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Introduced by German car manufacturer Audi in 2008, the Q5 is a compact, luxury crossover SUV. The second-generation Audi Q5 was released in 2018. The 2021 model features a minor facelift.
Audi reports that the Q5 is the most popular, best-selling model the company has ever produced. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have problems. The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has dozens of complaints from owners of the 2021 Audi Q5 on file.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2018 2019 2020 2022
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Audi Q5
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Steering | |
| Structure | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings |
Additionally, Lemberg Law has launched a class action investigation following numerous complaints about electrical failure. The major issue is that moisture gets into the gateway control module, which can result in the vehicle shutting down. If this happens, the risk of some kind of accident is high.
In this article, we will evaluate the most common complaints and problems facing vehicle owners of the 2021 Audi Q5, including the Q5 E. In all, there are 26.
Most Common Problems with the 2021 Audi Q5
Knowing about our class action investigation, it will come as no surprise to discover that the most common problem facing Q5 owners is electrical. There are a total of 11 electrical system-related complaints, 3 of which are about the Audi Q5 E. Of these, 8 are categorized as powertrain-related complaints (4 of which are for the Q5 E), and 6 engine-related complaints.
Closer inspection shows that just about all of the complaints mentioned above incorporate electrical failure and the gateway control module. This is the big problem with the 2021 Audi Q5.
There are also complaints to the NHTSA about many other systems and components. Those that the Audi Q5 and other models have in common relate to forward collision avoidance and steering (2 complaints, 1 about the Q5 E). The Q5 E also has 1 complaint about each of these: land departure, structure, and vehicle speed control.
Additional complaints about the other models are about the fuel/propulsion system (2) and 1 each that relates to the fuel system – gasoline, service brakes, visibility, visibility/wiper, and wheels.
2021 Audi Q5 Electrical System Problems
All 11 of the electrical system complaints were specifically categorized as being due to the gateway module problem we are currently investigating. As our class action investigation article states, Audi issued a recall in December 2021 for 288,991 cars.
Two complaints came into the NHTSA in January 2022. Even though they relate to the control module, the recall isn’t helping these two Audi Q5 E owners.
One describes a “catastrophic failure” on a freeway in Long Beach in December last year. They managed to coast across 4 lanes of traffic with hazard lights flashing and honking to warn other motorists. When they stopped the car wouldn’t restart or change gear, and none of the car’s electrical systems worked.
The driver called AAA and 911 and a tow truck took their Q5 E to an Audi Service Center. The service tech confirmed a gateway control module failure and told the car owner it is a problem Audi is aware of. But because there was no moisture inside the car, “Audi is now insisting that we continue to drive the car, without the issue being fixed.”
The second January 2022 complaint describes a complete shutdown on New Year’s Eve. Again, the dealer service department said the problem lies with the control module. It was damaged, possibly due to liquid getting into the gateway.
The owner of this vehicle was aware of the recall but the dealer claimed not to know about it. The complaint states that the “dealer cannot do any repair but (is) rather forcing me to pay for replacing (the) module part.”
Those drivers who have similar complaints or related problems linked to electrical failure in their 2021 Audi Q5 can contact Lemberg Law for a free case evaluation. This will give you the opportunity to become a class action plaintiff.
2021 Audi Q5 Powertrain Problems
All 8 of the powertrain complaints include reference to the gateway module problems. One vehicle was repaired, though the diagnosis was simply that the clutch had failed.
One complaint that is listed only in the powertrain category states that the gateway module “is like the brain of the car.” Because it isn’t working, he says, “the car is brain dead.” The incident was in June 2021 and the car was towed to and inspected at an Audi service center. The owner was told it was a gateway module issue.
“To my shock, the mechanic said that it’s a design flaw that Audi is aware of but doesn’t have a solution yet.” But, 4 cars had already been repaired at this dealership for the same problem. He describes the fix as a “hodgepodge,” because all the dealership does is wrap the gateway module in plastic.
2021 Audi Q5 Engine Problems
Unsurprisingly, all the engine problems relate to the gateway, even those categorized as engine only.
One complaint states that the car went into “panic mode,” with the windows going up and down. There was also a steering malfunction and “the whole car freezes.” This owner was also told that Audi was aware of the problem. In his complaint he says that although the dealer ordered new parts, they say the problem is not repaired permanently. “It can happen again and again.” This owner wants a refund!
