AI Damage2018 Audi A5: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Audi A5 filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. The maker issued 845 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 845
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 208.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 47.
- Engine: 2 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 28.
- Suspension: 1 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 48.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 208 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 47 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 28 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 48 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 43 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 251 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 85 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 9 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Without warning or alerts from vehicle, car became disabled while partially into a left turn at a four way intersection. Car engine would rev, but not move. Gear selector worked, but wheels would not turn. Front wheels were completely locked and vehicle had to be dragged onto a flatbed truck.
2018 Audi A5 Sportback has 16,500 miles only on it. Used for city driving only; never off road. Recently went in for annual inspection and was told that my right rear coil spring had snapped in two and vehicle was unsafe to drive.
My 2018 Audi A5 Sportback previously received Audi Safety Recall 74E3 on January 27, 2023. The recall repair documentation indicates a seat POD (Passenger Occupant Detection System) update was performed. Several years later, the vehicle developed another passenger airbag fault.
The MMI ( main screen) system randomly reboots every 5 minutes, even when using CarPlay, which is unsafe. Please check it out. Thank you!
I turned on my car and several malfunctions came on the dash,and would not start and went in limp mode. A local mechanic stated it's the electrical component of the coolant pump causing malfunction.
When these parts fail, coolant leaks quickly, which can cause sudden overheating, engine damage, and potential vehicle disablement while driving. Based on owner reports and my own experience, this appears to be a widespread issue across Audi/VW vehicles of this generation.
The water pump failed on my vehicle. Initially reported 2/2025 at Authorized Audi Service Center. They claimed it was normal for coolant to dip. Audi USA Confirmed I have a settlement class vehicle in 03/2025. Mentioned an 80K Mileage limit.
Engine replacements are 10,000 for these types of cars. Audi is aware of this issue and should repair all vehicles with this known issue
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,524 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 27% least complained about).
On average one model year of the A5 has 8 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 9, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
- This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer
- This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the…
This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.
- This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped
- This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning
- This bulletin provides informaiton when the airbag warning lamp is active, event memory "B200000 - Faulty…
This bulletin provides informaiton when the airbag warning lamp is active, event memory "B200000 - Faulty control module, symptom 305".
- This bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels
- This service information TSB provides warranty coverage information for vehicles with a broken sunroof panel
NHTSA lists 845 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi A5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, engine. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (22%), engine failure or replacement (11%), won't start (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Audi A5?
NHTSA lists 845 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Audi A5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.