NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 19, 2026
According to our reliability score system, the best Audi Q5 year to buy is the 2017, at 81 out of 100.
No Q5 year rates Avoid, but the 2021 needs a careful look. Owners of the 2021 most often report the control module.
Want something recent? Of the Q5s from 2018 on, the 2018 to 2020 and 2022 to 2024 rate Good. Watch out for the 2021. The 2025 and 2026 are too new for a final score.
Looking at older Q5s, from before 2018? The 2009 to 2017 rate Good or Excellent.
No Q5 year is rated Avoid.
Not rated yet: 2025, 2026, too new for a final score.
The 2017 is the only Q5 year rated Excellent, with a score of 81.
1st generation
Most reported problems
Also rated Good: 2009–2016, 2018–2020, 2022–2024.
No Q5 year rates Avoid. The 2021 is the only Q5 year rated Caution, with a score of 68.
2nd generation
Most reported problems
Audi extended the warranty on some 2021 Q5s for problems with the air conditioning, fuel system and driver assistance systems.
Full 2021 report →A final score needs 36 months of complaints. Until then we show what we know, and a provisional reading once there is enough data.
Provisional score 64 (likely 61 to 68), in the middle third of 2025 models so far. Final score at 36 months.
Same generation as the 2024, which scored 73 (Good).
What we know so far →
8 complaints and 0 recalls so far. First provisional score expected around July 2027.
What we know so far →All model years, newest first. Tap a year for its full report, with the problems owners report, recalls, Audi programs and crash ratings.
| Year | Generation | Rating | Score | Vs average | Complaints | Per 10k cars | Recalls | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3rd generation(first year) | Too new | – | – | 8 | 20.8 | 0 | Report |
| 2025 | 2nd generation | Provisional 64 | – | – | 53 | 8.0 | 1 | Report |
| 2024 | 2nd generation | Good | 73 | 0.76× | 40 | 5.4 | 4 | Report |
| 2023 | 2nd generation | Good | 74 | 0.75× | 60 | 7.2 | 6 | Report |
| 2022 | 2nd generation | Good | 75 | 0.77× | 51 | 8.6 | 9 | Report |
| 2021 | 2nd generation | Caution | 68 | 1.2× | 116 | 18.2 | 8 | Report |
| 2020 | 2nd generation | Good | 78 | 0.54× | 45 | 9.5 | 6 | Report |
| 2019 | 2nd generation | Good | 77 | 0.50× | 72 | 11.5 | 5 | Report |
| 2018 | 2nd generation(first year) | Good | 73 | 0.80× | 232 | 20.1 | 6DND | Report |
| 2017 | 1st generation | Excellent | 81 | 0.36× | 47 | 10.7 | 5 | Report |
| 2016 | 1st generation | Good | 78 | 0.44× | 83 | 13.0 | 5 | Report |
| 2015 | 1st generation | Good | 74 | 0.58× | 108 | 19.2 | 7 | Report |
| 2014 | 1st generation | Good | 71 | 0.80× | 118 | 26.5 | 6 | Report |
| 2013 | 1st generation | Good | 74 | 0.82× | 92 | 30.8 | 5 | Report |
| 2012 | 1st generation | Good | 70 | 0.72× | 168 | 28.6 | 6 | Report |
| 2011 | 1st generation | Good | 70 | 1.0× | 143 | 38.4 | 5 | Report |
| 2010 | 1st generation | Good | 73 | 0.77× | 100 | 33.8 | 4 | Report |
| 2009 | 1st generation | Good | 74 | 0.68× | 31 | 29.2 | 6 | