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2016 Audi Q5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Audi Q5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 78% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 53%).
Does the 2016 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%), and the largest group is filed under engine (26). For comparison, the 2015 scores 56% and the 2017 scores 59%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Audi Q5 years
Of the 13 Audi Q5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (58%). The worst is the 2010 (80%), the best the 2018 (22%). By volume, the 2016 drew 77 complaints (41 drivetrain), against 99 for the 2015 and 42 for the 2017.
Audi Q5 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Q5 problems · 2011 Q5 problems · 2013 Q5 problems · 2014 Q5 problems · 2015 Q5 problems · 2016 · 2017 Q5 problems · 2018 Q5 problems · 2019 Q5 problems · 2020 Q5 problems · 2021 Q5 problems · 2022 Q5 problems · 2023 Q5 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Audi Q5
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 41 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Audi Q5 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Audi Q5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The…
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.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Audi Q5? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Audi Q5?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Audi Q5 is engine: 26 of 77 complaints (34%) name it, followed by steering (10) and electrical system (10). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Audi Q5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 58% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 78% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Audi Q5 years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Audi Q5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Audi Q5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 18V229000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system), 17V298000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 17V002000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Audi Q5 years are better?
Among the Audi Q5 years we track, the 2018 (22%), the 2023 (28%) and the 2020 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (58%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/audi-q5
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.