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

14 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 other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND…
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MY 2011 AUDI A5 2.0T HAS EXPERIENCED LOW COMPRESSION ON PISTON NUMBER 1 WHICH IS A SIGN OF ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE REDONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHECKED WITH AUDI MECHANICS AND ONLINE REVIEWS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY MODEL OF AUDI HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE FACT THAT MANY A5'S HAVE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURES BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHY AUDI HAS NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE AND WHY THE ENGINES WERE ALLOWED TO BE RELEASED THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY SUB OPTIMAL AND WEAK!

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11112964 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
12

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 12
A recent report: TAKATA RECALL. AUDI OF AMERICA INC. KEEPS SENDING OUT RECALL NOTICES AND THE DEALER KEEPS CLAIMING THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AVAILABLE. ENOUGH ALREADY, EITHER MAKE REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE OR…
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TAKATA RECALL. AUDI OF AMERICA INC. KEEPS SENDING OUT RECALL NOTICES AND THE DEALER KEEPS CLAIMING THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AVAILABLE. ENOUGH ALREADY, EITHER MAKE REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE OR STOP SENDING NOTICES.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11078916 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW…
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THE SOFT TOPS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DEFECTIVE.I AQUIRED MY VEHICLE AT 65000 MILES AND THE TOP WOULD ACT FUNNY EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT IT WOULD SNAP OUT OF IT AND WORK FINE.THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TOP AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE.GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI I WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT FIX THIS BUT INSTEAD TO GET A NEW TOP.AFTER I PAID FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THE TECHNICIAN DIDNT HAVE A CLUE.THAT WINDOW AND TOP HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI DOESNT WANT TO OWN UP TO.I DRIVE THE FREEWAY TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY.AT HIGH SPEEDS I FEAR THAT THING WILL COME OUT AND HURT SOMEONE ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY SOON.I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE LAST YEAR AND HAVE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION BESIDES "GET A NEW TOP".

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11131789 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 14 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2016 and 2018, roughly 7 a year, which is fewer 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 2011 has 14 complaints on file, fewer than the 2010 (16) and the same as the 2012 (14). Of the 3 model years of the Audi A5 Cabriolet we cover, the 2010 has the most (16). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.