Used Audi Q5 2017-present reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

Check for bodywork scuffs from car parking in urban areas, and for kerb damage to the alloy wheels. Also check that all seats operate as they should, and the tailgate works correctly.

Other than that, the Q5 is too new for it to have accumulated any data on various problem areas. The old model was known to suffer with some automatic gearbox failures, and oil consumption on the petrol-engined cars could be high.

Wheel arch liner: The wheel arch liner of cars built up to the 16 October 2019 could come loose and will require additional fixings to be installed by a technician at an Audi dealer.

Brake master cylinder: An issue with the brake master cylinder fitted to some Q5s made between 9 August and 6 November 2018 could compromise safety. Find out if your car is affected by speaking with an Audi dealer because a new master cylinder will need to be fitted to sort the problem.

Increased brake pedal travel: A faulty part in the braking system of some Q5s manufactured between 1 and 30 January 2020 could lead to increased brake pedal travel over what it should be normally. Speak to an Audi dealer for further information, because a new caliper housing will need to be fitted to prevent this problem from occurring.

Brake pistons: A fault with the protective coating on brake pistons of Q5s constructed between 20 March and 24 May 2018 could impact the operation of the brakes and lead to increased braking distances. Find out if your car is affected by speaking with an Audi dealer for further information.

Passenger airbag: The passenger airbag in some examples made between 1 June and 31 July 2017 might not deploy correctly in a collision because the bag itself snags on structures inside the dashboard. To fix this issue, the whole dashboard will need to be replaced at an Audi dealership.

Faulty backrest adjuster: The front seats of some Q5s built between 29 June and 6 July 2020 could have an issue with the backrest adjuster. Find out from your local dealer if your car is affected by this because it'll need to be inspected and have the backrest replaced if necessary.

Mild hybrid starter motor and alternator: Moisture has been found to get into the combined starter motor and alternator of mild-hybrid equipped Q5 models made between 1 June 2017 and 31 March 2020. Your Audi dealer will be able to find out if your car is one of those affected by this and schedule to have this recall carried out.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Audi dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

The Audi Q5 is a generally reliable car, but much more so the petrol-powered ones. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the petrol Q5 ranked eighth out of 24 cars in the large SUV class, while the diesel Q5 was all the way down in 21st – their reliability score was 95.6% and 87.1% respectively. The Toyota RAV4 (in first) is more reliable, but the Q5 (both diesel and petrol) is more reliable than the Range Rover Velar.

Although the petrol Q5 has a fairly high fault rate of 27%, it's a better bet than the diesel, which has a 35% incidence of problems. Petrol cars were also quicker and cheaper to fix. Owners told us that 100% of petrol Q5 repair work was done for free, compared with 75% for diesels. And 63% of petrols were fixed in a day or less, while only 385 of diesels were. The main concerns for petrol Q5 owners were electrical glitches and the gearbox/clutch.

As we mentioned, diesel versions of the Q5 more costly to get fixed: some owners had to pay more than £1500 to get their cars repaired. Although most vehicles could still be driven, 42% spent more than a week in the garage. The most common complaints were with the brakes, electrics and interior trim.

As a car brand, Audi came 26th out of 32 manufacturers featured. Its overall reliability rating of 89.1% makes Audi more reliable than Jaguar, Land Rover and Cupra – the latter being in last place. On the other hand, Audi proved les reliable than BMW and Mercedes.

Used Audi Q5: owners' reliability data

As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers concluded that the Audi Q5 (2017-present) is generally well-regarded for its reliability but has notable areas that deserve concern. Owners of both petrol and diesel models reported issues with the infotainment system, including frequent freezing and connectivity problems. Electrical faults, such as malfunctioning lights and faulty sensors, were also commonly mentioned. A few owners experienced problems with the turbocharger and transmission, leading to costly repairs.

Experiences with Audi dealerships were mixed. Some praised the professional service and quick resolution of issues, often covered under warranty. Others, however, encountered long wait times for appointments and parts, and some expressed dissatisfaction with high repair costs once the warranty expired.