Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2018 Audi Q5 is associated with 224 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 6 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is Suspension, accounting for 22 reports (10% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl and 3l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 25 MPG combined. The 2018 Audi Q5 belongs to the 2nd generation (Typ FY) Q5 platform spanning model years 2018–2024.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 224 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 6 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: Suspension (22 / 10%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 11 crash / 0 fire / 5 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 21–25 MPG across 2 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2018 Audi Q5?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q5 | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S7) | 23 MPG | 27 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $3,050 / yr |
| SQ5 | 3L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S8) | 19 MPG | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $3,600 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2018 Audi Q5?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD Later Release | 16.400000000000002% | ||||
| SUV AWD Early Release | 16.3% |
Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Audi Q5 models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2018 Audi Q5?
Summary of 224 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2018 Audi Q5 problems & component breakdown (83 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2018 Audi Q5?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.
Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2018 Audi Q5
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 Audi Q5
How many safety recalls does the 2018 Audi Q5 have?
The 2018 Audi Q5 is associated with 6 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2018 Audi Q5?
NHTSA records list 224 consumer defect complaints for the 2018 Audi Q5. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Suspension, appearing in 22 filings (10% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 Audi Q5?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2018 Audi Q5 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2018 Audi Q5 get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2018 Audi Q5 range from 21 to 25 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.