NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 8 owner complaints for the 2025 Audi SQ5. Most complaints involve forward collision avoidance (3) and power train (2). The EPA rates it 21–22 mpg combined.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Sportback, SQ5, and SQ5 Sportback vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may have been manufactured incorrectly, and fail to properly restrain occupants during a crash.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“My 2025 Audi SQ5 has experienced a serious and recurring electronic safety system malfunction since it was brand new. I purchased the vehicle with fewer than 10 miles on the odometer, and the problem began the very next day. More than 50% of the time when I start the vehicle, numerous warning lights and error messages appear simultaneously on the dashboard, indicating failures across multiple driver assistance and safety systems. When this happens, the vehicle’s camera-based and sensor-based safety features become unavailable, leaving me without critical driver assistance functions while driving. The malfunction is unpredictable. Occasionally, the vehicle starts normally with no warnings, but more often, multiple systems fail together immediately upon startup. These failures can persist throughout the entire drive. This means I frequently operate the vehicle without the safety features it was designed to provide, increasing the risk of an accident because important collision prevention and driver assistance technologies are unavailable. The issue has persisted since the vehicle was delivered and has not been reliably resolved. I am particularly concerned that…”
“On at least five occasions since we purchased this vehicle brand new in January 2026, the digital transmission system has failed to switch into park and would not switch into park -- producing an error message. To resolve the issue, it required multiple restarts of the car, and there is no clear step to resolve the issue. It feels like luck. We've taken it to the dealership multiple times, they've done digital updates to the car -- which supposedly fixed the problem -- but it continues to recur. We will take it to the dealership again. This is a major safety issue, because the car is susceptible to rolling and movement if it cannot be placed into park (and it's very frustrating).”
“While driving in live traffic, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic and total simultaneous mechanical and electrical system failure. Without warning, the vehicle completely lost engine propulsion, braking assistance, and all dashboard displays. Concurrently, the vehicle suffered a complete blackout of all exterior safety lighting, including the brake lights and the emergency hazard flashers rendering the vehicle completely invisible to surrounding traffic. Prior to this complete shutdown, the vehicle had been brought to an authorized Audi dealership on 3 previous occasions soon after purchase for progressive electronic communication failures and transient dashboard warning lights, which the service department dismissed as false alerts and did software updates to remedy the alert. It is unclear if those really were false alerts or some precursor to this future problem. The total loss of primary propulsion combined with the complete failure of the secondary emergency backup hazard lighting created an immediate, life-threatening traffic hazard to myself, my passengers and those in vehicles and pedestrians around me. The vehicle had to be towed to an authorized Audi…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQ5 Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,500 | 404 |
| SQ5 Sportback Auto (AM-S7), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,500 | 404 |
| SQ5 Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,700 | 427 |
| SQ5 Sportback Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,700 | 427 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are forward collision avoidance (3), power train (2), electrical system (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2025 Audi SQ5 at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).