Audi S5 Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2010 draws 2 complaints per run and the 2013 1.23, a 1.6-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 72.6% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 25 complaints, typically at 4 years.

Audi S5 years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Audi S5 — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2025	1.13	9	8	too new
2023	1	3	3	too new
2020	1.25	25	20	yes
2019	1	6	6	yes
2018	1.25	25	20	yes
2014	1	6	6	yes
2013	1.23	16	13	yes
2012	1.43	10	7	yes
2010	2	18	9	yes
2008	1	3	3	yes

ROWS 10·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2010 S5 asks a median $11,500, against $10,900 for a 2011, the next model year: 6% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 4 Audi S5 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2010, 2018, 2020; the three worth hunting are 2013, 2020, 2018.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Audi S5 — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	16	12.9%	covered
1 year	8	19.4%	covered
2 years	9	26.6%	covered
3 years	1	27.4%	covered
4 years	10	35.5%	you pay
5 years	37	65.3%	you pay
6 years	14	76.6%	you pay
7 years	15	88.7%	you pay
8 years	6	93.5%	you pay
10 years	4	96.8%	you pay
11 years	2	98.4%	you pay
13 years	1	99.2%	you pay
15 years	1	100%	you pay

ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 27.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 72.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 37% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Audi S5, the early trouble is Electrical System and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 6.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Audi S5 — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	25	4 yrs	—	—
Power Train	24	6.3 yrs	1	—
Unknown Or Other	24	3.7 yrs	1	—
Engine	22	5.5 yrs	—	—
Air Bags	20	5.7 yrs	1	—
Back Over Prevention	12	4.7 yrs	—	—
Forward Collision Avoidance	11	3.5 yrs	—	—
Steering	7	4.3 yrs	—	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the S5's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.87, against 1.26 for the S5. That is the fewest complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Audi S5 — rivals in the same class
Same class as the S5	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Honda Civic	15,962	413	1981–2026
Ford Mustang	10,680	315	1981–2026
Nissan GT-R	33	9	2009–2026
Chevrolet Camaro	3,457	204	1981–2026
Toyota Supra	109	35	1981–2026
Nissan Sentra	6,185	158	1982–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Audi S5

Recalls43 campaigns Fuel economy24 mpg best Common problems116 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build Cargo space22 cu ft Used prices440 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2008–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Audi S5 reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.26 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.

Which S5 years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2010, 2018, 2020. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2013, 2020, 2018. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do S5 problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 4 years, followed by Power Train.

Will the warranty cover S5 problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 27.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 37% of the complaints here.

Is the S5 more reliable than the Honda Civic?

Yes: 1.26 complaints per production run for the S5 against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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