Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi A5, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine8
- Unknown or other8
- Electrical system4
- Structure4
- Service brakes4
- Power train3
- Air bags3
- Visibility/wiper3
- Suspension2
- Steering2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 12 2018 A5 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2018 Audi A5 failed the safety check 0.97% of the time — 41% less often than the average 2018 passenger car (1.65%). Median odometer at inspection: 40,832 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2018
14,918 new Audi A5 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2018; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (9,715), Spain (2,352), Germany (1,720).
- Average mass
- 1,583 kg
- Average CO₂
- 151 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 142 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 55% · Diesel 44%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2018 Audi A5 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (140 kW, 188 hp) and 2.0 hybrid (185 kW, 248 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 21 |
| 2.0 hybrid | 185 kW 248 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
76 first registered in 2018 are on Dutch roads; 45% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €62,965.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde24
- Band onvoldoende profiel18
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm10
- Drager/bevestigingsmiddel van remvoering raakt trommel/schij9
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld7
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht6
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd6
- Roestschade veerschotel4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
8,886 cars built in 2018 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 245 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 11,593 of these cars first registered in 2018 took their annual MOT test. 87% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2018 the figure was 84%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.3% | 5.2% |
| Suspension | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Brakes | 1.8% | 2.9% |
| Visibility | 1.3% | 3.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 0.9% | 4.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.6% | 1.0% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
14 of these cars first registered in 2018 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 83,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
90 2018 cars are on the New Zealand register; 47% arrived as used imports, 52% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Audi A5 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2018 Audi A5 C AWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 8.7 L/100 km (about 27 mpg US), CO₂ 203–204 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5 quattro · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| A5 quattro · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 9.9 | 7.1 | 8.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 Audi A5.
| 2021688 10 Nov 2021 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front… |
| 2019361 24 Jul 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front… |
| 2017520 26 Oct 2017 | Other On certain vehicles, the aluminum trim on the front and rear door speaker covers could come loose. If this were to occur, the loosened trim may bend away from t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2018 Audi A5: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011305 | This bulletin provides information when the camera for the Driver Assist Systems is coded incorrectly. |
| 11011303 | This bulletin provides information when the anti-theft alarm activates for no reason, or when the anti-theft alarm does not activate. |
| 11011296 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011274 | This bulletin provides information when the restricted function icon for Audi Pre sense is displayed after engine starts. |
| 11011270 | This bulletin provides informatoin when Audi pre sense restricted message appears in the instrument cluster, no DTCs. |
| 11011263 | This bulletin provides information regarding cleaning exterior glass. |
| 11011257 | This bulletin provides information when creaking noises are heard when body twists during braking or steering maneuvers. |
| 11011252 | This bulletin provides information for when there are noises after selecting a gear at idlijng speed when the vehicle is stationary; noises when driving in different gears. |
| 11011251 | This bulletin provides informatino when there is droning/vibrations in tight bends - 0CL gearbox. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11009983 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11009941 | This bulletin provides diagnostic information regarding the locking system. |
| 11009936 | This bulletin provides informatin when there is binding or vibrations in tight turns with quattro Ultra. |
| 11009928 | This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds. |
| 11009380 | This bulletin provides information about the Audi pre sense warning, warning jolt and/or brake engagement. |
| 11009375 | This bulletin provides information pertaining to the GFF test plan required for A/C compressore replacements, regardless of the concern. |
| 11009372 | This bulletin provides informaiton when the exterior black optic trim is discolored. |
| 11009365 | This bulletin provides information when there is visible corrosion at the joint between the roof and roof side member. |
| 11009363 | This bulletin provides informatin when there is a squeaking noise from the rubber boot of the intermediate steering shaft. |
| 11009362 | This bulletin provides information when there is a prompt to take over steering; hands off detection. |
| 11009361 | This bulletin provides information regarding steering wheel visual damage. |
| 11009356 | This bulletin provides informaion regarding zirconium inserts in the bake piston for vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes. |
| 11009354 | This bulletin provides information on frequency analysis. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)