Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 2 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

2 total · 2 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 18V082000 · Jan 2018

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 16V078000 · Feb 2016

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

16 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
1

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 1
A recent report: ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING CAR, HAD SOME DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WITHIN 24 HOURS. DEALER DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAINS, HEAD, TENSIONERS AND TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR…
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ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING CAR, HAD SOME DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WITHIN 24 HOURS. DEALER DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAINS, HEAD, TENSIONERS AND TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 83000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT CONSHOHOCKEN AUDI SINCE PURCHASE FROM PRESTIGE LEXUS (WITH 7000 MILES). AUDI HAS "OFFERED" AN 75% DISCOUNT ON PARTS BECAUSE I "HAVE BEEN A GOOD CUSTOMER" (EXCEPT THE TURBO WHICH THEY SAY IS NOT A FAULT OF THE ENGINE DEFECT). I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR 25% OF PARTS, ALL TAXES FOR ALL PARTS, AND LABOR. WHEN I CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE TO QUESTION THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT, I WAS WARNED BY THE AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE REP NOT TO CONTINUE TO SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT AUDI OR THEIR OFFER OF 75% WOULD BE TAKEN BACK. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR BUT A SAFETY CONCERN B/C YOU CAN HAVE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND LOSS OF STEERING. AUDI REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE DEFECT AND THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AWARENESS OF THIS POTENTIAL IN 2010. THERE ARE 3 CLASS ACTION SUITS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND INCREASED PUBLIC NOTICE OF AUDI'S LACK OF CONCERN OR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10957522 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
15

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 15
A recent report: TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED THE URGENT RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND FIRST PHONED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HTE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE…
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TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED THE URGENT RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND FIRST PHONED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HTE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE PARTS BUT MORE THAN A WEEK WENT BY AND I DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL. I WENT IN PERSON AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS, I CANNOT ORDER THE PARTS OR SCHEDULE THE URGENT REPAIR AND THAT I SHOULD CALL BACK EVERY COUPLE WEEKS TO SEE IF ANYTHING CAME IN TO MATCH MY MODEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO PLACE AN ORDER OR FOR THEM TO TRACK THE INCOMING PARTS TO NOTIFY ME THAT MY REPAIR CAN BE MADE. THIS IS POOR SERVICE WHEN MY RECALL NOTICE SAYS THAT THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL AND SHOULD BE SCHEDULED IMMEDIATELY. IT SEEMS THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SCHEDULING OF THESE REPAIRS, THE INABILITY TO ORDER THE SPECIFIC PARTS FOR EACH MODEL WHEN THE REPAIR IS REQUESTED IS INCOMPETENT, AND THE INABILITY OF THE DEALERS TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO INFORM OF THE INCOMING RECEIPT OF PARTS AND SCHEDULE THE REPAIRS IS ALSO AN INCOMPETENT METHOD TO ISSUE AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL. RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11084942 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 16 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2016 and 2018, roughly 10 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2010 has 16 complaints on file, more than the 2011 (14). That is the most of the 3 model years of the Audi A5 Cabriolet we cover. Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.