AI Damage2017 Audi Q5: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Audi Q5 filed 42 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 620 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 42
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 620
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 45% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 12% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 19 complaints (45% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 34.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 5 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 120.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
- Steering: 4 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
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
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 42 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 0 | 34 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 120 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 43 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Structure | 3 | 2 | 46 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 44 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 17 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Hit a stationary honda crv on black ice at approx 45-50 mph. Impact was straight on front of our car and rear of the crv. Our both vehicles were totaled, none of our air bags deployed. Our vehicle was then hit from the rear by a jeep wrangler at about the same speed. Still no deployment of air bags.
No air bags deployed and no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the tow yard. A police report was filed. The driver received medical attention on the scene of the crash due to a broken sternum along with other unknown injuries. The driver had an appointment to see a doctor for a follow up.
The airbags did not deploy and the pretensioners on the drivers seatbelt did not engage . The speed at which we were traveling is unknown but likely more than 15 miles per hour and less than 40 miles per hour. The driver looked away from the road briefly and rear-ended the truck ahead .
Coolant leaking from the thermostat housing to engine. Had to replace the thermostat housing and reseal the valve cover Because the oil leak coming from the valve cover is causing oil to reach the thermostat sear and cause the rubber seal to expand and blow out causing the coolant to leak from the thermostat.
Oil consumption. Audi Q5 oil consumption in my car is not functioning properly. I have to put oil in it about every 3 weeks or less depending on how much I’m driving.
[dealer] dealership’s head mechanic said that because my front brake pads and rotor, and my back brake pads were replaced at Pep Boys two years ago that this could be a reason for the brake failure. although he was not 100% sure of this.
Steering is occasionally exhibits resistance when turning left or right. Steering becomes very stiff intermittently. I have taken the to a repair twice but the does not duplicate. The repair did a scan to see if there were any codes but none came up.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
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 952 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 45% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Q5 has 49 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 42, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
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 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 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
- This bulletin provides information about leather care and seat repair
- This bulletin provides information about the general approach for brake vibration concerns
NHTSA lists 620 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- 2009-2017 Audi Q5 01625, 02203 Parking Aid, & Rear View Backup Camera Erroramount per author: 8 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Audi Q5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 42. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (10%), brake failure (7%), overheating, coolant loss (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Audi Q5?
NHTSA lists 620 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 2017 Audi Q5 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 2017 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.