Audi Q5 (8R) common problems: what to check before you buy
Credov's researched list of the 10 faults the Audi Q5 (8R) is known for (2008–2013), 9 of them serious or costly. Each one says what to look for when you check the car, so you can spot it before you buy. Not every car has these faults: they are the ones worth checking on this model.
Known problems on the Audi Q5 (8R)
Coolant pump fault and fire risk
Safety risk
2011–2017 · 2.0 TFSI petrol, vehicles fitted with an additional (after-run) electric coolant pump · petrol · Engine
What to look for: Ask for proof the coolant pump recall was done, and check the EPC warning light goes out after starting.
Why it matters: Recalled in Australia twice - PRA 2017/16068 (May 2017, debris blocking the additional coolant pump) and PRA 2018/16842 (June 2018, campaign 19N3, moisture ingress) - and in the US as NHTSA 18V229 / Audi 19N4, because an overheating or short-circuiting coolant pump can start an engine-bay fire. An unrepaired car is a fire and liability exposure, not just a repair.
What to look for: Smell for petrol under the rear seat base, and look for fuel stains or a rubber band around the fuel pump cover.
Why it matters: US recalls NHTSA 16V660 (Audi 20W9) and the follow-up 18V818 (20BJ): the fuel pump flange can crack and leak fuel, and a fuel leak with an ignition source is a fire risk. The first remedy was butyl tape, later found not to prevent leaks, so tape alone is not a completed fix.
What to look for: Ask for proof the Takata driver airbag was replaced, or check the VIN on the Takata recall lookup.
Why it matters: ACCC recall PRA 2018/16949 (August 2018): the Takata driver's airbag contains propellant wafers that can absorb moisture over time; in a collision that triggers the driver's airbag, excessive internal pressure can rupture the metal inflator housing and project fragments through the airbag cushion into the cabin - a serious risk of injury or death.
2008–2011 · CAEB, CDNC, CAEA, CDNB · petrol · Engine
What to look for: Check the dipstick is near full, ask how often it needs topping up, and look for blue smoke at cold start.
Why it matters: Audi issued TPI 2024604/23 (2.0 TFSI) and TPI 2026711/7 (1.8 TFSI) stating that modified pistons and piston rings entered production in week 44 of 2011, and a US class action (Asghari v. Volkswagen Group of America, final approval 29 May 2015) extended oil-consumption cover to 8 yr / 80,000 mi for 2009-2011 MY A4, A5 and Q5 in the United States only. NZ cars carry no such cover.
2012–2017 · 2.0 TFSI EA888 gen 3 · petrol · Engine
What to look for: Check the oil level, look for blue smoke at cold start, and ask if the pistons have been replaced.
Why it matters: A US class action (Gonzalez v. Volkswagen Group of America, D.N.J. 1:21-cv-15026, filed 9 Aug 2021) alleges that piston rings in these engines fail to seat and can fracture; a settlement reached preliminary approval and a claims site went live in 2024, covering 75% of repair cost for 9 yr / 90,000 mi in the United States.
What to look for: Check for a gearbox warning when selecting R and D from cold, and feel for skipped gears or slipping on the drive.
Why it matters: The 2008-2010 DL501 cars are reported for failing mechatronic units and premature multi-plate clutch wear; the escalation path is repair kit, then mechatronic, then whole gearbox. The same 0B5 box continued in these models to 2016, so run the same checks on later cars even though the cited report scopes 2008-2010.
What to look for: Smell the vents for hot plastic in the first minute on full heat, and ask if the heater recall was done.
Why it matters: Australian recalls PRA 2018/16956 (80C5) and PRA 2019/17547 (82C1): the electric auxiliary heater element can overheat at its connectors, causing smoulder damage or fire behind the dash.
What to look for: Feel the headlining above the doors and around the sunroof for damp or stains, and ask if the recall was done.
Why it matters: Australian recall PRA 2017/16055: if the sunroof drains do not work, water soaks the foam next to the curtain-airbag gas generator, which can corrode and burst. A wet headliner is also a sign of water in the A-pillar wiring and modules.
What to look for: Listen at a cold start for a rattle from the front (radiator end) of the engine.
Why it matters: A jumped timing chain on this engine typically bends the valves and can destroy the engine with no warning, and the repair ranges from a chain and tensioner job if caught early to a full engine replacement if not.
What to look for: Ask Audi NZ for the open recall list for this VIN, and look for Japanese recall stickers under the bonnet.
Why it matters: The Australian recall register covers Australian-delivered vehicles only - the recall index used throughout this overlay states that on every page. Recalls cited here were retrieved from that register and from NHTSA; the same factory campaigns ran in Japan under MLIT, but MLIT records were not retrieved in this session.
Got a question about a Audi Q5 (8R)? Ask Credov: a noise, a warning light, a part or how to fix it.
Also check on every car
On top of the faults above, every Credov inspection covers the basics: fuel smell, leaks or filler rust, engine oil leaks, power steering fluid leak, drive belt cracks or squeal, rust underneath: chassis and mounts, engine mounts, engine oil level and colour, coolant level, colour and leaks, head gasket failure signs, cold start: rattle, knock or smoke, rough or hunting idle, engine running hot on gauge, gearbox or diff oil leak, swapped gearbox without lvv and more.
Researched by Credov from manufacturer recalls and service bulletins, owner reports and workshop sources. Repair prices are typical ranges, not quotes. See also fault codes and repair costs.