2018 Audi A5
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 9 of 37 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Visibility & Lighting include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 0 in 2017 to 37 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,000–3,250 | 3,000–3,250 | 2,850 | 2,850 | 2,850–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–26 | 24–26 | 27 | 27 | 26–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–22 / 29–32 | 21–23 / 29–32 | 24 / 33–34 | 23 / 34 | 23–24 / 31–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 343–372 | 338–372 | 327 | 328 | 329–337 | |
| Complaints filed | 7 | 0 | 37 | 12 | 60 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A5 have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Audi A5?
Engine: 9 of 37 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi A5 get?
EPA rates it 27 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Audi A5?
EPA estimates $2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 327 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 327 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 327 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 327 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
SEATS; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 21V874000 · Nov 12, 2021
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 19V547000 · Jul 24, 2019
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
SUSPENSION:FRONT · Campaign 18V893000 · Dec 20, 2018
Defect: Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
Consequence: A loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40O2.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 18V836000 · Nov 29, 2018
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 17V822000 · Dec 22, 2017
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69T7.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · Campaign 17V675000 · Oct 26, 2017
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Consequence: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.