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2019 Audi Q5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
14 of 41 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 Audi Q5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 27%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Audi Q5 have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (9). For comparison, the 2018 scores 22% and the 2020 scores 31%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
52
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
5 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 23%
ENGINE9 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES7 · 13%
STEERING7 · 13%
POWER TRAIN6 · 12%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5 · 10%

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 2019 compares with other Audi Q5 years

Of the 13 Audi Q5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2010 (80%), the best the 2018 (22%). By volume, the 2019 drew 52 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 207 for the 2018 and 37 for the 2020.

Audi Q5 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 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

ENGINE09/16/2026
Received a malfunction drive train alert on a 2019 Audi with approximately 66,000 miles at the time. Took it in to have it addressed and was advised it needed a new Turbo. The turbo has since been replaced. However, a vehicle with very low miles should not be having any drive train issues. There is a class action lawsu…

One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2019 Audi Q5 engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi Q5, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: body control module/bcm21V947000 · Dec 2021
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…
structure: body19V737000 · Oct 2019
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.
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module19V473000 · Jun 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may…
wheels: hub19V416000 · Jun 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder19V277000 · Apr 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 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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Questions people ask about the 2019 Audi Q5

Does the 2019 Audi Q5 have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 14 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). 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 2019 Audi Q5?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Audi Q5 is electrical system: 12 of 52 complaints (23%) name it, followed by engine (9) and service brakes (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 34% of the relevant total.

Is the 2019 Audi Q5 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Audi Q5 years we score, it ranks 4th-best. 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 2019 Audi Q5?

No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi Q5, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

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 2019 (34%). 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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Experimental 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.