2024 Audi Q5 Driver assistance Problems

The vehicle exhibits multiple, unresolved safety-critical defects across software and mechanical systems that create an unpredictable and dangerous driving environment. Despite multiple repair attempts, the manufacturer has failed to certify the vehicle as safe for operation. 1. Critical ADAS Failures (Forward Collision/Lane Keeping): Automatic Emergency Braking (Pre-Sense): The vehicle suffers from unprompted alerts and phantom braking incidents, creating an immediate risk of rear-end collisions. Lane Keeping Assistance: The system has experienced unexpected steering pull, which could lead to an unprompted lane departure. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): The system consistently fails to detect lead vehicles in 40% to 50% of instances. The most recent failure was documented via timestamped screenshot on May 12, 2026, around 4:07 PM PT. This defect is reproducible and renders the automated safety suite unreliable. 2. Powertrain & Mechanical Defects: Pneumatic Air Leaks: The vehicle exhibits 100% pneumatic air leaks during acceleration. The service center has dismissively characterized a total pneumatic system failure as "normal," which I find technically unacceptable and a sign of neglected mechanical integrity. 3. Electrical & Starting System: Recurring Ignition Failures: The vehicle has experienced multiple failures to start, most recently leaving my child and me stranded for 10 minutes. Safety & Use Impairment: These intermittent failures compromise the vehicle's utility and the safety of my family. Incident History: The first time this occurred, I called Audi Roadside Assistance, but the engine started approximately 30 minutes later; as a result, I do not call roadside assistance now when it happens and instead attempt to restart it repeatedly. Current Status: I am forced to drive the car in a constant dilemma, knowing it might fail at any time and leave me stranded.

NHTSA ID

11737704

Incident

May 12, 2026

21 Dec 2025 11,743 miles Audi Pre-sense slammed on the brakes while waiting to make a left. Pointing downhill slightly. No cars in the way. Turned it off completely. Was on the the Late setting. Will not stay off.

NHTSA ID

11719686

Incident

Dec 21, 2025

Audi has a pre-sense mechanism that cannot be permanently turned off. I have almost been hit three times when the Audi brakes FOR NO REASON at all; people almost rear-end me because the Audi comes to an immediate halt. And there is no reason for the pre-sense to engage when it does go off. They are flukes. I am going to get seriously injured.

NHTSA ID

11705329

Incident

Dec 16, 2025

The vehicle experiences sudden, uncommanded braking on clear roads due to a malfunction in the Audi Pre Sense system. The system falsely detects obstacles and applies the brakes abruptly, creating a safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The issue was reported to Audi Beverly Hills multiple times beginning July 2023, including through the dealer's online service request system. However, the dealer repeatedly failed to document braking concern on repair orders until insistent during latest visit. In one visit (August 7, 2023), the dealer reduced the Pre Sense sensitivity without creating a repair order or performing diagnostics. At other times, service advisors stated the vehicle was 'operating normally' or refused to record the concern unless it could be duplicated during a short test drive. On August 25, 2025, the dealer finally documented my complaint as 'car would brake randomly' and performed an SVM reconfiguration, but the issue persists. The vehicle is currently used rarely for safety.

NHTSA ID

11696618

Incident

Feb 28, 2025

The vehicle experiences sudden, uncommanded braking on clear roads due to a malfunction in the Audi Pre Sense system. The system falsely detects obstacles and applies the brakes abruptly, creating a safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The issue was reported to Audi Beverly Hills multiple times beginning July 2025, including through the dealer’s online service request system. However, the dealer repeatedly failed to document the braking concern on repair orders until I insisted during later visits. In one visit (August 7, 2025), the dealer reduced the Pre Sense sensitivity without creating a repair order or performing diagnostics. At other times, service advisors stated the vehicle was “operating normally” or refused to record the concern unless it could be duplicated during a short test drive. On August 25, 2025, the dealer finally documented my complaint as “car would brake randomly” and performed an SVM reconfiguration, but the issue persists. The vehicle is currently used rarely for saftey.

NHTSA ID

11695720

Incident

Feb 28, 2025

Audi Pre-Sense keeps braking prematurely when there is no car present or in its field of view. The SUV brakes without warning and when trying to make a left turn (happened twice already) or while driving on the highway. When the vehicle brakes without warning there is a chance that another vehicle will drive into the rear of my vehicle or I will lose control due to the unexpected and unwarranted braking action. The problem has been reported and documented my my local Audi dealership repair facility Audi Silver Spring, Maryland. The vehicle has been inspected all three times, they have performed a complete 4 wheel alignment and sensor alignment. They have witnessed and documented the code that the SUV reported, Audi Pre-Sense detected. The dashboard did display Audi Pre-Sense detected all 3 times when the incident occurred. Audi and I both have the documented repair tickets and they are available upon request. Last incident occurred 1400 on 27 September 2025.

