This page covers 5 recalls, 105 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Audi Q5.
21–26 mpg combined
9–11.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2014 Audi Q5 cluster most heavily around the engine, steering, and fuel system. The single most prominent structural theme, cutting across several complaint categories, is rear subframe corrosion: owners report that road salt and debris become trapped by the subframe's design, leading to significant rust perforation and, in some cases, complete structural failure of the crossmember. Owners describe discovering holes several inches wide through the metal, often confirmed by independent inspections. On the fuel side, owners report noticing fuel odors both inside and outside the cabin, with leaking fuel pumps cited as a common finding after inspection. Steering complaints round out the top reported systems, with owners describing handling concerns consistent with compromised underbody integrity in some cases, or independent steering-system behavior in others. The subframe corrosion pattern appears across multiple reports and spans a range of mileages, with failures showing up well before what most owners consider end-of-life wear.
105
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Audi Q5 has 5 recalls, all carrying fire risk: fuel, coolant, and electrical faults can each lead to a fire, and a corroded side curtain airbag inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin.
The fuel system concern involves a fuel pump flange that can crack and leak fuel near potential ignition sources. Two recalls address the electric coolant pump on vehicles with the 2.0L turbocharged engine: debris from the cooling system can block the pump, causing it to overheat and potentially catch fire. These are treated as a single underlying issue, though prior repair attempts may not have fully resolved it for all affected vehicles. On the electrical side, corrosion inside the connector for the auxiliary heater can cause the wiring to overheat and melt, raising the fire risk further. The airbag concern involves the sunroof drainage system allowing water to soak into foam around the side curtain airbag inflator, which then corrodes; a corroded inflator can rupture during deployment and scatter metal fragments toward the driver or passengers.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric coolant pump can become blocked by debris, causing overheating, or can short-circuit from moisture inside the pump.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric coolant pump at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Corrosion in the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater can cause heater wires to overheat or melt.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and update software as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump flange can crack, which may cause fuel to leak from the fuel system.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace cracked flanges or apply protective film to flanges without cracks, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water from the sunroof drainage system can soak into foam around the side head air bag inflator canister, causing it to corrode and weaken. The corroded inflator may fracture and break apart without deploying the air bag, sending fragments into the cabin.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove the foam, inspect the inflator, and coat or replace it as needed to prevent corrosion, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric coolant pump can become blocked by debris in the cooling system, causing the pump to overheat.
What the fix does
Software will be updated to shut off power to the coolant pump if it becomes blocked with debris.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
