Research · complaint index
Audi Q5 years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 14 model years of the Audi Q5 by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2018, 2021 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 7 | 1.0 | 4 | 0 | Typical |
| 2021 | 103 | 17 | 2.6 | 8 | 2 | Most complaints |
| 2020 | 37 | 5 | 0.8 | 6 | 3 | Typical |
| 2019 | 53 | 7 | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | Typical |
| 2018 | 209 | 23 | 3.5 | 6 | 10 | Most complaints |
| 2017 | 42 | 4 | 0.6 | 5 | 3 | Typical |
| 2016 | 78 | 7 | 1.1 | 5 | 10 | Typical |
| 2015 | 100 | 8 | 1.3 | 6 | 3 | Typical |
| 2014 | 106 | 8 | 1.2 | 5 | 5 | Typical |
| 2013 | 92 | 7 | 1.0 | 5 | 1 | Typical |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2011 | 143 | 9 | 1.3 | 5 | 4 | Typical |
| 2010 | 100 | 6 | 0.9 | 4 | 2 | Typical |
| 2009 | 31 | 2 | 0.3 | 6 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
- 202420 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2021103 complaints · 8 recallsMost complaints
- 202037 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 201953 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2018209 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 201742 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 201678 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2015100 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2014106 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 201392 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 20124 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 2011143 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2010100 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 200931 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 6, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2012, 2009.
About this comparison
What Audi Q5 years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2018, 2021 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 14 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.