2020 AUDI Q5 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
33
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
55
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2020 AUDI Q5
The 2020 AUDI Q5 has received a total of 33 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 10 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD, TIRES. 55 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (6 complaints), Unknown Or Other (5 complaints), and Engine (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 2020 AUDI Q5
NHTSA has recorded 10 recalls for the 2020 AUDI Q5, potentially affecting up to 1,016,057 vehicles.
Recall 23V842000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD
| 93,196 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to...
Consequence: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge....
View full details →Recall 22V034000 — TIRES
| 31,058 vehicles affected
Defect: 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, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8...
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number...
View full details →Recall 22V034000 — TIRES
| 31,058 vehicles affected
Defect: 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, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8...
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number...
View full details →Recall 22V034000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 31,058 vehicles affected
Defect: 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, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8...
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number...
View full details →Recall 22V034000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 31,058 vehicles affected
Defect: 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, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8...
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number...
View full details →Recall 21V947000 — STRUCTURE:BODY
| 288,991 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for...
View full details →Recall 21V947000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
| 288,991 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for...
View full details →Recall 21V295000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 40,993 vehicles affected
Defect: 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, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The...
Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
View full details →Recall 20V505000 — SEATS
| 5,376 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
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. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact...
View full details →Recall 19V737000 — STRUCTURE:BODY
| 174,278 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2020 AUDI Q5
33 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2020 AUDI Q5. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chest Clip Buckle Harness | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Traffic stopped very quickly. The automatic breaking did not engage, resulting in a crash and a total loss of the vehicle. I bought the Audi due to quality safety features so this incident was very disappointing and costly for our family.
Traffic stopped very quickly. The automatic breaking did not engage, resulting in a crash and a total loss of the vehicle. I bought the Audi due to quality safety features so this incident was very disappointing and costly for our family.
Traffic stopped very quickly. The automatic breaking did not engage, resulting in a crash and a total loss of the vehicle. I bought the Audi due to quality safety features so this incident was very disappointing and costly for our family.
Purchased a 2020 Audi Q5 sold as-is. Within 30 days, the transmission malfunctioned and the vehicle lost power. A dealer estimated repairs would cost around $27,000. This sudden loss of drive ability poses a safety risk.
I purchased a pre-owned Audi in August 2023 from a franchised dealer. I was explicitly told there were no open recalls or issues. In May 2024, the vehicle suffered a complete electrical failure during use—warning lights flashed, wipers activated on their own, the steering wheel moved without input, and the windows opened/closed erratically. It was inoperable and could not shift into neutral. A flatbed tow was required, and the vehicle had to be physically forced off the truck at home. The next morning, the authorized service center initially refused the tow but later accepted it after I explained the severity. A service advisor confirmed the failure was due to an active safety recall and that a replacement control module was unavailable. I was denied a loaner until I escalated the issue to a manager. For months, I received repeated notices that there were no updates or parts available. The loaner was significantly smaller and disrupted both personal and work transportation. On June 5, 2025, the dealer said the part would never arrive and advised me to request a buyback through Audi corporate. I did so. On June 10, the dealer claimed the buyback was approved and told me to return the loaner. When I asked for verification, they changed their story. I contacted Audi corporate and was told the buyback had been denied, confirming the dealer had misrepresented the situation. This experience reflects deceptive business practices, potential violations of recall disclosure laws, and failure to resolve a known safety defect. My safety—and that of my pregnant wife—was placed at risk due to the sale of a recalled vehicle. I urge NHTSA to investigate. Their actions show a disregard for safety, federal compliance, and consumer rights. Others may not be as lucky.
Safety Rating for the 2020 AUDI Q5
The 2020 AUDI Q5 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2020 AUDI Q5
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 55 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2020 AUDI Q5. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
A5124332061645_2 — STRUCTURE:BODY
This TSB provides information when there are surging noises on the side member due to water ingress.
A9024262069054_2 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin provides information when the instrument cluster is blank when the vheicle is started, LED bar graphs are lit.
A6024702063187_5 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This bulletin provides information when the panoramic sunroof opening outer perimeter seal is loose.
A5524912064476_3 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
This bulletin provides information for when the rear lid does not close fully, and the rear lid lock does not engage the secondary latch position; DTCs DTC B113E29, B12E015, B113E07.
A6323102064279_3 — STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
This bulletin provides instructions for when the paint on the rear bumper cover is peeling.
A9322622065722_1 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
This bulletin is a pending service solution advising that a future software update will be available to address DTC U041300.
A6422822064585_1 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
This bulletin describes a noise concern with the front power windows, which can be resolved by cleaning and/or adjustment, and guidance for completing the procedure.
A6321742064279_2 — EQUIPMENT
This bulletin contains repair instructions for when paint is peeling on the front bumper.
A9721812064805_1 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
This bulletin contains repair instructions for when the vehicle cannot be started or the ignition cannot be turned on and fuse S164 had been blown.
A9121362055945_7 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin contains repair instructions for when the warning message "SOS Emergency call function deactivated" is seen in the instrument cluster.
Showing 10 of 55 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2020 AUDI Q5
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the AUDI Q5
- 2015 AUDI Q5 — 122 complaints
- 2016 AUDI Q5 — 97 complaints
- 2017 AUDI Q5 — 54 complaints
- 2018 AUDI Q5 — 300 complaints
- 2019 AUDI Q5 — 64 complaints
- 2020 AUDI Q5 (current)
- 2021 AUDI Q5 — 95 complaints
- 2022 AUDI Q5 — 17 complaints
- 2023 AUDI Q5 — 54 complaints
- 2024 AUDI Q5 — 26 complaints
- 2025 AUDI Q5 — 35 complaints