2025 Audi S5: complaints, problems and recalls

NHTSA Safety Complaint DraftVehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2013 Audi S5 Premium Plus CoupeVIN: [XXX]: Power Train / Transmission (7-Speed Dual-Clutch S-Tronic / DSG)Description of Safety Defect:I am writing to report a severe, recurring safety defect regarding the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in my 2013 Audi S5. The vehicle is experiencing catastrophic transmission issues, including sudden power loss, violent juddering, erratic shifting, and abruptly entering "limp mode" without warning.This issue presents an immediate and severe safe…

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TAKATA RECALL

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FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM (PRE SENSE CITY) DID NOT WORK TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A CAR THAT WAS STATIONARY. NO WARNING OR ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE CAR. POLICE REPORT ATTACHED.

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SOS, Bluetooth hands free are all failing to operate

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Below is a detailed timeline of the problems I experienced: Intermittent starting issue Over the past few months, the car has occasionally failed to start on the first attempt. It always started on the second try, so I planned to mention it at the next service visit. Complete MMI/display blackout while driving on the highway In the middle of my trip, the entire center display and instrument cluster went completely black while I was driving at highway speed. All information disappeared (speed, fuel level, navigation, radio , everything). The …

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I GET THE GEARBOX MALFUNCTION AND TPMS LIGHT FLASHING AND THE CAR JERKS AND STUTTERS ESPECIALLY FROM START AND COMING TO A STOP. WHEN STOPPING, IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. RAN THE CODES AND IT IS A MECHATRONIC MALFUNCTION/FAILURE. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND FELT JERKY MOVEMENTS I HAD TO PULL OVER. OBVIOUSLY I HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME AND GEARBOX MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. THE PROBLEM TURNS OUT TO BE A MECHATRONIC ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE THERE'S A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT TSB NUMBER IS 10054213-2278. ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO OPEN A CASE WITH AUDI USA. MY CASE GOT DENIED BECAUSE THEY STATED THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE VEHICLE MODEL. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WARRANTY PART BUT TO SAY THAT IS NOT A KNOW…

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Backup camera, and MMI SYSTEM DONT WORK GOOGLE MAP,suspension front has been replaced at 90k miles

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARBOX AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI GREENWICH (181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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The system warning keeps coming on, I’ve tried to schedule appointments with Audi since 2022 and they have zero appointments available

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I got into a car accident that a ton of front end damage (the car was totaled) and none of the airbags deployed. I was alone in the car and wearing my seatbelt. I looked and found no noted recalls for the airbags in my specific car.

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The contact owns a 2024 Audi S5. The contact stated that while his wife was seated in the front passenger’s seat with dam clothing after a workout, the air bag malfunction warning light would illuminate. The contact's wife had to sit on a towel while seated in the passenger’s seat to activate the air bags, and to turn off the warning light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer stated that the air bag sensor was not de…

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THE CAR'S BACKUP CAMERA FEED HAS A LOT OF ISSUES FOR MANY OWNERS, MYSELF INCLUDED. THERE IS A PROBABLY 10% CHANCE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA NOT TURNING ON WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR EACH TIME. LOTS OF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES ON THE A5/S5/RS5 PLATFORM FROM SIMILAR YEARS. IF YOU GOOGLE THE FOLLOWING: "SITE:A5OC.COM BACKUP CAMERA" YOU CAN SEE LOTS OF THREADS FROM A FORUM DEDICATED TO THE ABOVE MODELS. THE FAILING BACKUP CAMERAS ARE DANGEROUS SINCE THEY INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. SOMETIMES I CATCH MYSELF STARTING TO REVERSE ASSUMING THE B…

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The contact owns a 2014 Audi S5. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was a Control Area Network (CAN) bus system unit TCM error, power brake, and engine failure. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and was unable to determine the cause of the failure. However, the dealer wanted to replace the CAN bus unit. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,662.