Another complaint describes a similar scenario with the windows and steering. The diagnosis was a wet gateway, but because the dealer found a bottle cap in the back of the car, they refused to cover the problem under warranty. Instead, the owner was to be billed $1,200 for a new gateway that would take 2 weeks to deliver. This owner wants a trade-in!
The third engine-only category complaint involves a very small spill in the backseat of an Audi Q5. The result: a complete electrical failure impacting the engine and power steering. Once again, the gateway module was the cause.
What to do if Your 2021 Audi Q5 is a Lemon? Your Lemon Rights
Persistent defects in any car can substantially impact its safe use and value. You may find that it is a lemon. If so, you need an experienced lemon lawyer to help you solve issues.
Lemberg Law has considerable experience helping car owners who find themselves with a lemon. If you do have a lemon, we’ll negotiate a settlement on your behalf. It might be a trade-in, a buy-back, a refund, or perhaps a replacement vehicle.
Call our Helpline so we can schedule a time to evaluate your case. The law states that Audi must cover your legal costs.
Complaint Data
| Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Six months ago received a warning saying electrical system failure: safely stop vehicle. Took it to the dealer. They had the vehicle 30+ days and said they had finally fixed it. Almost immediately began receiving the same error message upon driving vehicle again. Called dealer and asked what to do. They said it must be a sensor problem because they replaced everything. Said it could be ignored. Warning light would come on and then go off periodically but we continued to drive vehicle on dealer's advice. Then, one night, while traveling on a local street, received a warning that there had been a transmission failure, and vehicle came to a sudden halt, blocking traffic. Wheels locked, making it extremely hard to get onto a tow truck. Had been driving on the highway shortly before this happened and could have died if the car had suddenly stopped moving at highway speed. |
| Category | Wheels |
| Date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Leased new 2021 audi q5 from audi of coral springs , fl on aug 17, 2021. We had the vehicle serviced on 12-24-2022 and where notifed that during the inspection that all 4 tires needed to be replaced and where shocked because our audi only had about 13,000 miles on the odometer. We asked how to get coverage under our new car warranty and where once again shocked when the service rep informed us that audi doedsnt warrant the tires and we woud have to file a claim with the tire manufacturer kumho tires. We called kuhmo direct at 800-445-8646 who instructed us one of their licensed dealers. We took the audi to discount tires 2629 weston rd weston ,fl with kumho tires ref #36136. Discount tires did their inspection and called us back the next day...... Notifying us kuhmo tires would not honor warranty because we where a third party. I cleed kuhmo direct and asked them to expalin how iwas considered a third party..... Kuhmo stated they are the first party, audi is the second party and I was considedred the third party. So I asked if audi wasn't liable and kuhmo was n't liable...................... Who warants the tires on a brand new car??? I asked them why their own warranty card on kuhmo tires (size 235/55 r19 101h) carries a 60,000 warranty and our audi had app 13,000 miles how they could deny coverage. I think their process is wrong and needs to be examined, this process really hurts consumers when neither audi or kuhmo will accept liability. Looking for assistance in purchasing 4 new tires from audi and or kuhmo tires |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the malfunction warning light illuminated, followed by the vehicle shaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that metal fragment was found in the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the contact needed to contact the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 138,000. |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking, Electrical System, Lane Departure: Warning |
| Date | Jan 24, 2023 |
| State | MS |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5 e. The contact stated that when she purchased the vehicle the mmi (multimedia interface) system failed to load correctly. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that the system would upload later as the system was not communicating with audi corporate and she would be able to finish the programming later. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer as messages that the navigation system was not loaded, the driver assistance was inoperable, the fuel gauge display was incorrect, and the lane assist feature had failed. The contact stated that she had experienced the failure for the past year. The contact stated she received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v742000 (back over prevention) several months ago and the dealer informed the state dmv that they were unable to repair the recall at the time. The contact stated that she had been communicating with the director at her state dmv as she was unable to have the dealer repair the vehicle. The contact stated that a case was not opened with her state dmv. The contact stated that the manufacturer and dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 10. