2018 Audi S5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2018 Audi S5, and owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2018 Audi S5
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags: front passenger and seats
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at…
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Inflator module (air bags) and occupant classification (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this…
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Audi S5 have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 11,128 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“An Audi dealer has just diagnosed my 2018 S5 Cabriolet Prestige with vacuum system contamination caused by water pump failure. I had requested the diagnostic due to small coolant leaks on the engine a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 14, 2025 · Engine
“Component/System: Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) / Airbag system — Recall 74E3 / NHTSA 21V874. What Happened: The passenger airbag may switch off even when the seat is occupied due to a fa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 8, 2025 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Audi S5 (S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–21 / 29–30 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S8) |
Compare Audi S5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi S5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Audi S5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 Audi S5 | 0 | 20 |
| 2011 Audi S5 | 1 | 8 |
| 2012 Audi S5 | 1 | 10 |
| 2013 Audi S5 | 0 | 16 |
| 2014 Audi S5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2015 Audi S5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 Audi S5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Audi S5 | 2 | 26 |
| 2019 Audi S5 | 4 | 6 |
| 2020 Audi S5 | 4 | 25 |
| 2021 Audi S5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 Audi S5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 Audi S5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 Audi S5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 Audi S5 | 2 | 11 |
| 2026 Audi S5 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2018 Audi S5
How do I know if my 2018 Audi S5 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2018 Audi S5; 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 19V547000).
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
- Q51,342 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- A3731 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 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.