Most Audi A5 VINs open with WAU (Germany, 2008–2026). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often A (69%); a 2026 A5 carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 19 recall campaigns and 239 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Audi A5 VIN
Here is a real 2026 Audi A5 VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN WAU6ACFU9TN024210 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Audi A5 VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Audi A5 VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is WAU (Germany, 2008–2026), then WA1 (Germany, 2010–2021):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAU | 2008–2026 | Germany | Passenger Car | |
| WA1 | 2010–2021 | Germany | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Audi A5 it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2008–2025 | 164 | |
| N | 2009–2026 | 73 |
Counted from 239 dated Audi A5 VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Audi A5
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Audi A5 has not yet outlived: its 19 years still map one-to-one. All 19 model years of the Audi A5, 2008 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Audi A5 VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 146 VINs the Audi A5 uses 17 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | F (21%) · D (13%) · 2 (9%) · E (9%) · C (8%) · M (5%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | A (47%) · F (23%) · N (16%) · B (11%) · 2 (2%) · K (1%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (61%) · R (13%) · U (13%) · H (12%) · T (1%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Audi A5 VIN gets you
Behind a Audi A5 VIN: 239 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 19 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 239 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 26 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 1 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 19 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Audi A5
A Audi A5 VIN normally opens with WAU; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Audi A5 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 19 recall campaigns and 239 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Audi A5.
Why does my A5 VIN start differently from another A5?
Because the Audi A5 was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Audi A5 VINs on record we see 2 of them: WAU (2008–2026), WA1 (2010–2021). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my A5 by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 A5 carries T, a 2025 A5 carries S, a 2024 A5 carries R.
Where was my A5 built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 239 dated Audi A5 VINs it reads A 69%, N 31%.
What does position 4 mean on a Audi A5 VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 146 Audi A5 VINs here, F is the most common character in position 4, on 21% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Audi A5 check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with WAU. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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