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Jan 24, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Please note that this exact same issue has been previously reported by another driver ... While the car was fully stopped at a red light, in drive, and with the brake pedal depressed, the audi pre sense system falsely triggered. There were no vehicles or pedestrians in close proximity and there was no apparent reason for the trigger. The seat belts were forcefully retracted and the pre sense light came on on the dash. If the car had been moving, this could have caused a serious accident. There have been multiple reports on this on audi's discussion boards. Https://www. Audiworld. Com/forums/s4-b9-platform-discussion-214/freaked-out-pre-sense-seat-belt-tightening-no-reason-all-3020878/ https://www. Audiworld. Com/forums/q5-sq5-mkii-discussion-218/pre-sense-seat-belt-jolt-3046494/ |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jan 13, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | When the car was initially purchased in 2021 a fully filled gas tank and fully charged battery gave a total range of approx 400-420 miles. As of recently the fully filled up gas tank and fully charged battery are giving a digital range reading of 368 miles. At the minimum this is a 32 mile to 52 mile range difference. Took it to the dealership on jan 2023 after noticing an issue in december 2022 and they are insisting the systems are correct and working. They are refusing to look into the matter. We are not sure if the sensor is wrong or if the car is prematurely stopping fueling internally causing it to not fill and give this reading. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Dec 25, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Several electrical system malfunction lights came on the dash. Audi says it is the starter generator. Car almost stopped in the road. |
| Category | Electrical System:instrument Panel:fuel Gauge, Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System |
| Date | Nov 28, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, she noticed that after driving several miles, the fuel gauge displayed that the vehicle was full. The contact then stated that the fuel gauge remained on full although her fuel tank was close to empty. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there was a pending recall and to contact the nhtsa hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, the contact stated that there was a four-hour hold. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System |
| Date | Oct 11, 2022 |
| State | IA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5 e. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle came to a sudden halt as the malfunction indicator light illuminated the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately 15 minutes and drove the vehicle to a dealer(audi of quad cities-1777 e 53rd st, davenport, ia 52807) where they discovered a defective switch on the vehicle's battery pack which was linked to tsb-9321462062953/1. The contact had the switch repaired by the dealer. The contact stated that the failure recently occurred again while driving at 30 mph; however, the time, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it remained in their possession and where it had yet to be diagnosed. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and he was sent a form for a possible vehicle buyback. The vehicle had yet to be repaired or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000. |
| Category | Electrical System:adas, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
| Date | Oct 10, 2022 |
| State | IL |
| Description | While the car is fully stopped at a red light, in drive, and brakes fully depressed, the audi pre sense falsely triggered. The seat belts were forcefully retracted and the pre sense light came on on the dash. Since the car was stopped, there was no imminent safety issues. However, had the car be moving, this could cause serious injury such as a crash. Also, for someone with health condition, this could trigger a panic attack, heart attack, etc. There has been multiple reports on this on audi's discussion boards. Https://www. Audiworld. Com/forums/s4-b9-platform-discussion-214/freaked-out-pre-sense-seat-belt-tightening-no-reason-all-3020878/ https://www. Audiworld. Com/forums/q5-sq5-mkii-discussion-218/pre-sense-seat-belt-jolt-3046494/ |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera, Back Over Prevention: Warnings |
| Date | Aug 16, 2022 |
| State | UT |
| Description | I have an issue with my vehicle where when the car is in reverse gear, the video from the camera sometimes is shaky, and sometimes instead of showing a rear camera, it shows a front camera, and sometimes the rear cross-traffic warning doesn't work even when in reverse gear when this video malfunction happens. It happened a few times and took me to the dealership for service. When they try to reproduce, it didn't, however, after a few days it started happening. I have few videos of this instance |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 25, 2022 |
| State | MA |
| Description | A/c condenser leaking. Known issue for audi q5. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Jun 14, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | All warning lights flashing…brakes and steering not working. Engine would not shut off,all screens /dash went black. Mange's to get in bike lane(still partially in road),emergency flashers worked fortunately. Towed to dealer to be inspected and fixed …waiting for results. Was previously scheduled for recall fix . Disablement happened about a week before scheduled recall fix, due apparently to water spillage in backseat |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | May 18, 2022 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | The electronic system failed while we were driving 40 mphs. The vehicle completely stopped. A recall notice was generated but never sent even though audi has email, phone, etc. For information. If this would have happened the prior day while driving 75 mphs this could have killed my entire family. I was without a car for 2 months and audi did nothing to rectify the situation. My car was towed to another city, with supply chain issues it took 6 weeks to fix. I have lost significant money as a result of this. Audi has been unaccountable for all of that. I had no idea the long history of electrical problems with audi. Consumers need to know this! |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | May 09, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I have experienced two false activation of emergency brakes on my 2021 q5 in the past 3 months. Both have been very scary incidents for my family - feb 2022" driving on a highway with no vehicle in front at 60mph, going through a shade under a bridge where emergency brakes false kicked in - 4/30/22 around 2pm: driving on a street with no vehicle in front at 30mph where emergency brakes falsely kicked in |
