Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet problems

Owners filed 50 complaints about the 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet with NHTSA between Nov 2009 and Aug 2021. The most-cited component is air bags (29).

Complaints
50
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags29
  2. Engine10
  3. Structure3
  4. Engine and engine cooling2
  5. Visibility2
  6. Electrical system1
  7. Tires1
  8. Fuel/propulsion system1
  9. Power train1
  10. Steering1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
20102
20112
20120
20130
20141
20151
201611
201716
20187
20197
20201
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

29 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS) IN JANUARY OF 2018. HOFFMAN AUDI OF EAST HARTFORD (700 CONNECTICUT BLVD, EAST HARTFORD, CT) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2019Air bagsODI 11172847

Engine

10 reports
“I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASE AND TO START PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL 1QT OF OIL ON EVERY 1000 MILES...NOW FEW MINTS LATER I HAVE TO DO THAT MORE OFTEN ON EVERY 500MILES... AND RECENTLY I HAD TO ADD COOLING AND NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN NEW ISSUE... MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MY CAR AND HE IS SURPRISED AUDI HASN'T DONE A RECALL ON IT. MY CAR IS UNDER 90K AND MAY REQUIRE AN ENGINE CHANGE FOR OVER $3-4K. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2020EngineODI 11361935

Structure

3 reports
“2010 AUDI A5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK AND PISTONS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE CYLINDER WAS BAD AND THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2018StructureODI 11152728

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 Audi A5. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure could be related to the catalytic converter, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that her son inspected the vehicle and discovered that all the fluids were low. The fluids were topped off to the proper level. The warning light disappeared; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated a month later. The contact stated that her son completed a diagnostic test and retrieved a fault code for a defective catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,960.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2021Engine and engine coolingODI 11429505

Visibility

2 reports
“WE HAVE A NEW A5 CONVERTIBLE AND USED IT IN SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. - WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF A LIGHT SNOWFALL THE WIPERS BEGAN TO ICE UP. THE DEFROSTER WAS ON HIGH WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT 80 WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. - WE HAD ZERO VISIBILITY - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. - MY WIFE DROPPED ME OFF AT WORK AND CONTINUED ON A ROAD THAT YOU CANNOT STOP ON TO "CLEAN THE BLADES" AND COULD NOT SEE BUT THROUGH A NARROW 1/2" SLOT IN THE WINDSHIELD!! - I MADE IT TO WORK AND ASKED TWO OF MY EMPLOYEES, ONE WITH AN S5 AND ONE WITH A WAGON AND THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. - MY WIFE, WHO I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR IS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH ANY SNOWFALL. - I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE SINCE THIS IS A VERY STORMY SEASON. *LN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2011VisibilityODI 10379849

Electrical system

1 report
“WHEN THERE IS SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE IN THE AIR THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. AN INTENDED RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL CAUSE THE LEFT SIGNAL TO FIRE INSTEAD, BUT IT WILL ALSO ERRATICALLY FIRE THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. THE ISSUE TENDS TO REDUCE IN FREQUENCY THE LONGER THE CAR IS RUNNING. I READ ON AN AUDI OWNERS FORUM THAT THE BLINKER SWITCH IS AFFECTED BY HIGH MOISTURE AND CAUSES THIS ISSUE IN 2008-2010 MODELS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2019Electrical systemODI 11282356
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.