Most common 2013 Audi S5 problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S5 complaints by model year
Best S5 years: 2014, 2011, 2019. Years to avoid: 2020, 2018, 2010. Compare all years →
What 2013 Audi S5 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
NHTSA Safety Complaint DraftVehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2013 Audi S5 Premium Plus CoupeVIN: [redacted]: Power Train / Transmission (7-Speed Dual-Clutch S-Tronic / DSG)Description of Safety Defect:I am writing to report a severe, recurring safety defect regarding the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in my 2013 Audi S5. The vehicle is experiencing catastrophic transmission issues, including sudden power loss, violent juddering, erratic shifting, and abruptly entering "limp mode" without warning.This issue presents an immediate and severe safety hazard. When the transmission abruptly loses power or forces the vehicle into limp mode while driving at highway speeds, it leaves the driver completely unable to accelerate or safely keep pace with surrounding traffic. This sudden, unpredictable loss of propulsion significantly increases the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision.
I had a very pricey service performed on my vehicle and during that service they said there was a service bulletin or recall that required a software upgrade for the transmission (Audi of El Paso, TX). Once that occurred, my transmission would shift very hard especially going from 1st to 2nd gear or downshifting from 2nd to 1st gear. My service advisor told me that my vehicle had to learn again and that it would smooth out in time. It never has. My vehicle with only 79,000 miles on it should certainly not be having any transmission issues, especially since they were non-existent until the software upgrade was applied. I have researched the issue and have found that it is a common and widely known issue in Audis with similar electronic transmissions. I was able to find well over a hundred Audi owners who documented the same issues. …
Steering
Electric power steering fails with either water infiltration into the controller, or with severe cold weather. This issue is known by Audi USA by they are refusing to address the issue. In mn in the month of 2/2019 3 Audi dealers each told me that they each replaced 20+ steering racks due to this issue. This issue cause the electric assisted power steering to fail causing the car to loose all power assist for steering. This could cause accidents if you are not expecting your power steering to fail at highway speeds. The service adviser I worked with at one of the Audi dealers said this personally happened to him on 2 different cars he owned. There are reports of this happening in every Audi forum on the web.
I was turning into a parking lot and the steering locked up in the middle of the turn and a message came up "steering defective. Do not drive". The dealer picked up the car and after researching informed me the power steering module had failed and needs to be replaced. They said they need to order parts from Germany and it will take 2-3 weeks. Today is the start of the 3rd week and they are still working on the car.
Engine & cooling
I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it's hard to be in the car it's a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine
My vehicle as well as many audis with the mechatronic system are having an issue that present a error, " mechatronic failure TPMS gearbox malfunction). It often either not drivable, even when in traffic or drives at a snail's pace when attempting to exit traffic. Audi corporate said a recall is only done when the NHTSA feel that's it a issue that can calls safety &/or death. This seem to effect, from my research, 2010 - 2014 Audi s4, S5 and a5 model [n the USA and there are some europe complaints, which I have found as well] manufactored at a particular plant or provider. This type of malfunction can certainly cause 'loss of life' as it occurs in traffic. I happen to live in metro atlanta ga, with our fast pace traffic, its a serious issue. There absolutely should be a recall. The cost to repair can be up to $15K. There is no way this should happed to a $60-$75 high-end vehicle. …
2013 Audi S5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 7-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 6-speed manual | AWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Audi S5 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 S5 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the S5 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 2013 Audi S5?
The transmission & drivetrain — 10 complaints, 63% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2013 Audi S5 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Audi S5. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi S5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2011 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2018 and 2010. See the full Audi S5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Audi S5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 18% 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.