Most common 2019 Audi Q5 problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi Q5 complaints by model year
Best Q5 years: 2020, 2017, 2019. Years to avoid: 2025, 2018, 2023, 2021, 2012. Compare all years →
2019 Audi Q5 recalls (5)
Structure › Body
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022.
Structure › Body
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019.
Wheels › Hub
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
What 2019 Audi Q5 owners say
Electrical system
After driving on deep wet icy slush, the vehicle was on a straight section of road and suddenly vehicle inexplicably veered hard to the left causing it to run off the road and into a tree. Electrical component failure lights were illuminated on dash afterwards. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I believe that the stability control systems and or drive train suddenly changed. I believe this might be due to water ingress and failure of gateway module. This is available upon request. Car is in shop How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? sudden loss of steering control in icy conditions Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? not yet. Current recall Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? …
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stopped and jerked, and the RED master warning light illuminated, and the message "Electrical Control Module" failure was displayed. On other occasions, while driving at undisclosed speeds, the turn signals and brake lights failed to operate as intended, and the message "Faulty Brake Light" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there was water trapped in the clogged sunroof drain, and the water leaked, and the control module was covered in water. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Engine & cooling
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Summary: The turbocharger on my 2019 Audi Q5 failed prematurely. The initial check engine light and loss of performance began at approximately 48,000 miles, which is within Audi's 4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty. The condition progressively worsened and the vehicle became difficult to drive safely in traffic due to reduced power and hesitation during acceleration. The turbocharger ultimately required complete replacement at 50,334 miles at a cost of $ 2511.20 This appears to be a premature failure of a major engine component. A sudden loss of power while merging or crossing intersections creates a safety concern. The vehicle has been properly maintained, is completely stock, and has never been modified. No warning was provided prior to the check engine light and rapid performance degradation. …
I have a 2019 Audi Q5 with under 24k miles over the past 4 years of new vehicle ownership. There have been 5+ instances where I am driving under normal conditions and suddenly the vehicle jerks abruptly, slows down to half the original speed (from 65 mph on freeway to 30 mph), gear shifting becomes irregular and the following indicators appear on the dashboard: 1) check engine light, 2) vehicle repair required 3) warning icon w/ triangle around and exclamation point. "Drive system malfunction" note appears on screen. Ignition cycling may temporarily remove the warning indicator lights, however the same exact issue happens once I'm back on the road - sometimes only driving at 20 mph through residential streets. I have taken the vehicle into Audi service centers for immediate repair after each incident, only to have this become a recurring issue. …
Steering
After driving on deep wet icy slush, the vehicle was on a straight section of road and suddenly vehicle inexplicably veered hard to the left causing it to run off the road and into a tree. Electrical component failure lights were illuminated on dash afterwards. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I believe that the stability control systems and or drive train suddenly changed. I believe this might be due to water ingress and failure of gateway module. This is available upon request. Car is in shop How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? sudden loss of steering control in icy conditions Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? not yet. Current recall Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? …
2019 Q5 - 19457 miles. Power steering failed while traveling on an internal curved road at 10mph. Fortunately, the road was not busy and I was able to pull besides a curb. The car flashed a 'Steering: Malfunction! Please stop vehicle' warning and it was really hard to maneuver the car. Towed the car to nearest Audi dealership and dealer is looking at it. But if this had happened on a freeway, it would've resulted in a catastrophic accident.
2019 Audi Q5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Audi Q5 a good car?
Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Q5 rates average: 18% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Q5 at the same age. It is one of the best Q5 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Audi Q5?
The electrical system — 12 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (9) and steering (7).
How many recalls does the 2019 Audi Q5 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2019 Audi Q5, the most recent from December 8, 2021 (body). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi Q5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2017 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2018, 2023, 2021 and 2012. See the full Audi Q5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Audi Q5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 8,000 miles; 91% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.