2011 Audi Q5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2011 Audi Q5, and owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2011 Audi Q5
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.…
-
Inflator module (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service…
-
Air bags: side/window and sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may…
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the…
-
Inflator module (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 Audi Q5 have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 74,123 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 37 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“1) The rear structural subframe (crossmember) has completely rotted, perforated, and failed due to severe corrosion. The factory-installed plastic underbody rock shields trapped road salt and water, c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 25, 2026 · Suspension
“During an inspection of my 2011 Audi Q5 at Audi Burlington, severe corrosion was discovered on the rear subframe, which supports rear suspension components. The corrosion was substantially worse than”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 5, 2026 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 Audi Q5. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 23–27 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S8) |
Compare Audi Q5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi Q5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Audi Q5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 Audi Q5 | 6 | 31 |
| 2010 Audi Q5 | 4 | 100 |
| 2011 Audi Q5 | 5 | 143 |
| 2012 Audi Q5 | 6 | 168 |
| 2013 Audi Q5 | 5 | 89 |
| 2014 Audi Q5 | 5 | 105 |
| 2015 Audi Q5 | 6 | 99 |
| 2016 Audi Q5 | 5 | 77 |
| 2017 Audi Q5 | 5 | 42 |
| 2018 Audi Q5 | 6 | 207 |
| 2019 Audi Q5 | 5 | 52 |
| 2020 Audi Q5 | 6 | 25 |
| 2021 Audi Q5 | 8 | 74 |
| 2022 Audi Q5 | 4 | 22 |
| 2023 Audi Q5 | 5 | 43 |
| 2024 Audi Q5 | 4 | 20 |
| 2025 Audi Q5 | 1 | 42 |
| 2026 Audi Q5 | 0 | 3 |
Checking a specific 2011 Audi Q5
How do I know if my 2011 Audi Q5 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2011 Audi Q5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V078000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Audi models
- A42,895 complaints
- A61,658 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- A3731 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 complaints
- A4 Allroad252 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.