Most common 2018 Audi S5 problems
Share of the 26 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 →
2018 Audi S5 recalls (2)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
What 2018 Audi S5 owners say
Engine & cooling
I was returning home from visiting family. My drive was approx 140 miles home. The car was running/driving normally when I stopped at a gas station to get a snack. When I came back to my car and attempted to start it, it would not start and had camshaft and crankshaft sensor DTC's. I had to tow the car to my repair shop who determined that the issue was the rocker arms. Despite performing regular maintenance above and beyond what the manufacturer recommends, two rocker arms fell apart inside the engine (needle bearings came out) and sent metal through the engine, causing it to need to be replaced. It was later determined that this was a known issue by Audi, and that they redesigned the rocker arms at a later date. The did not issue a recall or any extended warranty for the effected models. This cost me $16,349 out of pocket to repair. …
While driving, my Audi overheated randomly, started smoking, had to be towed. Had 72,800 miles, was serviced by Audi at 70k miles and all prior recommended services. Towed to Audi dealership, quoted 29k in engine repairs, Audi could never tell me why engine overheated. Would not cover any expense because "i didn't buy it there". Insurance denied two claims because Audi reported it as engine failure although they couldn't prove what happened to cause the heating, said it was one of the worst engine overheating they had seen. Prior to overheating, service driver system popped up for the first time. Temperature gauges were normal. Will not start or run since. No accountability taken by Audi at all, even through corporate. I believe my safety was at risk because the engine would have caught on fire had I not of noticed or pulled over. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The car's overall electronic reliability and safety are huge areas of concern. Rearview camera and sensors do not always work. Sometimes it will operate while car is in motion but it will black out which ultimately impairs the driver's ability to reverse and avoid any objects and pedestrians. This is potentially dangerous in high-foot traffic area like shopping mall. In addition, the car's lane assistance mechanism is not accurate at times and could have caused accidents several times. For example, the sensor sometimes will mis-detect the lanes and wrongly drift the car out of lanes, almost causing collision with oncoming cars or adjacent cars. Moreover, the Audi sensor which detects object and brakes for the driver doesn't work too well. …
My car has a "top view" rear camera system to aid in reversing. This system fails and is in an unpredictable state on the screen every time I reverse, not showing the view around my car. This is distracting, and leads to problems in trying to switch my top-view camera on (it requires a complex series of 8 button presses while in reverse!) while backing up. I have nearly hit objects and pedestrians due to this safety defect, and it diminishes my ability to safely operate my vehicle when it is reversing. This same defect affects all Audi models with this option sold in cy 2017 and 2018 (including a4, s4, a5, S5, q5, and q7). I complained about this safety defect to my dealer on sept 17, 2017. Audi has acknowledged this defect, and claims it has a fix, but has refused to distribute the fix to existing vehicles for 6+ months. …
Brakes
Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions. Previous Complaints and Lack of Resolution: Previous complaints about the parking brake and Intoxalock device were dismissed without proper investigation or resolution. Parking Brake Failure: The parking brake failed to hold the car, leading to uncontrollable movement and collision with an obstacle. Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned, causing distractions and contributing to the accident. Financial Burden and Lack of Refund: Intoxalock placed the account in collections despite timely payments and failed to refund lockout fees. Safety Concerns: Parking brake malfunction and faulty Intoxalock device. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Audi S5. The contact stated that the gearbox and parking brake released while the vehicle was in park. As a result, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a concrete barrier. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to Audi greenwich (181 west putnam avenue, greenwich, ct 06830, [phone]), but the failure could not be diagnosed. The body damage was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
2018 Audi S5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Audi S5 a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 S5 rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the S5 at the same age. It is one of the S5 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2018 Audi S5?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (3) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi S5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2018 Audi S5, the most recent from November 10, 2021 (front passenger). 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?
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 2018 Audi S5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 7,000 miles; 100% 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.