AI Damage2018 Audi S5: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Audi S5 filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and visibility. The maker issued 740 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 740
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 35% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 12% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Parking brake 8% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 9 complaints (35% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Visibility: 3 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 36.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 162.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 37.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 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 | 9 | 0 | 38 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 36 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 162 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 1 | 37 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Parking brake | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 78 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 43 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 41 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 37 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 4 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the gearbox and parking brake released while the vehicle was in park. As a result, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a concrete barrier. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained.
Forward collision warning and mitigation system (pre sense city) did not work to prevent an accident where I rear ended a car that was stationary. No warning or action was taken by the car. Police report attached.
I had requested the diagnostic due to small coolant leaks on the engine and loss of coolant in the expansion tank. No warning lights and no overheating yet. Not yet aware of any loss of performance. I have been advised it is unsafe to continue driving the car. Dealer has quoted me $7800 estimate to repair the car.
The warning message “Passenger Airbag Off” appears with a chime. This is an active safety recall that was issued before I purchased the vehicle, but the recall was not disclosed at the time of sale.
VEHICLE Year: 2018 Make: Audi Model: S5 Prestige Trim: 3.0 TFSI (EA839 V6 Turbo) Mileage: 86,000 Engine Code: CWGD COMPLAINT TITLE Latent Engine Failure – EA839 Piston Skirt + Rocker Arm Defects – Dealer Broke Engine Cover, Left Wiring Harness Dangling – Audi Denies Despite Having DIY Receipts For Maintenance…
Around 57,000 miles, the engine began making a noticeable ticking noise, which I have been advised is due to failing rocker arms. This issue has raised serious concerns, as it can lead to engine misfires, reduced performance, and potentially catastrophic engine damage if left unresolved.
•Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions.
The system warning keeps coming on, I’ve tried to schedule appointments with Audi since 2022 and they have zero appointments available
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 1,141 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 46% least complained about).
On average one model year of the S5 has 5 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 26, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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 when there is an abnormal knocking noise from the engine compartment;…
- 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 an abnormal engine knocking noise from the engine…
This bulletin provides information when there is an abnormal engine knocking noise from the engine compartment; V6 3.0L TFSI.
NHTSA lists 740 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 S5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, visibility, air bags. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), overheating, coolant loss (15%), rear-view camera (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Audi S5?
NHTSA lists 740 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 S5 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.