repaired · 2020 Q1
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking.
2011 Audi Q5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 143 owner complaints about the 2011 Audi Q5, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-078 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 25, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Audi Q5 has problems
143 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
67Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
42Engine2 crash/fire/injury
25Fuel/propulsion system
12Power train1 crash/fire/injury
8Electrical system
7Fuel system, gasoline
4Suspension
3Visibility/wiper
3Service brakes
159 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 67 | 3 |
| Engine | 42 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 0 |
| Power train | 12 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 7 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 |
| 9 other systems | 15 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2011 Audi Q5 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Air bags: side/window
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. 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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Audi.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
9 owners mentioned a cost$7,000median
Middle half: $5,810 – $10,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Q5 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Q5 median. How we score
'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Audi Q5 safety ratings
2011 Audi Q5 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Q5 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
WELL FIRST IT WAS THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, BUT THE ONE I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT IS THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND ALSO THE FUEL PUMP WIRING WHICH WAS ALSO REMOVED FROM OUR VEHICLE, AND WE'RE LIKE TWO ABOUT HOW IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. ANYWAY I'VE ALREADY PUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI OF HONOLULU (888 KAPIOLANI BLVD, HONOLULU, HI 96813, [PHONE]) WAS…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AUDI ROCHESTER (LOCATED AT 3955 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, [PHONE]) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER…
Own a 2011 Q5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.