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2021 Audi Q5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
40% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Audi Q5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 103 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%), and the largest group is filed under engine (22). For comparison, the 2020 scores 31% and the 2022 scores 35%. 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 2021 compares with other Audi Q5 years
Of the 13 Audi Q5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (40%). The worst is the 2010 (80%), the best the 2018 (22%). By volume, the 2021 drew 103 complaints (41 drivetrain), against 37 for the 2020 and 50 for the 2022.
Audi Q5 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Q5 problems · 2011 Q5 problems · 2013 Q5 problems · 2014 Q5 problems · 2015 Q5 problems · 2016 Q5 problems · 2017 Q5 problems · 2018 Q5 problems · 2019 Q5 problems · 2020 Q5 problems · 2021 · 2022 Q5 problems · 2023 Q5 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Audi Q5
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Audi Q5 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- 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.
2021 Audi Q5 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Audi Q5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 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 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at…
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Audi Q5
Does the 2021 Audi Q5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 103 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi Q5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%). 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 2021 Audi Q5?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Audi Q5 is electrical system: 33 of 103 complaints (32%) name it, followed by engine (22) and power train (20). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 40% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Audi Q5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 40% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Audi Q5 years we score, it ranks 6th-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 2021 Audi Q5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Audi Q5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 22V753000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical). 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 2021 (40%). 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. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.