Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid problems
Owners filed 90 complaints about the 2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid with NHTSA between Jan 2013 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is engine (34).
Complaints
90
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine34
- Steering19
- Electrical system11
- Structure8
- Service brakes6
- Power train6
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Suspension2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Exterior lighting2
- Visibility2
- Air bags1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
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 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
3
5
7
9
10
12
9
3
9
2
6
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
34 reports4 fires
“My audi uses 1 quart of oil every 300 miles. The dealership wants to charge to find the problem. Audi should fix the problem at no charge. I bought the vehicle in February 2023. Was told there were no issues with the car.”
Steering
19 reports1 crash
“When at highway speed, the vehicle veered hard to the left without any driver input, causing the car to cross several lanes of traffic and hit a concrete divider at ~65mph. The driver fractured her back, and one of three children in the car experienced injury. The vehicle was declared a total loss by insurance. The driver (my wife) indicated that a similar incident happened at low speed in a parking lot, but it resolved after shut down and restart of the engine. It is my understanding that the vehicle is currently either at or on the way to a Copart lot.”
Electrical system
11 reports3 fires
“COOLANT PUMP BECAME BLOCKED IN MY 3.0 ENGINE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. THIS MAY BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE 2.0 VEHICLE, FOR WHICH THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 RECALLS. MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED BLOWING FUSES REPEATEDLY (DAILY TO WEEKLY) LAST YEAR AND THE MECHANIC THINKS IT MAY BE A RELATED ISSUE.”
Structure
8 reports
“Took vehicle in for state safety inspection. Found heavy rust on subframe nearly all the way through. Was told if it gets any worse it will not pass inspection next time. Apparently there are plastic rock shields on subframe that trap water causing it to rust. Took it to dealer and they want to charge close to $4000 to replace. This seems like an engineering defect. The vehicle is kept in a garage and doesn’t have any other rust on it.”
Service brakes
6 reports
“CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE THROTTLE OVERRIDE ON VARIOUS VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN REMOVING THE LEFT FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE RIGHT FOOT WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE DELAY CAUSES THE INABILITY TO MERGE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC.”
Power train
6 reports
“VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP ON CITY STREET UNTIL IT REACHES 2500 RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP SAID CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS TOKD WILL NEED NEW ENGINE.VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. ONLY 45000 MILES.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.