RoadVitals

2010 Audi S5 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
20
Latest Jul 21, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Audi S5, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags728.0%
  • Engine416.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Brakes14.0%
  • Driver assistance14.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

A "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION" INTERMITTENTLY OCCURS, LEAVING THE CAR IN A "NON-MOVING" STATE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS, AN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE FROM A DEAD STOP WILL MOVE THE VEHICLE ONLY ENOUGH TO GET YOU INTO TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY GET BROADSIDED OR REAR-ENDED. THE CAR SIMPLY "STOPS MOVING" RIGHT WHEN YOU NEED IT TO MOVE IN ORDER TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. IT WILL NOT MOVE BUT REMAINS RUNNING AND IN GEAR. I'VE SPENT OVER $3000 DOLLARS TO FIX THE ISSUE (REPLACED MECHATRONIC UNIT AND BATTERY) BUT THE ERROR STILL OCCURS. THE CAR IS EFFECTIVELY USELESS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS SEEN WITH ANY SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THE ISSUE WILL STOP, ONLY TO REAPPEAR AGAIN RANDOMLY AT ANOTHER INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID 10993527 · filed Jun 6, 2017

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO PULL OVER ALMOST HITTING UPCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO ACCELERATION. AUDI SAYS IT'S A MECHATRONIC UNIT.

NHTSA ID 10992350 · filed May 30, 2017
All 10 reports naming powertrain (other)

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CANNOT GET AUDI TO REPLACE AIRBAG. HAVE WAITED OVER A YEAR. CALLED DOZENS OF TIMES.

NHTSA ID 11160532 · filed Dec 10, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI FREMONT, 43191 BOSCELL RD, FREMONT, CA 94538) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID 11099048 · filed May 31, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE OVERHEATED AUGUST 21, 2017. IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO DAY AUDI MONROEVILLE, PA. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT AN AUDI THERMOSTAT RECALL WAS JUST ISSUED. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR $999.71 AND WAS PROMISED BY AUDI CUSTOMER CARE THAT I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2017, I WAS ADVISED THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE THERMOSTAT RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL HAS TO BE ISSUED BY THE NHTSA. THEREFORE I RECEIVED AN EMPTY PROMISE FROM AUDI THAT I WOULD BE REIMBURSED.

NHTSA ID 11030093 · filed Sep 27, 2017

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT 10785783; AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE HISTORY IT REVEALED THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE INITIAL COMPLAINT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST AS WELL AND THIS CLEARLY INDICATES COMMON AND REOCCURRING MANUFACTURING ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VAG: 1) THE TRANSMISSION 0B5 DL501 HAD BEEN ALREADY SERVICED FOR MECHATRONICS ISSUES AT 58.273 MILES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS ALSO USED ON SIMILAR AND MORE COMMON MODELS: A4,S4, A7...IN THE PAST VW HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR DSG TRANSMISSION BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THESE MODELS ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD. 2) THE THERMOSTAT HAD ALSO FAILED BEFORE AT 22.415 MILES...ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME PART NUMBER IT DIDN'T COVER THIS SPECIFIC MODEL. A TECHNICIAN ACTUALLY SAID THEY ARE KNOW TO FAIL. 3) FOR THE BRAKES AUDI SAYS IT IS SOMEHOW "NORMAL"

NHTSA ID 10789693 · filed Nov 10, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2010 Audi S5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. Upon a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the aftermarket TRQ High-Pressure Fuel Pump (FPA-63379) exploded, covering the contact in hot gasoline. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ID 11675086 · filed Jul 21, 2025