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HELLO - MY 2016 AUDI S5 COUPE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS HAD AN ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK ERROR FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE ISSUE AROSE AFTER DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS (BUT NOT IN STANDING WATER). THE STEERING RACK IN MY CAR PROVIDES ELECTRONIC ASSISTANCE TO MY STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE STEERING RACK IS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM CAR'S MOTOR WITH THREE ELECTRICAL PLUGS FOR POWER AND STEERING. THESE PLUGS ARE NOT WEATHER PROOF. AS A RESULT MY STEERING RACK HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE AND AN ERROR IS PRESENT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDED EVEN WITH THE SEAT BELT ENGAGED AND IN USE. THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AUDI BIRMINGHAM MICHIGAN (34602 WOODWARD AVE, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009, [phone removed]) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,300.

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The Emergency Call Module Control Unit has now failed for the second time. If the vehicle were to be involved in a crash, the system will not be able to automatically call for assistance. Vehicle is already subject to Audi service campaign 90T2 to reflash emergency call module control unit, however the unit in my vehicle could not be flashed due to it having intermittent errors. The local Audi dealer is stating the next available appointment to diagnose the issue is in three months. After diagnosis there may be a longer wait to obtain required…

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The car stalled while driving on [XXX] while approaching Express EZpass toll on [XXX]. The car stayed in the middle of the fast lane until the tow truck driver came and started the car. I cannot recall the yellow message on the dashboard that appeared as soon as the engine stopped. A yellow triangle with exclamation point and a car with exclamation point appeared on the dashboard. We called 911 and then AAA. AAA on the phone instructed us to turn on and off the engine several times. The engine did not start until the tow truck driver came, o…

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I began my lease for a brand-new 2025 Audi S5 on July 14, 2025. The vehicle was delivered with a dent in the door, which the dealer repaired before I could take possession. The dent repair was completed on July 22, 2025, at which time I took delivery. On July 23, I informed my sales representative that the SOS/eCall emergency communications system was not functioning. This safety feature, designed to automatically contact emergency services after a crash, has never worked since delivery. I returned the vehicle to the selling dealer on July 28…

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AFTER ~106,000 MILES, AN ERROR CODE 'TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. YOU CAN KEEP DRIVING', WITH ERROR CODE P179D00 (PER DEALER). CAR HAS HESTITATION AT LOW RPM OR WHILE STOPPED (AS AT A LIGHT OR HEAVY TRAFFIC) AND OCCASIONALLY JERKS FORWARD, DESPITE BRAKES BEING FIRMLY APPLIED.

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Backup camera, and MMI SYSTEM DONT WORK GOOGLE MAP,suspension front has been replaced at 90k miles

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I own an Audi 2015 S5 Cabriolet. I bought this new from Strong Audi in Salt Lake City. On September 2, 2022, I was driving it on I 15 south of Provo UT. I was in the middle of 5 lanes of traffic all driving approximately 80/miles per hour. Suddenly, the engine shut down. Thank God the drivers around me were able to avoid me as I had to coast to the right lane at very slow speed. As explained by the service representative at Strong Audi my vehicle has a tendency to vapor-lock in high temperatures resulting in the engine shutting down! He …

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MAXIMUM OIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT, REDUCE OIL LEVEL, SINCE PURCHASED. GASOLINE GETTING INTO OIL. REMOVED 9 QUARTS OF GASOLINE SATURATED OIL OUT OF CAR. AUDI SAYS I NEED TO DRIVE CAR MORE. AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED OIL & FILTER AND SAID TO MONITOR . DROVE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE, WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, CHECKED ENGINE WITH AFTER MARKET OIL DIP STICK, STONE SMELL OF GAS IN OIL. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP

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Water pump failure due to coolant migration.

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The car stalled while driving on [XXX] while approaching Express EZpass toll on [XXX]. The car stayed in the middle of the fast lane until the tow truck driver came and started the car. I cannot recall the yellow message on the dashboard that appeared as soon as the engine stopped. A yellow triangle with exclamation point and a car with exclamation point appeared on the dashboard. We called 911 and then AAA. AAA on the phone instructed us to turn on and off the engine several times. The engine did not start until the tow truck driver came, o…

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Known-Best Assesment-Piston Skirt Defect and Non-Disclosure of Prior Issues: Approximately only three months after purchase of a brand new 2025 Audi S5 on 6/11/25 , I received a letter from Audi of America acknowledging a potential piston skirt defect/failure resulting from faulty material and/or workmanship. They extended the part warranty for 8 years or 80,000 miles but this doesn't help me feel safe driving this vehicle. I was informed the defect cannot be proactively repaired and would only be addressed after failure. This instruction is un…

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Audi completed an over the air update and now the mmi screen reboots randomly, making it very dangerous when reversing using the backup camera and relying on parking sensors. Following navigation and it rebooting and having to utilize my cell phone making it difficult to also pay attention to the road.

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I smelled a super strong gas smell from my car leaking somewhere in the engine hidden by other parts, it smells so bad it’s hard to be in the car it’s a fire hazard. Due to the fuel the car hardly starts due to the fuel not getting to the engine

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I WAS DRIVING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE NEAR MY HOME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN RUSH HOUR ON AUGUST 21, 2019, WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD WITH NO WARNING; THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR BEHIND MANAGED TO STOP, BUT THE SITUATION LED TO CARS PASSING ME BY DRIVING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE IN THE FACE OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. EARLIER I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THE RESULTS COULD WELL HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT INJURY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TH…

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I own an Audi 2015 S5 Cabriolet. I bought this new from Strong Audi in Salt Lake City. On September 2, 2022, I was driving it on I 15 south of Provo UT. I was in the middle of 5 lanes of traffic all driving approximately 80/miles per hour. Suddenly, the engine shut down. Thank God the drivers around me were able to avoid me as I had to coast to the right lane at very slow speed. As explained by the service representative at Strong Audi my vehicle has a tendency to vapor-lock in high temperatures resulting in the engine shutting down! He …

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•Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions. •Previous Complaints and Lack of Resolution: Previous complaints about the parking brake and Intoxalock device were dismissed without proper investigation or resolution. •Parking Brake Failure: The parking brake failed to hold the car, leading to uncontrollable movement and collision with an obstacle. •…

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Our gas tank fuel level sensor is faulty so we can no longer tell how much gas is in our car. The check engine and fuel light are permanently on. This fuel sensor malfunction caused me to run out of gas in the middle of the road. The only way to fix it is to replace the entire gas tank at great expense. We were quoted $3500-$4000. We only have 44K miles on the vehicle.

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Fuel gauge does not move at all and showed tank was 5/8 full. However, when I was on the freeway, the vehicle stalled because I was out of gas. Luckily, I was on the right lane and therefore was able to pull over to the side without an incident. This is a new vehicle with faulty fuel sensors. Audi should have QC'd before releasing the vehicle for sale.

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Regularly my MMI will restart, screen goes blank, comes back and says I'm not the registered user. Then bluetooth won't work and I get park aid errors and no rear cross traffic or anything. Happens at least 2 times each way to and from work ( 45min ). I usually have to hard reset it twice to get things normal and an ignition cycle to get park aid back.

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I was turning west (left-hand turn) from a turn lane in the median, across three southbound lanes. I initiated the turn from a stop, after waiting through a traffic light. No nearby oncoming traffic. One car behind me in the turn lane. Halfway through the turn, the car suddenly and aggressively applied the breaks. Nearly caused the car behind me to collide with my rear. No evident reason for the car to stop. This is the second time something like this has happened with the "pre-sense" breaking system.

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I was making a left hand turn at an intersection with no cars in immediate proximity to my car and the emergency braking system activated violently causing the car to shut off. The pre sense light came on the dashboard. This happened 3 different times. I went to Freehold Audi and they stated the pre sense was doing its job. I reported this to Audi Headquarters last week and a report was written. Other electrical issues started happening, the lane change sensor was going off randomly, the windshield wipers were going off randomly. I traded the c…

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Summary of Safety Event: While traveling at highway speeds with active traffic behind me, the vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suffered an un-commanded, severe "phantom braking" event. The vehicle aggressively engaged the emergency service brakes and decelerated rapidly with absolutely no obstacles, pedestrians, or vehicles ahead. This sudden, violent deceleration created an immediate and high-risk rear-end collision hazard.Cascading Component Failures:In tandem with the dangerous autonomous braking behavior, the vehicle's el…

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