| Category | Steering |
| Date | Apr 28, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Steering wheel will forcefully and suddenly jerk to the left at random times on at least 6 occasions. |
| Category | Electrical System, Structure |
| Date | Apr 15, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the windows started to go up and down. The contact lost power steering functionality however, the brakes was functional and she was able to safely stop the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that water had entered the vehicle and short circuited the gateway control module. The failure was related to nhtsa campaign number: 21v947000 (electrical system, structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. |
| Category | Air Bags, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
| Date | Apr 05, 2022 |
| State | IL |
| Description | After conducting a k forensic review on the car, they found out that the computer was infected with malware and that that vehicle will always put out fm transmitters to get into your cellular devise to hack it unfortunately, this is the case for this bricked... Need a replacement with transferring the lease over to a similar priced vehicle. |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Warnings, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Mar 08, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The backup camera in the car randomly stops working while driving in reverse. These cameras are mandated by federal law and malfunctions can lead to collision with unforeseen living beings while backing up. The mmi screen also goes completely white/blue while driving forward. Additionally, the adas package comes with a birds eye view camera that is completely skewed created a deceptive understanding of objects in the surroundings. This can lead to collisions making the adas packing (and perhaps the collision warning) totally unreliable. The vehicle is available for inspection as needed. Took the brand new vehicle to the dealer, they refused to fix it as their engineer could not reproduce the issue. Later after a lot of argument, they mentioned they cannot fix it because of resource shortage. Argued they cannot sell brand new vehicles that are faulty, we were told their other cars may have the same issue so they cannot guarantee a loaner will fix this problem. We have spent hours on phone and in person with the dealer service center in vain. There were no warnings of the problem. The screen went blank during the drive. This happened for the first time around november 2021. This happens fairly arbitrarily. |
| Category | Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 18, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal noise and all the warning lights illuminated. The contact proceeded and drove at 15 mph, the vehicle started jerking and could not be driven any further. In addition, all the windows were independently opened and closed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was pending a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 10,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Structure |
| Date | Feb 14, 2022 |
| State | KY |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v947000 (electrical system, structure). The dealer was contacted and informed her that an appointment for service would not be available for two months. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact was informed that the protective cover used to repair the failure was a plastic cover which the contact did not believe was adequate for the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Electrical System, Lane Departure: Assist, Power Train |
| Date | Jan 16, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | My vehicle was completely shut down. After towing to dealer and had the problem checked out, dealer service department had identify that the problem was the damage of the control module caused by possible liquid reaching to the gateway. This is what the recall is. However, dealer cannot do any repair but rather than forcing me to pay for replacing module part. Dealer claims that they are not aware of any such recall of (manufacturer recall number90s9 nhtsa recall number21v947). Manufacturer should be responsible for correcting and paying for any the damage of the flaw in their vehicle design. |
| Category | Electrical System, Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Jan 04, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | While driving in the far left of the 405n in long beach, the vehicle experienced some catastrophic failure. The accelerator stopped working, gear shifting was not possible, the interior lights turned on and flashed, there was some text instruction on the screen about the vehicle having lost power, and the emergency on-star system was not available. