTSA ID

11603266

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

Car was left outside for two weeks while we were gone on a trip. When we returned and attempted to start the car numerous warning lights went off related to turn signals, tail lights, engine ignition, key recognition, etc. We were able to drive the car home but the turn signals and tail lights were malfunctioning and the engine would lose power unexpectedly. Upon researching on AudiWorld Forums I came to learn I should check to see if there was any moisture in certain areas, including the rear fuse box area at the rear of the car. I checked that location and found many inches of water in the fusebox!!! I learned that MANY, MANY people with q5s have had the same problem which is RAINWATER ENTERING THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DUE TO NON-OPERABLE SUNROOF DRAIN PORTS. Yes, I searched and found an unrelated recall 90s9 but the dealer said this was not the issue, the issue is non-operable sunroof drains and the repair cost is $8,000. Having no idea of the danger I was placing my family in by driving this vehicle while its electrical system was swamped with water, I feel a class action lawsuit should be brought against the company for damages for material, labor, as well as the risk of injury or death I placed my wife and I in by driving this vehicle under such unsafe conditions. I noted there was a suit settled for this issue with other models, but not the 2018 q5. [XXX] V Audi/Volkswagon [XXX] . The idea that someone should have to face death for leaving their car in the rain does not even pass the laugh test. Someone in Audi's risk management department needs to address this and make owners whole again. Please advise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11603086

Incident

Jul 10, 2024

On May 3, 2024, while driving to work, the vehicle acutely started to make a loud clicking noise in the engine compartment. I parked the vehicle and looked for a warning light indicator on the dashboard to determine the problem, but no indicator light emerged. I then called Audi Omaha and spoke with the Service Manager who kindly arranged to have my vehicle picked up and a loaner dropped off. I did ask at that time whether it was safe to have somebody drive my vehicle to Audi given the severity of the noise and I was told that since there was not a warning light on the dashboard, it would be ok. I later discovered that my vehicle stalled on the way to Audi Omaha and required a tow. On May 6, 2024, I received a report of the problem and the estimate for repairs. It was explained that the head of a spark plug had broken off into the engine causing the piston to make contact with the valve in cylinder 3 resulting in engine damage which was beyond repair. Additionally, a second spark plug had been misfiring for several days. The estimate to replace the engine: $9,282.03. To my surprise, the multi-point vehicle inspection report I received on the same day reported that everything (aside from rear brake pad wear) passed inspection – including the engine and spark plugs! On May 7, 2024, I called Audi Omaha to express my concern that an entire engine would need replaced on a 6-year old luxury vehicle with only 60,000 miles and spark plugs that were replaced at 40,000 miles prior to my purchase of the vehicle. Even more concerning is that no warning light indictor ever displayed on the dashboard (despite being informed that the vehicles computer system had detected changes in the engine compartment 2-days prior to this event). Because of these glaring safety concerns, this issue was escalated to the Audi central region division who declined to provide assistance despite the faulty spark plug and the malfunction of the warning indicator light.

NHTSA ID

11588755

Incident

May 3, 2024

The engine stopped working at 72,000 Miles. After the fact, I have read several complaints of the engine blowing well under 100,000 miles. Audi does NOT give warranties on engines after 50,000 miles...how convenient! In addition, Insurance will not cover this. I have read several complaints about engines blowing just after 50,000 miles. To have the 2018 Audi Q5 engine repaired with the new engine is $11,000 plus the labor $3,000-$4,000. Unfortunately, I still owe $19,000 to the bank! Bankruptcy is looming and I have had near-perfect credit my entire life.

NHTSA ID

11573936

Incident

Feb 9, 2024

Motor mount leaking hydraulic fluid

NHTSA ID

11569822

Incident

Jan 29, 2024

Thermostat failed causing the engine to overheat causing veh to unable to reach required rpm’s.

NHTSA ID

11566660

Incident

Oct 27, 2023

Audi engine start system malfunction continues to go off on the dash and the majority of the exterior lighting has gone into a malfunction as well. The left rear fuse panel in the luggage compartment has moisture in it and on the wires.

