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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2018 Audi Q5 is associated with 224 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 6 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Suspension, accounting for 22 reports (10% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl and 3l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 25 MPG combined. The 2018 Audi Q5 belongs to the 2nd generation (Typ FY) Q5 platform spanning model years 2018–2024.

Platform Architecture: 2nd Generation (Typ FY) • Production Span: 2018–2024 • Platform Code: MLB Evo • Lifecycle Note: Pre-Facelift (2018–2020) / Facelift (2021–2024)
Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 224 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 6 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Suspension (22 / 10%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 11 crash / 0 fire / 5 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 21–25 MPG across 2 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2018 Audi Q5?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Q5 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) 23 MPG 27 MPG 25 MPG — $3,050 / yr
SQ5 3L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 19 MPG 24 MPG 21 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2018 Audi Q5?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV AWD Later Release 16.400000000000002%
SUV AWD Early Release 16.3%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Audi Q5 models.
View complete 2018 Audi Q5 crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2018 Audi Q5?

Summary of 224 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
224
Crash Reports
11
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
5
Total Injuries
7

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Suspension 22 complaints
Electrical System 21 complaints
Engine 11 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance 9 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2018 Audi Q5 problems & component breakdown (83 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2018 Audi Q5?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #18V369000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Defect 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 performance.

Free Manufacturer 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 brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
NHTSA Campaign #21V947000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

Defect 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, causing it to shutdown.

Free Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.
NHTSA Campaign #19V737000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY

Defect 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.

Free Manufacturer 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 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.
View all 2018 Audi Q5 recalls & campaign history (6 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2018 Audi Q5

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 Audi Q5

How many safety recalls does the 2018 Audi Q5 have?

The 2018 Audi Q5 is associated with 6 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2018 Audi Q5?

NHTSA records list 224 consumer defect complaints for the 2018 Audi Q5. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Suspension, appearing in 22 filings (10% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 Audi Q5?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2018 Audi Q5 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2018 Audi Q5 get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2018 Audi Q5 range from 21 to 25 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.