Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi S5, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine9
- Unknown or other8
- Air bags3
- Visibility/wiper3
- Electrical system2
- Power train2
- Seat belts2
- Parking brake2
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2018 S5 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 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 S5 failed the safety check 1.36% of the time — 18% less often than the average 2018 passenger car (1.65%). Median odometer at inspection: 39,218 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2018
3,034 new Audi S5 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2018; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (2,473), Germany (416), Spain (31).
- Average mass
- 1,731 kg
- Average CO₂
- 175 g/km (NEDC)
- Average power
- 260 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
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
In the United Kingdom
2,225 cars built in 2018 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 42 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
In New Zealand
63 2018 cars are on the New Zealand register; 24% arrived as used imports, 76% 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 S5 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2018 Audi S5 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 1 variant: combined 9.9 L/100 km (about 24 mpg US), CO₂ 232 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 11.5 | 8.0 | 9.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 Audi S5.
| 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… |
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.
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 S5: 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. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11011239 | This bulletin advises that fuel additives are not permitted. |
| 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. |
| 11009927 | This bulletin provides information when oil is lost from the filler cap. |
| 11009920 | This bulletin states that the use of fuel additives is not permitted. |
| 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)