Problems · NHTSA complaints
2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback problems
Owners filed 14 complaints about the 2021 Audi SQ5 Sportback with NHTSA between Apr 2021 and Nov 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (5).
Complaints
14
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system5
- Engine5
- Power train3
- Forward collision avoidance2
- Service brakes1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Back over prevention1
- Air bags1
- Seat belts1
- Exterior lighting1
- Steering1
- 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 Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
1
0
0
4
5
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
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
Electrical system
5 reports
“Whenever driving around town or long distance whilst getting to a red light without a car in front or anything and coming to a stop the car beeps and the front parking sensors go off whilst there is nothing up front.”
Engine
5 reports
“I noticed my car started to lose coolant, I checked my water pump and I saw there was a leak on of the hoses. Once I discovered that I also heard a tapping noise coming from the engine. I took it to my local Audi shop, and they discovered that my pistons were going bad. They told me I qualified for the extended piston skirt warranty for my car. While my car was in the shop they replaced all 6 of my pistons. When they told me my car was ready for pick up I picked up my call, drove it for 20 miles and my car started to make a louder tapping noise from the engine bay. I took it back to the dealership the following day they told me they were going to look into it to figure out the problem. Couple weeks go by and I finally get a phone call saying that they can’t do nothing that my car is making that noise due to “outside influence “ I am frustrated because I just had got the car barley drove it around and they are pointing the finger to as if I had to do something with the noise. They said everything now has to be be paid out of pocket. It has been a frustrating experience. Also when they did the whole brake down one of the techs noticed that the front calibers did…”
Power train
3 reports
“While driving at normal operational speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, un-commanded, and catastrophic loss of motive power while navigating a live traffic intersection. The transmission completely disengaged all gears without warning, rendering the vehicle entirely stationary and immobilized in the path of oncoming traffic. This failure created an immediate, severe safety hazard, exposing the occupants to a high risk of a side-impact or rear-end collision due to the inability to clear the intersection under the vehicle's own power. The vehicle had to be flatbedded to an authorized dealer (Audi - Glenwood Springs). The professional diagnostic evaluation confirmed an internal failure of the transmission assembly and Transmission Control Module (TCM) / Mechatronic unit, requiring a total replacement of the powertrain assembly. The failure occurred at 59,000 miles.”
Forward collision avoidance
2 reports
“The pre-sense and/or automatic emergency braking function comes on unnecessarily at least once a week. It will occur when I am driving on the highway and the car thinks there is something in front of me and then the seatbelt will tighten out of nowhere. This is a significant safety risk as it is terrifying and is not being triggered for any legitimate reason. It is so abrupt when it happens that it makes me jump while driving. The worst thing that has happened is yesterday I was going down a ramp toward a parking garage. Out of no where for no legitimate reason while on the beginning of the decline of the ramp, the car automatically applied the e-brake very violently. I was whiplashed forward, felt my neck crack, and then hit my head on the visor quite hard. Today, I have a bruise on my forehead and am not sure whether I had a mild concussion from the incident. It was more violent than when I have been rear-ended in the past. There were no walls, cars, people, ceiling, or objects anywhere near the car to cause this to happen. The pre-sense is a defect and a significant safety risk that can and has caused injury to me.”
Service brakes
1 report
Fuel/propulsion system
1 report
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.