VehicleVerdict

2016 Audi Q5 engine problems

The 2016 Audi Q5 has 34 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 34% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

34

Engine complaints

34%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Q5 engine complaints by model year47 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 10 complaints2011: 43 complaints2012: 47 complaints2013: 33 complaints2014: 38 complaints2015: 45 complaints2016: 34 complaints2017: 21 complaints2018: 31 complaints2019: 8 complaints2020: 4 complaints2021: 18 complaints2022: 4 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 6 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Q5 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

18V229000EngineApril 11, 2018 · 342,867 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Consequence

A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

17V002000EngineJanuary 3, 2017 · 342,867 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.

Consequence

If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

What owners report

“I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS I DID SO, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD STRIKING A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR WAS WRITTEN OFF BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAD NOTICED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 20, 2019 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2016 Audi Q5 have?

NHTSA has 34 complaints about the 2016 Audi Q5 engine — 34% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Audi Q5 engine?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the engine: 17V002000, 18V229000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.