2013 Audi S5 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 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
- Powertrain (other)1052.6%
- Engine315.8%
- Steering315.8%
- Fuel system210.5%
- Driver assistance15.3%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
NHTSA Safety Complaint DraftVehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2013 Audi S5 Premium Plus CoupeVIN: [XXX]: Power Train / Transmission (7-Speed Dual-Clutch S-Tronic / DSG)Description of Safety Defect:I am writing to report a severe, recurring safety defect regarding the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in my 2013 Audi S5. The vehicle is experiencing catastrophic transmission issues, including sudden power loss, violent juddering, erratic shifting, and abruptly entering "limp mode" without warning.This issue presents an immediate and severe safety hazard. When the transmission abruptly loses power or forces the vehicle into limp mode while driving at highway speeds, it leaves the driver completely unable to accelerate or safely keep pace with surrounding traffic. This sudden, unpredictable loss of propulsion significantly increases the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I had a very pricey service performed on my vehicle and during that service they said there was a service bulletin or recall that required a software upgrade for the transmission (Audi of El Paso, TX). Once that occurred, my transmission would shift very hard especially going from 1st to 2nd gear or downshifting from 2nd to 1st gear. My service advisor told me that my vehicle had to learn again and that it would smooth out in time. It never has. My vehicle with only 79,000 miles on it should certainly not be having any transmission issues, especially since they were non-existent until the software upgrade was applied. I have researched the issue and have found that it is a common and widely known issue in Audis with similar electronic transmissions. I was able to find well over a hundred Audi owners who documented the same issues. Due to this update my vehicle showed simultaneous warning for a TPMS failure and gearbox failure.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it’s hard to be in the car it’s a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A PARTICULAR PLANT OR PROVIDER. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE 'LOSS OF LIFE' AS IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC. I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN METRO ATLANTA GA, WITH OUR FAST PACE TRAFFIC, ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $15K. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPED TO A $60-$75 HIGH-END VEHICLE. HAVE VIDEO'S OF THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ERROR AND CAN UPLOAD TO YOU. I WAS OFFERED 15% ON THE REPAIR, WHICH IS REALLY AN INSULT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND ITS NOT HARD TO FIND OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. I PRAY FOR SOME RELIEF IN THE FORM OF A RECALL. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINE 2010, FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITH EITHER WATER INFILTRATION INTO THE CONTROLLER, OR WITH SEVERE COLD WEATHER. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY AUDI USA BY THEY ARE REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IN MN IN THE MONTH OF 2/2019 3 AUDI DEALERS EACH TOLD ME THAT THEY EACH REPLACED 20+ STEERING RACKS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE CAUSE THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING TO FAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE ALL POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING YOUR POWER STEERING TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SERVICE ADVISER I WORKED WITH AT ONE OF THE AUDI DEALERS SAID THIS PERSONALLY HAPPENED TO HIM ON 2 DIFFERENT CARS HE OWNED. THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN EVERY AUDI FORUM ON THE WEB.
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS RESISTANCE AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION IN THE STEERING. THIS RESISTANCE CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED AS THE 'NOTCH' FEELING IN THEN ELECTRIC STEERING TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it’s hard to be in the car it’s a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GREEN AUDI (3881 WABASH AVE, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62711) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V019000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,618.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MANY AUDIS WITH THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM ARE HAVING AN ISSUE THAT PRESENT A ERROR, " MECHATRONIC FAILURE TPMS GEARBOX MALFUNCTION). IT OFTEN EITHER NOT DRIVABLE, EVEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVES AT A SNAIL'S PACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT TRAFFIC. AUDI CORPORATE SAID A RECALL IS ONLY DONE WHEN THE NHTSA FEEL THAT'S IT A ISSUE THAT CAN CALLS SAFETY &/OR DEATH. THIS SEEM TO EFFECT, FROM MY RESEARCH, 2010 - 2014 AUDI S4, S5 AND A5 MODEL [N THE USA AND THERE ARE SOME EUROPE COMPLAINTS, WHICH I HAVE FOUND AS WELL] MANUFACTORED AT A PARTICULAR PLANT OR PROVIDER. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE 'LOSS OF LIFE' AS IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC. I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN METRO ATLANTA GA, WITH OUR FAST PACE TRAFFIC, ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $15K. THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPED TO A $60-$75 HIGH-END VEHICLE. HAVE VIDEO'S OF THE DASHBOARD WITH THE ERROR AND CAN UPLOAD TO YOU. I WAS OFFERED 15% ON THE REPAIR, WHICH IS REALLY AN INSULT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND ITS NOT HARD TO FIND OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. I PRAY FOR SOME RELIEF IN THE FORM OF A RECALL. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINE 2010, FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .