2016 Audi Q5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
104 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Audi Q5, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 42/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 41,741 miles.
Below average
Where 2016 sits among all Q5 years
What owners report
“I bought this vehicle with 57,000 miles on it the water pump was replaced under recall at 60,000 miles now the water pump is bad at 97,000 miles so that’s three water pumps 97,000 miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Q5
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 32 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 32,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,400 and 42,581 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI…
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat…
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an…
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister.…
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began…
Technical service bulletins
840 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Audi Q5. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Audi Q5 reliable?
The 2016 Audi Q5 drew 104 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 42/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 2016 Audi Q5 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Audi Q5 are engine (34 complaints), other (12), and electrical (11).
At what mileage do 2016 Audi Q5 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Audi Q5 problems around 32,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,400 and 42,581 miles.
Does the 2016 Audi Q5 have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Audi Q5. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.