AI Damage2025 Audi SQ5: common problems
Owners of the 2025 Audi SQ5 filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about forward collision avoidance and electrical system. The maker issued 863 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 863
What fails most often
- 1 Forward collision avoidance 38% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 13% of all complaints
- Forward collision avoidance: 3 complaints (38% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 429.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 53.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Engine: 1 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 69.
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
- automatic, 8-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 429 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 53 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 69 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 18 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
More than 50% of the time when I start the vehicle, numerous warning lights and error messages appear simultaneously on the dashboard, indicating failures across multiple driver assistance and safety systems.
On at least five occasions since we purchased this vehicle brand new in January 2026, the digital transmission system has failed to switch into park and would not switch into park -- producing an error message.
Ive experienced multiple unexpected braking events while driving on essentially open road using adaptive cruise control. When this first happened it scared me significantly and caused a car behind me to run up on me.
Prior to this complete shutdown, the vehicle had been brought to an authorized Audi dealership on 3 previous occasions soon after purchase for progressive electronic communication failures and transient dashboard warning lights, which the service department dismissed as false alerts and did software updates to remedy…
1–2 second delay in throttle response from pedal input, followed by sudden uncommanded surge/jerk forward. Occurs when vehicle is on hold mode in a slope or in plain flat conditions at a light or a stop sign. It happens when the car is cold or warm. I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive.
The contact leases a 2025 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that the driver's side exterior rear-view mirror position was blocking the driver's view while making a left turn. The manufacturer was contact and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for it to be test-driven.
I was driving out of a parking lot into the feeder road of a highway with the intent of immediately getting on the highway. When I attempted to accelerate the car would not go any faster. I was traveling perhaps 5-10 miles per hour as cars on the feeder road were approaching at 45-50 miles per hour.
The steering stiffened up and almost caused a car crash. It was very dangerous. [dealer] dealership said that software issues were all resolved before allowing the purchase of the vehicle today, but this dangerous malfunction still happened.
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 1,555 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 26% least complained about).
On average one model year of the SQ5 has 8 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 8, about average.
What to check before buying
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- 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.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
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 the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off
- This bulletin is a help guide for Audi connect remote start
- This Pending Service Solution (PSS) requests that technicians create a record in the PSS database when…
This Pending Service Solution (PSS) requests that technicians create a record in the PSS database when there is an exhaust emissions warning lamp illuminated, DTC P0299 sumptom 34203; V6 TFSI.
- This bulletin provides information when there is a driver system fault, or an MIL - DTC P060C00 symptom…
This bulletin provides information when there is a driver system fault, or an MIL - DTC P060C00 symptom 1301 and P162400 in J1312 (address word 812C).
- This bulletin is an aid supportin gthe combined softare update 03.11.00/C (28.14.01) KD2*
- This bulletin provides information regarding software update KD2* 03.11.00/C (28.14.01)
- This bulletin provides an overview of the combined software updates for cluster 3; PPE/PPC
- This Pending Service Solution (PSS) requests that technicians create a record in the PSS data base in…
This Pending Service Solution (PSS) requests that technicians create a record in the PSS data base in instances when the vehicle cannot be unlocked, and the ehicle cannot be switched on; 12V battery has been discharged.
- This bulletin provides information when there is an abnormal knocking noise from the engine compartment;…
- This Pending Service Solution requests that technicains create a record in the PSS database when the…
This Pending Service Solution requests that technicains create a record in the PSS database when the Bluetooth/Audi smartphone interface connects slowly or the connection is interrupted.
- This bulletin provides information when the rear lid only opens/clolses slightly and then stops
NHTSA lists 863 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 2025 Audi SQ5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: forward collision avoidance, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (25%), warning lights, check engine (25%), jerking, harsh shifts (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2025 Audi SQ5?
NHTSA lists 863 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 2025 Audi SQ5 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 2025 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.