CAR STARTED OF GOING ON LIMP MODE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN IT STARTED TO GET MORE FREQUENT. LIMP MODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO PUT YOUR CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING ME NOT HAVE A FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO PULL OVER. AS SOON AS I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT ON THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMAL AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT WILL GO OFF ON LIMP MODE INTO THE NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. RIGHT AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD START HAVING STARTING UP PROBLEMS SO I HAD TO PAY MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THE ECU REPLACED AND THE FUEL REGULATOR REPLACED AS WELL. AS OF DECEMBER 2016 I STARTED HAVING NEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT LIMP MODE HAS AFFECTED MY WHOLE CAR AND IT HAS TO BE FIXED. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I TOOK IT TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE LIMP MODE WAS RELATED TO THE TRIPTRONIC MODULE THAT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS A $5,000 FIX. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT PUTTING THE CAR INTO SPORT MODE WOULD MAKE IT LESS LIKELY TO GET ITSELF INTO LIMP MODE THAN DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY BUT EVEN THOUGH DRIVING THE CAR INTO SPORT MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL STILL GET ITSELF INTO LIMP MODE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO PULL OVER THE CAR. I ALMOST GOT HIT ONCE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES WHILE THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10940030 · filed Jan 5, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1) THE MAIN SAFETY CONCERN IS THE 7 SPEED DSG/S-TRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH FEELS JERKY WHEN REACHING TO A STOP; THE BREAKS FULLY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE TRIES A SUDDEN MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THIS. VARIOUS TPI'S RELATED TO THE PROBLEM (TPI 2023830/1 JERK WHEN STOPPING, HARD 2-1 SHIFT, S-TRONIC). AUDI DEALERSHIPS ARE ASKING FOR ABOUT 500$ JUST TO UPGRADE THE SOFTWARE ON THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT A GUARANTEE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN SHIFTING FROM N TO D IT IS VERY SUDDEN AND FORCEFUL WHICH FEELS UNSAFE. 2) BRAKE SAFETY CONCERN: THE BREAK PEDAL SINKS SLOWLY TO THE FLOOR UNDER PRESSURE ALTHOUGH THE BREAKS WERE COMPLETELY SERVICED (NEW ROTORS, PADS, MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID). TESTED OTHER AUDI VEHICLES AND A SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WAS NOTICED. 3) I HAD ALSO A FAILED THERMOSTAT WHICH I FOUND TO BE UNDER WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN 19H3 2024932/1 THAT INDICATED SAME PART NUMBER FOR THE THERMOSTAT TO FAIL BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN DID NOT INCLUDING MY CAR'S VIN. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IN THE CAR AND THEY WILL FIX IT FOR FREE BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WHY DOES IT MATTER IF THE CAMPAIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE A CERTAIN VIN WHEN THE SAME PART NUMBER WAS INVOLVED IN THE FAILURE. AS A FINAL NOTE I FIND OUTRAGEOUS THE FACT THAT AUDI REFUSES TO PROVIDE FREE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO FIX DESIGN ISSUES RELATED TO THE GEARBOX AND INSTEAD CHARGE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT FOR FIXING SAFETY ISSUE ON THEIR VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID 10785783 · filed Oct 24, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR STARTED OF GOING ON LIMP MODE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN IT STARTED TO GET MORE FREQUENT. LIMP MODE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO PUT YOUR CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING ME NOT HAVE A FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO PULL OVER. AS SOON AS I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT ON THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMAL AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT WILL GO OFF ON LIMP MODE INTO THE NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. RIGHT AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD START HAVING STARTING UP PROBLEMS SO I HAD TO PAY MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THE ECU REPLACED AND THE FUEL REGULATOR REPLACED AS WELL. AS OF DECEMBER 2016 I STARTED HAVING NEW PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT LIMP MODE HAS AFFECTED MY WHOLE CAR AND IT HAS TO BE FIXED. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I TOOK IT TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE LIMP MODE WAS RELATED TO THE TRIPTRONIC MODULE THAT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS A $5,000 FIX. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT PUTTING THE CAR INTO SPORT MODE WOULD MAKE IT LESS LIKELY TO GET ITSELF INTO LIMP MODE THAN DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY BUT EVEN THOUGH DRIVING THE CAR INTO SPORT MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL STILL GET ITSELF INTO LIMP MODE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO PULL OVER THE CAR. I ALMOST GOT HIT ONCE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES WHILE THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10940030 · filed Jan 5, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .