2023 AUDI Q5 Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

The digital dash screen system continually disconnects from the phone and will not reconnect. It disconnects during 911 calls. It disconnects when navigation is activated. It is very dangerous to drive a car that does this. I’m sure I paid thousands a dollar for this digital dash screen system, and is very frustrating that it does not work yet the Audi dealership and Audi corporate refused to, and or cannot fix my car. I’ve done research and it appears this is a very common problem and the service department at the dealership says they hear this complaint all the time.

Sep 20, 2025

I moved forward and hit this stone and then when I hit the stone. I tried to reverse and I lost control of my car. The car began spinning and I had no control of the car. The car finally crashed on it’ s own. I could not brake or nothing. I was rushed to the emergency room. I had a headache and my body was sore.

Oct 10, 2023

Crash: 1

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

I am not sure of what happened and I am not seeing any remedy also in the finding. My car has been idle since May 7th and hence please help me in resolving it as the recall status says that remedy not available.

May 23, 2025

WHEN THE HATCHBACK ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN OPEN ON AT LEAST 8 OCASSIONS IT HAS AUTOMATICALLY PEEPED AND BEGAN TO CLOSE ON ME WHILE, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS LEANING INTO THE BACK PUTTING IN OR TAKING OUT GROCERIES. THIS CAR HAS REAR BUMPER SENSOR TO ALLOW ONE TO OPEN THE HATCH WITH YOUR FOOT. THIS SENSOR IS ON THE LEFT END OF THE BUMPER. MY FEET HAVE NEVER BEEN NEAR THE SENSOR WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED, THIS HATCH HAS ALSO CLOSED ON MY HUSBAND SO I DONT FEEL IT SOMETHING UNIQUE THAT I AM DOING.

Feb 28, 2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

Audi pre-sense slammed on brakes on a dry empty road while I was driving between 45-50mph. Had there been a car behind me, as there usually is in this location, I would certainly have been rear-ended. As it was, my head, neck and back got a heavy jolt, and of course the whole thing distracted me from safely driving the car. I had to pull over to catch my breath (just because it was scary) and figure out how to turn the thing off for the drive home. The dealer checked the computer system and reported that there were no "faults" recorded there. In other words, the system is working "properly". Dealer cannot turn it permanently off because it's a SAFETY feature. The only way to prevent future dangerous deployments is to navigate through 3 layers of touchscreens to turn it off *each time I start the car*, but this has to be done every trip. I have had the brakes erroneously applied several times at lower speeds, one of those times (in the 2018 model) the seatbelt reeled me back into the seat squeezing my chest. Again, no obstacle or hazard of any kind was present, just the hazard of erratic and aggressive car automation.

Feb 05, 2024

This has happened several times. After waiting for traffic to clear to make a left turn, as I start to accelerate, the Audi Presense triggers (message comes up) and slams on the brakes. There was no traffic that could have caused any hazard. It could have left me stranded in oncoming traffic. There are many other people reporting this same issue on Audi forums.

Aug 04, 2023

ENGINE

2 complaints

we purchased a new 2023 Audi q5 at the Audi dealer at Wesley Chapel. On October 3, we noticed a malfunctioning indicator light on the dashboard. We took the vehicle back to the dealer to fix the problem. One of the service agents told us, everything was good, just a software update. I also notified the problem to manufacturing company and still no solution. It has been 4 months since when the problem occurred. The malfunction indicator lamp is on all the time when we turn the engine on and while driving. There are a lot of safety concerns while driving.

Jan 14, 2024

On 21 April 2023 while driving on a highway, the US specification 2023 Audi Q5 engine began to make noise and a yellow engine warning light came on. During the process of moving the vehicle off the highway to a safe location to stop, the engine began to progressively lose power and the noise became much more noticeable and distinctly sounded like metal on metal. The Audi repair shop provided a report of diagnostic tests run but did not open the engine for further inspection. The repair shop ordered a replacement engine. Due to delays in delivery of a replacement engine, the vehicle is still at the repair shop five weeks after the incident. The vehicle had less that 550 miles (900 kilometers) on the odometer and had been in service only one month from delivery. The vehicle was sold by Audi USA through Military Auto Source direct to the user in Germany. The vehicle was used only in Germany and is presently at the Audi repair shop in Germany (Autohaus Lutz, Vaihinger Str. 91, 70567 Stuttgart, Germany). Based upon cursory research of existing recall issues for this model vehicle, the problem appears very similar to a connecting rod failure identified for engines manufactured in a prior period. Attempts to work with Audi USA to identify if this is indeed the same connecting rod problem and attempts to obtain confirmation that this engine was checked/tested for the known connecting rod issue both have proved unsuccessful. The local Audi repair shop has not been forthcoming with details of what specifically caused the engine failure or actions that Audi is taking to identify the source of the problem. This is being brought to the attention of the NHTSA because this may be a continuation of the connecting rod issue previously identified and declared resolved by Audi.

May 27, 2023

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

While travelling at highway speeds in the passing lane, a warning appeared “Transmission Malfunction! Safely stop vehicle” at which point the vehicle acceleration suddenly stopped. Fortunately despite the heavy and fast traffic I was able to get to the side of the road, but the vehicle would not move. The deslership noted this was part of technical bulletin 2064312/7 that caused this issue. Fortunately the Ohio Highway patrol came to keep me safe until the tow truck arrived. This is an extremely dangerous flaw that could have led to a serious accident. I urge you to investigate and order a recall for this potentially fatal issue.

Sep 29, 2025

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

1 complaint

Total engine failure at ~13.5k miles. 2 out of 4 cylinders and pistons failed, found damage on cylinder walls. Cylinder pressure too high. Failed cylinder leak down test and pressure test. Metal shavings found in oil filter and housing.

Sep 17, 2025

STEERING,ENGINE

1 complaint

1 Steering wheel makes noise. Dealership fixed in December 2024 but same sound come back again. 2 Oil burning smell comes while driving.

May 18, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

We have a leased 2023 Audi Q5 that has been to the Audi Service Department twice so far to determine the source of the problem with our SOS sensor, which turns on randomly and now stays on and won't turn off. The first time, on April 23rd, Audi Service did not address the issue because they forgot to. The second time, on April 29th, the Audi Service rep, Kyle Blomberg, reported that the SOS sensor issue may be fixed with a software update coming out later this year. He will speak with the service foreman today for more information. This is a safety issue if the car is ever in an accident, as we are not sure if the airbags will deploy, whether the seat belt tension will be activated, or whether the eCall system will automatically contact emergency services. It's unacceptable for Audi not to deploy an update more expeditiously, as waiting nearly seven months is entirely ludicrous. Please investigate this further.

Apr 30, 2025

STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

The lane keeping system randomly will malfunction and will veer the car either into oncoming traffic or out of the lane i am driving in. The most recent it tried to veer me off the road completely and into a sign off the road. The vehicle will also sometimes trigger the Audi collision avoidance system randomly. It has done it twice while turning left that the car will come to an abrupt halt for no reason. Both of these concerns can create car accidents if someone is either following closely behind or if the car veers into a different lane. I have reported this to the dealer multiple times and have escalated to Audi corporate. They are unable to replicate the issue, because it happens randomly and say the vehicle is operating within the standard. There have been no warnings or lamps that would indicate that the car has an issue.

Feb 12, 2025

TIRES

1 complaint

235/55 R 19-101H, manufacture defect in the tread, there are remnants components of the fabric belt that are imbedded in the tread of the tire. The tires only have 5,200 miles on them. This was brought to the attention of the Audi Service Department on Saturday 16 March 2024, where they inspected the tire and replaced it the same day.