NHTSA ID

11690863

Incident

Sep 27, 2025

Audi pre sense has applied the breaks and cause dangerous situations a total of three times. This occurred twice within the first six months I had the car. I made a left turn and the car suddenly stopped in the intersection and applied the brakes with great force that I was jolted quite hard. I brought the car into an Audi dealership and they adjusted the Audi pre sense settings to be less sensitive but the issue happened again recently. The situation was the same where the brakes suddenly were applied while I made a left turn leaving me standing still in an intersection with oncoming traffic headed at me. It is not possible for Audi to completely turn off the pre sense system, the driver would have to do so each time they start the car which isn't realistic. I believe there needs to be a recall. I feel unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11653434

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

Component/System Malfunction: The Audi Pre-Sense system has malfunctioned on multiple occasions. The system is available for inspection upon request. What Happened: On two separate occasions, the Pre-Sense system erroneously activated while making an unprotected left turn at a signal-controlled intersection. In both instances, the left turn signal was activated. After waiting for an oncoming vehicle to pass, I began the left turn. Despite the vehicle having passed, the Pre-Sense system activated, incorrectly perceiving the passing car as a threat. The system abruptly engaged emergency braking, locking the car in place and stalling it in the middle of the intersection. This left my two minor children and me stranded in oncoming traffic, creating an immediate and severe safety hazard. On a separate occasion, while driving straight in a lane with no intention of turning, the Pre-Sense system activated again. This time, the vehicle next to me slowed to make a left turn in its lane, which triggered my car's system to abruptly stop and stall in traffic. Risk to Safety: These malfunctions placed my family and other road users in immediate danger of a collision. In the left-turn incidents, the car stalled in the middle of an intersection with oncoming traffic approaching. In the straight-driving incident, the sudden stop created a risk of being rear-ended in traffic. Attempts to Resolve: After the first two incidents, I brought the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. A full diagnostic test was conducted, and I was told the Pre-Sense system was functioning "properly" with no repairs needed. Dealership staff admitted they had experienced similar Pre-Sense malfunctions in their own vehicles but dismissed the issue. I was advised to ensure my left turn signal was activated, despite already confirming the signal was on during both incidents. Warning Lamps or Symptoms: There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem before the failures occurred.

NHTSA ID

11638003

Incident

Jan 19, 2025

While starting a left turn from the center left turn lane the car abruptly and forcefully applied the brakes and placed itself in park. There was a single vehicle in the oncoming lane of traffic but it was a more than sufficient distance away to allow the turn to be completed safely. We had not yet left our own lane and there was no risk of collision as a result of the incident. There was no warning from the vehicle prior to the event taking place and after the incident took place a Pre Sense warning was displayed on the dash. We were quite disoriented after the incident and it was several seconds before we realized what had happened. My passenger complained of not feeling well after the incident and still does not feel well several hours after it took place. The vehicle has not been taken for any inspection at this time. We found the option to disable Pre Sense in the Audi MMI settings and have since driven the car with the feature disabled, but it has to be disabled every time the car is restarted.

NHTSA ID

11614657

Incident

Sep 14, 2024

In addition to our complaint #11608543, filed on 8/14/2024, we are submitting a new and different safety concern today. While driving our new 2024 Audi Q5 with the adaptive cruise control set at the speed zone limit (55 mph), the cruise control adjusted itself down to 20 mph. The adjustment from 55 to 20 is sudden and extremely abrupt with some braking being applied. NO advanced warnings or discernible causes for the speed reductions were observed. If another driver had been following us, we likely would have experienced a rear end collision. We have experienced this malfunction on [XXX], east of Carroll, IA, and 1 to 1-1/2 miles north of [XXX], traveling in both the north direction and south direction. We have visited with the dealer numerous times. The dealership has hooked the vehicle to a diagnostic device and has reported to us that "the vehicle is performing as intended". We have submitted a claim with national Audi customer service representatives and they ruled that "if the dealer says that it is performing as intended", they have to deny our claim. Initially they offered "a gift" in compensation to us. We vigorously refused and stated that our goal was to have the vehicle fixed so it works properly or to have it retired from service before someone gets injured. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11613068

Incident

Sep 5, 2024

We were driving on [XXX] at the posted speed limit of 65 mph. The adaptive cruise control was activated and the predictive control turned on. We drove past a [XXX] sign and the car abruptly decreased speed down to the twenties. Had another car been following us, we could have been rear-ended. We soon encountered a speed sign posting a 65 mph limit and the car quickly accelerated to that speed. We felt totally unsafe in this surprise car behavior. This car behavior has happened on numerous occasions, as we travel that area often. We have had numerous discussions with the Audi dealership and they say that they cannot find cause/offer help with our safety issue. We have several videos documenting this safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11608543

Incident

Apr 4, 2024