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms prior to the malfunction of the vehicle. We managed to coast across 4 lanes of traffic moving at a high freeway speed, with our hazard lights flashing and honking to get other drivers' attention, and made it to the right shoulder before using the brakes to stop the car. Upon stopping, all four windows automatically rolled down slightly. It was not possible to restart the vehicle, change the gear, put the car in neutral or operate any of the electrical systems in the car, including on-star. We were fortunate, but still very much in danger, to have stopped at a small triangular shoulder between the 405 freeway and an adjacent on-ramp. Cars were passing us at full speed and in close proximity on both sides of the car. We called aaa as well as 911 to assist us in getting out of that harrowing situation safely. The vehicle was towed directly to the audi service center in santa monica, where we left it with an after-hours note describing the issue we experienced. We called audi the following morning and the service tech, angel, said they would review the problem. Upon review, angel confirmed that the issue was a failure in the gateway control module - a problem that audi is aware of and has occurred in many of the same types of vehicles. We found through online searches of this issue that it is generally caused by water spilled in the backseat of the vehicle. Angel confirmed that no moisture was found inside the vehicle and he did not believe the failure was caused by spilled liquid. Audi is now insisting that we continue to drive the car, without the issue being fixed. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Steering |
| Date | Dec 04, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | I was driving down a slight hill in 1/2 inch of snow at 5mph and when I tired to gently brake as I descended the hill, the brake pedal had no resistance and went flat to the floor. I had no brakes. I then tried to steer towards the side of the road and the steering wheel completely locked up and I was not able to steer. I slid 150 feet down the hill and into a ditch. No brakes and no steering. There must have been a failure of some kind. Terrifying. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Dec 01, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | The failed component is the gateway module that sits underneath the rear seats below the cup holders. In my case approximately 5 oz of water seeped out of my briefcase via a leaky water bottle and it shut down the gateway module and rendered the car inoperable.. Losing all power and engine on the highway at approximately 60 mph. Fortunately I was successful in navigating the car to the side of the road by coasting and other than the fear was not harmed. Car was towes to audi service where they confirmed that the gateway module failed.. They did not notice any water on the module and replaced it next day .. I was surprised that they had 5 in stock.. Just googling audi q5 gateway module I noticed many similar incidents like mine I am worried that a family unknowingly with children in the back could have a similar incident and create serious risk. This needs to be communicated immediately to all audi owners that are impacted and a recall needs to be initiated once a solution is developed and tested. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Nov 24, 2021 |
| State | CO |
| Description | The vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. The aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. The dealership indicated they reduced the sensitivity/distance of the system. This has not resolved the problem, and audi has indicated they have no other actions they can take. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Nov 12, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | My 2021 audi q5e is a phev. There are ion-lithium batteries in this vehicle, but absolutely no markings on the body that this is a hybrid vehicle. The only marking is a small clear window sticker on the driver's side window, which is almost impossible to read. As an exvoluntiee fireman, we had extensive how to handle a fire when it involved a hybrid/electric vehicle. Audi has done enough to alert emergency personnel that the q5e contains ion-lithium batteries. There needs to be much better badging on the q5e indicating it is a hybrid. Audi should at least add the letter "e" to the q5 emblem on the rear tailgate. |
| Category | Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
| Date | Oct 27, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated while driving 60 mph and exiting off a ramp, the sunroof exploded without impact causing the shattered glass to enter the vehicle and fall on the driver. The contact stated that no object had struck the vehicle to cause the failure. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle before driving to the residence. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle but could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The local dealer was contacted regarding replacing the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Power Train |
| Date | Oct 15, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | While driving on the road, multiple warning and error messages suddenly appeared on dashboard. Entire car shut down in very short time left no time for driver to safely pull over. The car cannot move in the middle of the road and put the driver, passengers and surrounding vehicles at risk. The car was towed to a dealer and they confirmed the gate way module under rear seat is wet and shorted. |
| Category | Engine, Power Train, Power Train:clutch Assembly |
| Date | Oct 08, 2021 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated that while she was driving 65-70 mph, the warning message "transmission engine failure" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle inadvertently stalled while attempting to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated she was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts however, the vehicle was towed to her residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ecm chip had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated while she was reversing, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the clutch had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other, Wheels |
