Speed control & suspension issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
While the compact luxury Audi Q5 SUV was originally produced in 2008, the SQ5 crossover hit the market in 2013. It was the first Audi S-model with a diesel engine and was regarded as a highly upgraded version of the Q5.
In its first year, the SQ5 registered just one complaint with the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This reported “major sudden engine failure” that the complainant said was “extremely dangerous” and couldn’t be controlled. But the complaint was made in 2017 and the vehicle was out of warranty, so the owner had to pay for the repairs. The 2013 Q5, on the other hand, has 74 complaints registered with the NHTSA.
While the SQ5 registered 9 complaints in 2014 and 11 in 2019 (the highest complaints over the years), there are only 4 complaints about the 2021 model so far.
So, what should you be aware of if you think you might have bought a lemon?
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2020
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Even though there are only 4 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Audi SQ5, these relate to a total of 7 components and systems. These are airbags, the electrical system, the engine of the car, exterior lighting, forward collision avoidance, seat belts, and steering.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | |
| Back Over Prevention | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Steering |
This complaint was lodged with NHTSA after the owner of the car was injured due to a malfunction. The complaint states:
“The pre-sense and/or automatic emergency braking function comes on unnecessarily at least once a week. It will occur when I am driving on the highway and the car thinks there is something in front of me and then the seatbelt will tighten out of nowhere. This is a significant safety risk as it is terrifying and is not being triggered for any legitimate reason. It is so abrupt when it happens that it makes me jump while driving.
“The worst thing that has happened is yesterday I was going down a ramp toward a parking garage. Out of nowhere, for no legitimate reason, while on the beginning of the decline of the ramp, the car automatically applied the e-brake very violently. I was whiplashed forward, felt my neck crack, and then hit my head on the visor quite hard. Today, I have a bruise on my forehead and am not sure whether I had a mild concussion from the incident.
“It was more violent than when I have been rear-ended in the past. There were no walls, cars, people, ceiling, or objects anywhere near the car to cause this to happen. The pre-sense is a defect and a significant safety risk that can and has caused injury to me.”
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Another complaint states that the person who is leasing an Audi SQ5 is afraid to drive the car as it seems to be a safety issue.
What happened was that the owner’s child spilled water on the rear seat and within 5 minutes all the sensors started beeping. The display started turning off and on and the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The car windows were opening and closing and the car wouldn’t go into park mode, nor would the engine turn off.
Even though this is “a brand new car” that has been leased for less than 3 months, the Audi dealer reportedly said that the module under the rear seat is corroded. As a result, the complainant is “terrified to drive it again as it appears to be a safety issue and is hazardous for my family.”
It’s always a concern when car owners have problems that the manufacturer cannot identify. This is one of them lodged with NHTSA under airbags and car seats:
“I’ve had a Safety System Malfunction light on for some time now. Dealership replaced a seat belt part, airbag control module, and still the light won’t go away. The car is currently with the dealership.”
If your Audi SQ5 malfunctions, you can be sure that something is wrong. It doesn’t mean you have bought a lemon, but if you have, you need to take immediate action.
Lemberg Law has many years of experience handling lemon law cases, and we will assess your case free of charge. If it looks like you do have a lemon, we can negotiate a settlement on your behalf. The law says that Audi must pay your legal fees for lemon law cases, so what are you waiting for? Call our Helpline now.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 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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