Most Audi S5 VINs open with WAU (Germany, 2008–2025). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often A (67%); a 2026 S5 carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 14 recall campaigns and 125 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Audi S5 VIN
Here is a real 2026 Audi S5 VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN WAU25CFU0TN022512 — 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 S5 VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Audi S5 we have on record, from 2008 to 2025, opens with the same three characters, WAU:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAU | 2008–2025 | Germany | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Audi S5 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 | 84 | |
| N | 2010–2025 | 39 |
Counted from 124 dated Audi S5 VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Audi S5
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Audi S5 has not yet outlived: its 19 years still map one-to-one. All 19 model years of the Audi S5, 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 S5 VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 124 VINs the Audi S5 uses 15 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | C (39%) · B (16%) · P (9%) · R (8%) · 2 (7%) · 3 (5%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | 4 (72%) · G (13%) · 5 (9%) · V (6%) | 4 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (71%) · R (13%) · U (9%) · H (6%) · T (2%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Audi S5 VIN gets you
Behind a Audi S5 VIN: 125 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 14 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 125 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 19 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Audi S5
A Audi S5 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 S5 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 14 recall campaigns and 125 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Audi S5.
What year is my S5 by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 S5 carries T, a 2025 S5 carries S, a 2024 S5 carries R.
Where was my S5 built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 125 dated Audi S5 VINs it reads A 67%, N 31%.
What does position 4 mean on a Audi S5 VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 124 Audi S5 VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 39% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Audi S5 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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