Most common 2020 Audi SQ5 problems
Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi SQ5 complaints by model year
Best SQ5 years: 2022, 2015. Years to avoid: 2018, 2019. Compare all years →
2020 Audi SQ5 recalls (4)
Tires
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022.
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.
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Seats
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020.
What 2020 Audi SQ5 owners say
Driver assistance
The contact owns a 2020 Audi SQ5. The contact stated while reversing in her driveway, the automatic braking system activated and the vehicle stopped abruptly. The contact stated that there was a vehicle at a stop sign 500 ft. away from her vehicle when the failure occurred. The contact shifted the vehicle into park. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while reversing and while driving from a complete stop. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal sound while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer approximately 3-4 times however, the mechanic diagnosed that no issues were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer and inquired about buy back. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 150.
I have had multiple instances of the emergency breaking applying improperly. On at least two occasions the rear backup/parking sensors detected some sort of object when one didn't exist and abruptly engaged the breaks despite there being no object behind me. On one occasion I had a passenger who witnessed the behavior. On another instance, and the one that concerned me, the front collision indicator detected something non-existent and abruptly slammed on my breaks while I was driving 70mph on a 3 lane highway. There were no objects or car in viewable distance at all. The abruptness, lack of warning, and breaking power sent my car out of control across all three lanes and nearly into a barrier before I was able to regain control and the breaks released. I was on the phone (hands-free) when this occurred and my fianc could hear the whole thing. …
2020 Audi SQ5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Audi SQ5 a good car?
Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 SQ5 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the SQ5 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 2020 Audi SQ5?
The driver assistance — 3 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic emergency braking. Next are the speed control & acceleration (2) and steering (1).
How many recalls does the 2020 Audi SQ5 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2020 Audi SQ5, the most recent from January 26, 2022 (tires). 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 SQ5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018 and 2019. See the full Audi SQ5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Audi SQ5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 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.