Audi S5 years to avoid (and the best years)
108 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls across 6 model years, 2010 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 108complaints
- 8recalls
- 2reported crashes
- 0reported fires
- 2reported injuries
Which Audi S5 years should you avoid?
No Audi S5 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Audi S5 year has 18 complaints on file.
What are the best Audi S5 years?
The Audi S5 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2012 (10), 2013 (16) and 2010 (20). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 0.6× | 2 | 0 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2020 | 25 | 1.4× | 4 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 26 | 1.4× | 2 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2013 | 16 | 0.9× | 0 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2012 | 10 | 0.6× | 1 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2010 | 20 | 1.1× | 0 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 56 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment29 (52%)
- Engine & powertrain15 (27%)
- Airbags & seat belts7 (12%)
- Steering, suspension & tires3 (5%)
- Brakes2 (4%)
Recalls (8)
Seat belts · 25V899000 · Dec 2025 · model year 2025
An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
Seat belts · 25V638000 · Sep 2025 · model year 2025
In a crash, a damaged torsion bar in a retractor could fail. If this happens, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Tires · 22V034000 · Jan 2022 · model year 2020
Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 21V874000 · Nov 2021 · model years 2018, 2020
A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Suspension · 21V295000 · Apr 2021 · model year 2020
A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 20V737000 · Nov 2020 · model year 2020
Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 19V547000 · Jul 2019 · model year 2018
A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fuel system · 15V019000 · Jan 2015 · model year 2012
A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.