| Date | Sep 27, 2021 |
| State | MN |
| Description | My 2021 audi q5 has a manufacturing recall (safety recall 42l1 - rear axle trailing arm lock nut) on it and my dealer cancelled my appointment and informed me that they will not perform the recall repair unless I schedule (something that I have to pay for) at the same time - they will not perform the recall repair otherwise. This was the audi minneapolis dealership located at 9393 wayzata blvd, golden valley, mn 55426. I was told that this needed to be reported to you guys. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 26, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | While driving the vehicle many warning lights suddenly turned on and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop in the middle of an intersection. Then the windows rolled down automatically. Vehicle would not start, posing a serious safety issue as it was in the middle of an intersection. Audi dealer indicated the gateway module malfunctioned. They said it had gotten wet, which I have no idea how it would've gotten wet. The gateway module is located under the backseat center console. The dealership indicated they had 5 cars brought in in 2 weeks with same issue. I have since read on audi forums that this has happened to many others and left some stranded in the center-lane of highways. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Sep 14, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | when using cruise control, the vehicle suddenly brakes. If set a 70mph it will jam on the brakes and reset to 45 mph. This has caused near rear collisions. This is a recurring problem,. Audi service tried 3 times to identify the problem. Google has other owners with the same problem. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 11, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The 2021audi q5 has a gateway module under the middle back seat. Any fluid that contacts this module will cause it to fail shutting the car down completely. In addition, immediately above the module are 2 drink car holders. It only takes a small amount of spilled drink to cause this to happen. This happened to me on sept. 7 causing my car to come to a complete stop immediately after passing thru and intersection. Eventually this will get someone killed on seriously injured. Audi has been aware of this issue but they don't inform potential buyers. This has happened numerous times before and I have attached other incidents posted on the internet. Please take action to make audi take responsibility and corrective action. Electrical system problem #1 on august 19th, we drove our audi through heavy rain early in the day on interstate 90 to go to mass general hospital. It was then parked in their covered parking garage. When we went to return home, we were on the entrance ramp to I 90 east and suddenly the car displayed messages of brake failure, electrical failure, steering failure, and then it died. It could not even be put in park. I was able to coast to the narrow shoulder. It was towed to brookline audi. We are told by the service technician that the gateway module in the vehicle got wet and it is our responsibility as we drove through water. Although we certainly drove in pouring rain, we never drove through any flooded areas. The apparent fact that water somehow got into this new car and shorted out this all important device is terrifying. Electrical system problem #2 driver was with 2 passengers (3 young females) driving in a new 2021 audi q5 (less than 5 months old and less than 6000 miles) at about 70 mph on garden state parkway in nj. A brake malfunction warning light appeared on the dashboard and within 5 seconds the car completely shut down in the middle lane of the parkway (in a black car at 10pm). This was the first notification or warning--nothin |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 10, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Vehicle control module failed while driving. All car functions failed. Had a difficult time pulling off the road safely. Car towed to dealer. Found the module wet. However area around module was dry. They don't know where the water is coming from. Audi is aware of the issue and is replacing the part free of charge. If we were on a highway when the module failed it could have been disastrous. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Aug 23, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | On august 19th, we drove our audi through heavy rain early in the day on interstate 90 to go to mass general hospital. It was then parked in their covered parking garage. When we went to return home, we were on the entrance ramp to I 90 east and suddenly the car displayed messages of brake failure, electrical failure, steering failure, and then it died. It could not even be put in park. I was able to coast to the narrow shoulder. It was towed to brookline audi. We are told by the service technician that the gateway module in the vehicle got wet and it is our responsibility as we drove through water. Although we certainly drove in pouring rain, we never drove through any flooded areas. The apparent fact that water somehow got into this new car and shorted out this all important device is terrifying. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Aug 09, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | While driving a brand new audi q5 it suddenly went into "panic mode" with the windows going up & done,steering malfunctioning, warning the driver to pull over. The car shuts down unexpectedly without reason. The whole car freezes ! While at the dealership, the tech told us there was another car being repaired with the same issue . Turns out if the back battery gets wet(hidden under the back cup holder)the car shuts down. A cup of coffee spilled in the back seat but there are many reports online (part #j533) with any incidence of wetness. Audi is aware of this problem and although they ordered a new part, the problem is not repaired permanently . It can happen again and again . Audi needs to have a major recall on all q3, q5 and q7. We were on a residential street when this happened but a multi vehicle crash would have taken place if on a highway. We are asking for a refund since the car was 2 weeks old at the time with less than 5,000 miles. We need the public to know they are driving a car with a a major design flaw and could cause serious accidents. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Aug 07, 2021 |
