Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Audi Q5 problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2009 Audi Q5 with NHTSA between Oct 2009 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (16).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags16
  2. Fuel/propulsion system5
  3. Engine2
  4. Suspension2
  5. Structure1
  6. Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)1
  7. Service brakes, air1
  8. Engine and engine cooling1
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Fuel system, gasoline1
  11. Steering1
  12. Electrical system1
  13. Power train1
  14. Other / unknown2

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 Nov 6, 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
20100
20110
20120
20130
20142
20152
20165
20176
20184
20192
20203
20211
20222
20232
20240
20250
20261

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

16 reports2 crashes4 related recalls
“I was in an accident where I hit a herd of elk. My car was totaled. The airbags did not deploy and they definitely should have. It was hit on the front, and both front sides. There is no way the airbags shouldn’t have deployed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11507755

Fuel/propulsion system

5 reports
“FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP UNDER PASSENGER 'S SEAT AFRAID TO DRIVER IT BECAUSE AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE FUEL CONTINUE TOO LEAK WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2020Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11375670

Engine

2 reports
“ON 7/02/09 MY AUDI Q5 (VIN# [XXX]) WAS PURCHASED FROM, AND SERVICED BY BARRIER AUDI BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON; NOW DOING BUSINESS AS AUDI BELLEVUE A DEALERSHIP OWNED AND OPERATED BY AUTO NATION. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS [TSB] WERE SENT TO SOME AUDI OWNERS ON 12/6/2013 CONCERNING REPAIR AND CLEANING OF THE SECONDARY AIR CONTROL VALVE WITH A WARRANTY EXTENDING THROUGH 07/02/2019. THIS PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY CORRECTED ON 12/27/2013 @44,445 MILES, MY LAST SERVICE WITH BARRIER WAS 09/13/2018 AND AT NO TIME HAD I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD RESURFACE. THE TSB PROVIDES : "THE SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES IS USED TO HEAT UP THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS QUICKLY DURING COLD-START CONDITIONS?. OVER TIME, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING STYLES, CARBON WILL BUILD UP IN THESE SMALL 10MM PORTS AND CAUSE FAULTS IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FOR SECONDARY AIR, BANK1/BANK2 INSUFFICIENT FLOW? SOME MODELS DO HAVE A WARRANTY EXTENSION, WHICH COVERS THE SECONDARY AIR PORT CLEANING UP TO 10 YEAR/110,000 MILES. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR DETAILS. KEEP IN MIND, IF ANY OF THE CONTROL VALVES, COMBI VALVES, OR SUPPLY LINES ARE DAMAGED, OR FAULTY, THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2019EngineODI 11291459

Suspension

2 reports
“FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS ON THE ROAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2017SuspensionODI 10972360

Structure

1 report
“I am reporting a potentially serious safety defect involving the rear subframe/crossmember of my 2009 Audi Q5. I discovered significant corrosion on the vehicle's rear subframe, which is a structural component supporting the rear suspension and rear axle assembly. The corrosion is substantially more than normal superficial surface rust. There is visible rust scaling and loss of material in areas of the rear subframe. The affected area was partially concealed by the factory-installed plastic stone guards/shields. Because these plastic covers obscure the subframe, the extent of the corrosion is difficult to identify during a normal visual inspection unless the covers are removed. I am concerned that continued corrosion could reduce the structural integrity of the rear subframe and potentially compromise the mounting points for the rear suspension or rear axle components. A structural failure of the rear subframe could result in unexpected changes in wheel alignment, suspension movement, loss of vehicle control, or other serious safety consequences. This issue is particularly concerning because the corrosion can develop underneath the plastic protective covers and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2026StructureODI 11763236

Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)

1 report
“Cybex Sirona S is marketed as a 360 car seat that rotates and swivels, but when in forward-facing mode for functionality it does not tether. The guidance is to use the load leg to keep the swivel and rotation but then not use the tether. The tether strap is critical for safety and part of CPST guidance. People purchasing this seat are being made to compromise safety for functionality.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2023Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)ODI 11545067
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026

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