Is the 2018 Audi Q5 a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Q5 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Audi Q5 are in line with other Q5 years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Q5 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 31,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 74 (35%) | 6k–75k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 33 (16%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 25 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 22 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 22 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 19 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 31,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 209 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 4 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
27 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2018 Audi Q5: 6
A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown. A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle. The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach. The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The brake master cylinder casting may be too short. A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.
The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly. In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Audi: 948
Repair instructions Audi sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Audi Q5. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Infomration when basic settings are not possible after repair; DTC P17F900 stored in the TCM
When DTCs P00B700, P011600, or P268100 is stored; engine temperature too high
Informatin when there is binding or vibrations in tight turns with quattro Ultra
When DTC U140A00 Terminal 30 is stored in the ECM
Neighbouring years
2017 Q5: 42 complaints, keep it · 2019 Q5: 53 complaints, keep it.
Every Audi Q5 year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Q5 years side by side
Other Audi models: Audi A3 · Audi A3 Cabriolet · Audi A4 · Audi A4 Allroad · Audi A5 · Audi A6 · Audi A8 · Audi Q3 · Audi Q7 · Audi Q8 · Audi S4 · Audi TT · Audi e-tron. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Audi Q5 a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Q5 years. At 31,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi Q5?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (74), engine (33), suspension (25), body structure (22), brakes (22).
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi Q5 have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 21V-947), Body structure (NHTSA 19V-737), Wheels (NHTSA 19V-416), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-277) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.