Most common 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S5 Cabriolet complaints by model year
Best S5 Cabriolet years: 2012, 2018. Compare all years →
2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
What 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
My wife and I went on a drive, to get lunch, after leaving lunch , we headed home, I pulled out on to the hwy, and the Audi,"check engine" "no reverse" light lit up, and then the TPMS lit up, the warning stated I had lost reverse, and I could continue driving. Home was over 10 miles away, so I continued to drive home. I was trying to move in to the turn lane , pressed the gas pedal, and the car slowed down, I jammed the pedal to the floor to avoid being run over by traffic. It slowed down more then shot off quickly, and then slowed down again, I made it to the turn lane, eventually, being told I was number one several time from other drivers. My wife was white as a ghost. …
Occasional lack of propulsion when accelerator pedal is depressed, loss of gear while moving slowly (from a stop). In either case, the car May be stuck in an intersection or otherwise act unpredictably to other traffic. Remedy is to either take foot off accelerator to re-engage multiple times, or turn car off and back on. Transmission shows error (malfunction - you can continue driving) when this fault occurs. Vehicle is in excellent condition., regularly maintained, and under 40K miles.
2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet a good car?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 S5 Cabriolet rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the S5 Cabriolet at the same age. 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 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (2) and stability & traction control (1).
How many recalls does the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet, the most recent from January 30, 2018 (inflator module). 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 S5 Cabriolet?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2018. See the full Audi S5 Cabriolet years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 96,000 miles; 50% 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.