NHTSA ID

11541835

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

On 8/8/2023 my vehicle was outside in the driveway of our home in Truro, MA. A large storm moved through the area with torrential rain and lightning. Once the rain let up I looked out the window to find all 4 windows down 4-6 inches, the rear hatch was opened with the rear wiper and high middle brake light on. When I ran outside to close the windows etc. I could not start the car the MMI did not come on and I could only get 3 of the windows up. I had to manually close the rear hatch. I put a tarp over the drivers side window that wouldn't close and had AAA come out. They assessed that it was not a battery issue bit an electrical module issue. I filed a claim with my Insurance and after waiting for the adjuster to look at the car I had AAA tow it to an Audi Dealership. They ran a diagnostic test on it and found water had caused the Comfort Module and associated wiring to fail. The estimate to fix the issues was is nearly $12,000. Because of the cost my insurance company is sending another adjuster out to inspect the issues at the dealership. There were no prior issues or symptoms before this issue took place.

NHTSA ID

11540351

Incident

Aug 8, 2023

My 2018 AUDI Q5 had the 5-year/50,000 mile factory recommended service in August 2022, the vehicle only hadwith 42,000 Miles and everything was perfect as it was the last year of the five year service extended contract. In July 2023 I was told the engine mounts needed to be replaced. Both mounts and vehicle has 53,000 miles. Basically mounts cannot the engine and transmission in place .This recommendation was done as part of the 60,000 mile recommended factory service based on my Google research. Many Audis have disorder failure which is which can be catastrophic because there are no warning lights for the engine mount failure when the car auto stops and starts it shakes. This has hung always been a standard, but annoying feature of the car, which cannot be turned off for emission purposes. Clearly the engine mounts cannot handle the auto start/stop of the vehicle. That’s why it’s failing for so many vehicles. It is frustrating given that the car is a $54,000 car and at 53,000 miles I run the risk of the engine falling on the ground , this information is widely available on the Internet easily accessible on Google. I ask that you please look into it. thank you for your time always . What is bizarre is that now when I accelerate hard, I can feel a little vibration of the engine before I didn’t but that’s something I cannot explain at the moment. The dealer that sold me the car brand new is the only dealership that has ever touched my car, and my car was always serviced as recommended once a year

NHTSA ID

11532248

Incident

Jul 12, 2023

The check engine light came on so I stopped at the nearest auto repair shop and the codes came back that the thermostat was sticking partially closed and the water pump was leaking.

NHTSA ID

11531417

Incident

Jun 28, 2023

THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THIS VEHICLE WATERPUMP FAILED TWICE WHICH I HAD TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE GIVES WARNING SIGN’DRIVE SYSTEM MALFUCTION’ CODES DIRECTING TO TURBO CHARGER BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE WASTEGATE THATS THE ISSUE-WHICH I HAD REPLACED AFTER THROWING A NEW TURBO. THIS VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH THERMOSTAT WHICH I HAD REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE PAYED ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET AND UNTIL TODAY THERE IS NO RECALL.SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS MATTER ANY INFORMATION NEEDED FROM ME OR MY MECHANIC I CAN BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL -: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11529667

Incident

May 16, 2023

My 2018 Audi Q5 has a water intrusion issue with control module damage. The vehicle reduce speed to 15 mph on the highway, when parked the lights would not shut off. The vehicle would then not turn on. Thirty minutes later the vehicle started. I received a front passenger seatbelt malfunction and several controls went out. The passenger seatbelt would not recognize there was a passenger buckled in the seat. The lights stayed on. The windshield wipers started on their own. The car wouldn’t recognize the key fob. Later the turn signal malfunctioned, along with the front lights staying on but the rear light and license plate light would not come on. At the dealership they found water in the comfort module housing, left rear quarter panel/wheelbase and said it was probably caused by the pressure vent seal allowing water to enter damaging the comfort module and 56 wires. They stated the vehicle was unsafe and inoperable. They also were not able to roll the windows back up or lock and secure my vehicle. The issues with the vehicle speed occurred 5 weeks ago. The dealership changed the thermostat but the speed reduction happened again afterwards once but when it was turned off and turned back on the speed went back to normal. Then today the vehicle just went crazy with things turning on and other controls not working, like the taillights. Multiple times I have told the dealership of the seatbelt malfunction. They said it was probably the seat detecting something on the seat, like a bag but couldn’t account for the malfunction when the seat was occupied. The vehicle is now at the dealership with plastic taped around the opened windows and unsecured since the locking controls will not work. They suggested I file a claim with my insurance for the repair. This screams defect to me!

NHTSA ID

11518157

Incident

Apr 20, 2023