Mar 23, 2024

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

I am writing to file a complaint against Audi of America. My new vehicle, a 2023 Audi Q5 that I was involved in a minor car accident on [XXX]. That evening my car was side swiped during a merge after a toll both in Woodbridge, NJ off. Both vehicles were moving at relatively low speeds (30-35 mph). The damage to my car occurred on the passenger side panel and multiple air bags deployed including all 4 curtains as well as the passenger side seat air bag (though I did not have a passenger in the car with me). My car was towed to a local lot and has been with an auto body shop since [XXX]. Though all repairs were completed by mid-January, the car has been untouched since then due to the lack of availability of one part - the right front seat air bag. Part# 80A880242G which has been on order since Dec. 14th. So far, Audi has repeatedly claimed that the part ETA is unknown. My research online through Audi and car forums has shown that many other Audi drivers who have been in accidents are in the same predicament because the side air bag is deploying even when unnecessary creating a parts shortage with no solution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Feb 26, 2024

Crash: 1

BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Car suddenly applies brakes and sounds alarms when driving out of a sloping driveway or parking lot. It appears that the sensors point at the pavement at the inflection point of the sloped driveway/road and detects that as an obstacle. This happens regularly at certain parking lots - all the blinking and braking make it very difficult to navigate into the traffic lane safely. Audi dealership assures me this is normal. It also suddenly brakes (sometimes) and sounds alarms as I back out of my own gently sloped driveway. I am always paying attention to my surroundings and not operating a phone or doing other activities while I'm driving. There is unquestionably NO hazard or obstacle. The risk for damage to my neck is fairly low at these speeds, but when I'm backing I generally look over my shoulder, and a good jolt (even at low speeds) is pretty unpleasant and could definitely cause injury.

Feb 05, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

My wife was pulling into a parking spot when all of a sudden the cars engine accelerated causing the car to jump one curb, hit a step and striking a pole before finally the brakes stopped the car from going through a storefront. None of the safety crash features stopped the vehicle. My wifes foot was on the brake, not the accelerator. Previously we had the vehicle in for service to reset the computer that kept freezing. Unfortunately we did not research Audi in detail before we bought. Since this occurrence, we have seen that some of Audi's models have had a history of "unintended sudden acceleration" and that there was actually a class action lawsuit years ago. After reading about those occurrences, we believe that this is what occurred. Audi corporate sent their engineers to download the computer data. They concluded that there was no computer error and no evidence of impact. Clearly there was impact since the car had to be repaired. I have since driven the exact route into the parking lot to see if possibly my wifes foot could have been on the accelerator. I made a right turn, quick left turn and quick right turn into the parking spot and my foot was on the brake the entire time. All third parties that have looked at the vehicle don't believe that there was a computer acceleration malfunction because the engineers said that they didn't identify a problem. I will never drive an Audi again. After this incident, I have spoken with other Audi owners and there seems to be issues with the german engineered "safety" controls. Apply brakes when not necessary, lane control jerking back into traffic when in an exit only lane. I am thankful that no person was in front of my vehicle when this occurred.

Feb 04, 2024

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

I was riding the car and all of a sudden tv my car stopped right in the middle of the street, totally shut down and non of the keys were working not even the hazard lights to alert other cars to turn around me. So I had to get out of my car right in the middle of the street to let the other cars to move away . I finally got back in the car, tried on and off switch couple of times and finally engine started . Audi took the car and they are saying it’s alternator failed and they have replaced it

Sep 12, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

My wife and I were in the 2023 Audi Q5 with 1000 miles. I had complained to the dealer and manufacturer that this car was unsafe to drive. On June 9, 2023 I was driving slowly in my community. I tried to stop at a stop sign. NO brakes then at the same time the car had unintended sudden acceleration. We had no control, no brakes and hit a fence and shrubbery and cement fence. All airbags deployed.

Jul 05, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

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4.2/5.0

93 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2023 AUDI Q5 have?

The 2023 AUDI Q5 currently has 19 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2023 AUDI Q5?

The most common problems reported for the 2023 AUDI Q5 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2023 AUDI Q5 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2023 AUDI Q5 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.