Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Audi SQ5. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Audi SQ5,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 2013–2025 with 23 recall campaigns and 128 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2021 (5), 2019 (5), and 2018 (5).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2018 (35), 2019 (21), and 2021 (14).
Top recall themes: Structure, Brakes, and Other.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system, Steering, Engine.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Structure
3 campaigns · Years: 2018–2022
These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Audi SQ5 in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system, Steering, Engine.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2025
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine, Steering, Vehicle speed control.
2024
0
8
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking, Forward collision avoidance: warnings, Structure:body.
2023
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking, Electrical system, Structure:body.
2022
2
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking.
2021
5
14
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Air bags.
2020
4
10
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking, Steering, Vehicle speed control.
2019
5
21
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Air bags.
2018
5
35
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Exterior lighting.
2017
0
5
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Visibility/wiper, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control.
2016
0
6
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering, Visibility/wiper, Engine.
2015
1
8
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Steering, Structure:body, Service brakes.
2014
1
13
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Steering, Fuel/propulsion system, Suspension.
2013
0
1
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Structure
, Service brakes
and Suspension
Show recall evidence by year
2022
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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, ca
Structure: Tailgate:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling one 2022 Audi SQ5 Sportback vehicle. The connections that join the metal sheets to form the rear lid may have been improperly connected.
2021
Suspension: Non-powered axle assembly:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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, ca
Tires:
Safety recall involving the tires area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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,
Back over prevention: Display function:
Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Suspension: Non-powered axle assembly:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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, ca
Tires:
Safety recall involving the tires area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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,
2019
Service brakes, hydraulic: Master cylinder:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Wheels: Hub:
Safety recall involving the wheels area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Air bags: Inflator module:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger fronta
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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, ca
2018
Service brakes, hydraulic: Caliper:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 perf
Service brakes, hydraulic: Master cylinder:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Wheels: Hub:
Safety recall involving the wheels area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Structure: Body:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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, ca
2015
Steering: Electric power assist system:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Audi SQ5 vehicles manufactured May 22, 2013, to April 14, 2015. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering assist system that may shut down in cold temperatures due to a steering motor sensor fault
2014
Steering: Electric power assist system:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Audi SQ5 vehicles manufactured May 22, 2013, to April 14, 2015. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering assist system that may shut down in cold temperatures due to a steering motor sensor fault
Other Audi Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Audi models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
