Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2023 | 5 | 11% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 9% | — |
| 2021 | 13 | 18% | 9,000 miles |
| 2020 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2019 | 6 | 12% | 35,000 miles |
| 2018 | 10 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% | 53,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 4% | 36,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 6% | 29,000 miles |
| 2013 | 6 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 3% | 105,000 miles |
| 2011 | 12 | 8% | 56,000 miles |
| 2010 | 8 | 8% | 3,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% | 3,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
After the automatic start/stop system engages, the engine stalls and completely shuts off shortly after the vehicle begins moving again. This occurs after the vehicle restarts and travels only a few feet. When the stall happens, the vehicle loses power and the engine stops functioning while the car is in traffic. This has occurred two separate times: once on a busy highway and once while entering a roundabout. Both incidents created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not maintain power in active traffic and could have resulted in a crash. A yellow emissions warning light also appeared on the dashboard. The dealer indicated that an intermittent oil pressure sensor code was present but no parts were replaced and no corrective action was taken. The dealer reset the system and stated they could not reproduce the problem. …
Check engine light is on almost constantly on my car. It might turn off and stay that way for a couple of days, but always comes on again. Dealership had made two attempts to "fix" it by just clearing the faults. However, according to the service department the reason why check engine light came on was "faults for loss of communication to powertrain electronics and brake electronics" which i think is a real safety concern. After my last trip to the dealership the check engine light came on after just two days of normal driving. There was also a situation when i was unable to shift to park with the risk of rolling along with some other error messages on the dash. I was unable to lock the vehicle because of that and of course there was a risk of it rolling.
While travelling at highway speeds in the passing lane, a warning appeared "Transmission Malfunction! Safely stop vehicle" at which point the vehicle acceleration suddenly stopped. Fortunately despite the heavy and fast traffic I was able to get to the side of the road, but the vehicle would not move. The deslership noted this was part of technical bulletin 2064312/7 that caused this issue. Fortunately the Ohio Highway patrol came to keep me safe until the tow truck arrived. This is an extremely dangerous flaw that could have led to a serious accident. I urge you to investigate and order a recall for this potentially fatal issue.
Total engine failure at ~13.5k miles. 2 out of 4 cylinders and pistons failed, found damage on cylinder walls. Cylinder pressure too high. Failed cylinder leak down test and pressure test. Metal shavings found in oil filter and housing.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while she was driving 65-70 MPH, the warning message "Transmission Engine Failure" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle inadvertently stalled while attempting to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated she was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts however, the vehicle was towed to her residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ECM chip had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated while she was reversing, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the clutch had failed. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and coming to a stop or making a turn, the vehicle shuddered. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle shuddered at slower speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the 4-WD clutch and rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q5. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and with the engine idling, she exit the vehicle, and moments later the vehicle erroneously began to drive forward and crashed into an office building. During the crash, no injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 35,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the catastrophic transmission failure message was displayed and the vehicle inadvertently shifted into manual third gear. The vehicle was waiting to be towed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to exit the vehicle immediately and to have it towed to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Related recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect within the gearbox, despite selecting the Park position, the vehicle may still unexpectedly roll.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the geabox in the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi Q5 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (13), 2011 (12), 2018 (10), 2010 (8) and 2013 (6) model years. Transmission complaints make up 18% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Audi Q5 transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 17V-297 (gear position indication (prndl), May 3, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Audi Q5 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (5 mentions), followed by the clutch assembly (1).
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.