Audi S5 Recalls

The Audi S5 has 17 recalls spanning 2011 through 2025, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2025 models where front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production, potentially preventing the belt from properly restraining an occupant in a crash.

The 2025 model year carries three related restraint concerns. Beyond the front retractor issue, the rear seat belt automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the belt, leaving the child seat unsecured in a crash. A third recall covers front seat belts on 2025 vehicles more broadly, where production damage can prevent the belt from holding an occupant in place during a collision.

Going back to the 2023 model year, a software fault in the passenger seat occupancy sensor can incorrectly deactivate the front passenger airbag, meaning it will not deploy in a crash. A similar occupancy sensor issue affected 2018-2020 models, where the same type of misdiagnosis could disable the passenger airbag. On 2018 models specifically, oxidation on the sensor's connecting cable was the trigger for that deactivation. The 2022 model year has a tire defect where tread can separate from the belt structure, causing sudden tire failure and loss of control; this applies only to tires with specific date codes. Two separate software issues on 2021-2022 models can cause the rearview camera display to go blank or fail to appear when reversing, reducing rear visibility.

The 2020-2021 Sportback body styles have a wiring harness in the spare wheel well area that may lack protective covering, so a rear collision can damage the wires and prevent doors from opening from the outside while also disabling the hazard lights. A rear axle lock nut on 2019-2021 models can break and misalign the rear axle, causing loss of control. On 2019 models, front shock absorber forks can develop cracks that allow the shock absorbers to loosen and impair steering. The 2019-2021 model years also have a related rear axle alignment concern where misalignment causes uneven or premature tire wear. A rear seat belt retractor on 2021 models can fail to properly secure a child restraint.

Going further back, 2011-2012 models have a fuel injection system that can develop a fuel leak near ignition sources, raising the risk of an engine fire.