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2021 Audi SQ5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2021 Audi SQ5, and owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
13
owner complaints to NHTSA
20
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 2021 Audi SQ5

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Display function (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 22V742000 Reported 170,296 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this…

  2. Tires and non-powered axle assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 22V034000 Reported 31,058 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi…

  3. Body (structure) and body control module/bcm (electrical system)

    NHTSA 21V947000 Reported 288,991 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

  4. Seat belts and retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 21V606000 Reported 45,496 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe,…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…

  5. Non-powered axle assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 21V295000 Reported 40,993 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number…

13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Audi SQ5 have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 17,372 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I noticed my car started to lose coolant, I checked my water pump and I saw there was a leak on of the hoses. Once I discovered that I also heard a tapping noise coming from the engine. I took it to m”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 23, 2026 · Service brakes

“The engine water pump on this vehicle is leaking both internally and externally. This vehicle uses the 3.0T (EA839) engine, which uses a vacuum-actuated water pump with a shroud sleeve mechanism. A li”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 13, 2026 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2021 Audi SQ5 (SQ5 Sportback). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20 mpg
City / Highway18 / 24
FuelPremium
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Compare Audi SQ5 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi SQ5 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2013 Audi SQ501
2014 Audi SQ5112
2015 Audi SQ518
2016 Audi SQ506
2017 Audi SQ505
2018 Audi SQ5524
2019 Audi SQ5519
2020 Audi SQ548
2021 Audi SQ5513
2022 Audi SQ525
2023 Audi SQ503
2024 Audi SQ506
2025 Audi SQ517
2026 Audi SQ504

Checking a specific 2021 Audi SQ5

How do I know if my 2021 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 2021 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 21V295000).

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

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.