2018 Audi SQ5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2018 Audi SQ5, and owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2018 Audi SQ5
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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Body (structure) and body control module/bcm (electrical system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer…
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Body (structure)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at…
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Hub (wheels)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834.…
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's…
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Caliper (service brakes) Do not drive
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the…
24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Audi SQ5 have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 15,459 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I purchased my 2018 Audi SQ5 on September 12, 2025, from Audi Denver (McDonald Automotive Group). On XXX, at 114,145 miles, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving on”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 9, 2026 · Engine
“While driving a 2018 Audi SQ5 with the EA839 3.0T engine, a coolant warning light activated and engine temperatures began rising to 210-215°F. The vehicle was pulled over immediately. Upon inspection”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 5, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Audi SQ5. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19 / 24 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S8) |
Compare Audi SQ5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi SQ5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Audi SQ5 | 1 | 12 |
| 2015 Audi SQ5 | 1 | 8 |
| 2016 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2017 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 Audi SQ5 | 5 | 24 |
| 2019 Audi SQ5 | 5 | 19 |
| 2020 Audi SQ5 | 4 | 8 |
| 2021 Audi SQ5 | 5 | 13 |
| 2022 Audi SQ5 | 2 | 5 |
| 2023 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2025 Audi SQ5 | 1 | 7 |
| 2026 Audi SQ5 | 0 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2018 Audi SQ5
How do I know if my 2018 Audi SQ5 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 2018 Audi SQ5; 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 18V369000).
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.