| State | TN |
| Description | While driving, my 2021 audi q5 with 1400 miles, it began to malfunction; every light & warning (transmission, brakes, awd , etc.) began flashing as failing on the dashboard. The windows begin going up & down. Steering began to be hard. Finally, I was able to steer the q5 out of traffic. Traffic was going about 40-50 mph. 2. The q5 was towed to audi for diagnostic 3. Audi called & said that the gateway got wet and the cost for the part is 00. It will take 2 weeks to get the part in. Audi has no openings until october. 4. They stated that the water drains are working and that they found a water bottle cap in the backseat of the car; therefore, the gateway will not be covered under warranty. Huh? 5. I am unsure why the warranty will not cover any safety issues on a 4 month old car. 6. Audi is assuming there was a water spill, because there was a water bottle cap in the car. 7. What are you talking about, audi? Why are you assuming things? What is the real cause of this traumatic experience? 8. Secondly, no one told me not to have a water bottle cap in the q5 backseat area; the q5 without warning, began to shut down. 9. The engine light stayed on. 10. Audi is not acting in good faith, why are there assumptions made? 11. Audi must recall the q5 and announce a public safety warning of the danger that is lurking in the back seat called a gateway. 12. Audi must clearly state “danger! Danger! No water bottle caps allowed in backseatâ€. 13. Also, not to mention, there were no audi loaner cars available; this gives off the appearance that audi is making a lot of repairs and they are aware of this 00 “water bottle cap†problem called a gateway. 14. I am aware my experience is possibly rare, but it must not happen ever. This was a dangerous scary experience that must not happen again to me or any family! 15. Pls demand audi to recall these q5s to relocate the gateway, before someone dies!!! 16. I will trade in q5 to avoid death... |
| Category | Electrical System, Power Train, Steering |
| Date | Jul 23, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The incident occurred on a busy road during evening rush hour. I was in the middle lane of three lanes, and the lane to the right of me was closed due to construction. The phrase “electrical malfunction†flashed across my dashboard, there were beeping sounds, and about 5-10 later the steering froze up and the car would no longer accelerate. There were no other prior warning indications. I was unable to steer over on a side road or shoulder. I blocked traffic in the middle lane. My 1-and-a-half-year-old was in the back seat with me, and I was 35 weeks pregnant at the time. The temperature was 104 outside and my car wouldn't start despite several trouble shooting attempts to turn it back on. The car kept beeping and flashing malfunction signals on the dashboard indicating that all the different safety functions were not functioning. The windows were inoperable as well and would randomly go up and down. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, and they determined the j533 gateway module needed to be replaced. This module is located underneath the back row in a tub-like recess, which had collected water, and the module had malfunctioned. It is unknown if the module is available for inspection upon request. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Jul 23, 2021 |
| State | MN |
| Description | 2021 audi q5 parked (not running) in parking lot , outside temperature 95f, gasoline dripping from under right rear passenger area (approx 1/4-1/2 liter). Audi service center inspected and said the fuel pump needs replacing. Fuel system warning light had been yellow and gas cap gasket had been replaced . |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jul 10, 2021 |
| State | IL |
| Description | I leased a 2021 audi q5 (vin: wa1baafy7m2[xxx]) in november 2020. 2021 audi q5 has gateway module underneath the middle row seat. The gateway module is like the brain of the car and if it stops working the car stops - basically the car is brain dead. In my case, I was driving the car with my family I. E. Wife, 7 and 3 year old kids when the car abruptly shut off. Luckily, I was on a road with 45 mph speed limit and no traffic, so nothing happened to us. If this happened on a highway or other situation anything could have happened to me and my family. After safely parking the car and getting it towed to audi westmont, the car was inspected, and I was informed about the gateway module issue. To my shock, the mechanic said that it's a design flaw that audi is aware of but doesn't have a solution yet. Furthermore, he said that just at laurel audi in westmont 4 cars were repaired for this problem. When I googled, several audi owners have faced this problem. As I mentioned earlier, despite knowing the issue audi didn't inform the owners and yet to inform the owners despite this being a serious enough problem that could put owners/families in a life threatening situation. Here's the link to the video taken during the diagnosis of the problem: https://asr. Autonation. Com/tv0ij5ym5c. I have also attached picture of the hodgepodge fix I. E. Wrapping gateway module in plastic. The reason I say it is hodgepodge is that wrapping in plastic won't prevent water from condensing on gateway module and the problem repeating. Preceding the days my car had this problem, there were heavy rains and humidity was very high, as noted in the video there is no source of water leak or water entering the gateway module externally, given that finding and the fact that there was heavy rains, high humidity in the preceding days - condensation can likely be the potential cause of the problem. There are thousands of 2021 audi q5's and every single one has this risk. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable informa |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Jun 29, 2021 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Driver was with 2 passengers (3 young females) driving in a new 2021 audi q5 (less than 5 months old and less than 6000 miles) at about 70 mph on garden state parkway in nj. A brake malfunction warning light appeared on the dashboard and within 5 seconds the car completely shut down in the middle lane of the parkway (in a black car at 10pm). This was the first notification or warning--nothing in the prior minutes or days. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts and was unable to drift to the shoulder of the parkway. The sos button in the vehicle didn't work and hazards didn't appear to be working either. Several cars driving at or above the 65 mph speed limit were braking and swerving at the last second to avoid collision and several cursed at the vehicle (as they were unable to see the vehicle in the darkness). Passenger in front seat called 911 to request assistance to provide a roadblock as it seemed imminent that the vehicle was going to be hit. 911 operator said safest place was to remain in the vehicle given the vehicle location and the speed of other drivers. The radio briefly turned back on and then turned off. Nothing else was working. When the tow arrived, the driver notified the individuals that the front hazards were working but the back hazards were not. The vehicle was towed to the local audi service center. Eleven days after audi accessed the vehicle, a report was received which said that the vehicle had an "elec[trical] malf[unction]" and that they "found car would not turn on and no communication to any control units. [they] performed hard reset to gate way control unit[,] found fuse blown for control unit[,]  replaced fuse [and] still same concern found[.] [g]ateway control unit internally faulty causing car not to start[.] [r]eplaced and recoded control unit [and] cleared faults and test drove car[.]" the report also notes that 3 weeks after the car was leased, the vehicle owner indicated that the car was stalling out. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Jun 26, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Water was spilled in the backseat of the car (less than 12 ounces of water). This caused a complete electrical failure impacting the engine and power steering. The failure happened at a slow speed in a parking lot but would have been much more dangerous on highway. The car would not turn on or off and would not shift into any gear after coming to a stop. Was told that the water caused a failure in the data bus control module. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jun 18, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The panoramic sunroof exploded while driving spontaneously. Luckily no one was injured due to the shattered glass due to the cloth screen being drawn fully. The problem was reported to audi and to the local dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by insurance or police. There were no warning indicators prior to the incident. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Jun 14, 2021 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | When I powered on the car, I got a message "electrical system failure", and was unable to start the car. After multiple tries, the car started, but had the check engine light on. Had this failure happened while the car was moving, this could have been a very dangerous situation. We live in arizona, and could have easily been stranded in the desert without cell service, creating another life threatening situation. |
| Category | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| Date | Feb 24, 2021 |
| State | NV |
| Description | Tl* the contact who is a certified mechanic called on behalf of a customer who owns a 2021 audi q5. The contact stated that while the owner was driving, the vehicle ran over a strip of aluminum that was lying in the roadway causing the fuel tank to be ripped open. The contact stated that the fuel tank was made from plastic and not metal causing the fuel to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to audi reno tahoe (9190 s. Virginia st, reno, nv 89511) where the fuel tank was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000. The vin was not available. |
| Category | Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Feb 18, 2021 |
| State | NV |
| Description | A piece of metal in the roadway pierced my gas tank causing the gasoline to leak out. This creadted a condition which could have caused a fire or an explosion. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Power Train |
| Date | Jan 06, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Q5 has a very serious defect, that is, there is a gateway module located under the rear seat cushion/cup holder. All of the communications to all the controllers go through this little box. If water spills, it collects around the gateway and corrodes it, which will shut down the car. This shutdown occurred while I was driving my family. Lost all power, engine, electrical, everything. Barely coasted out of the roadway. This is a design flaw to locate this sensitive module underneath rear cup holders and will lead to dangerous situations for people in the car. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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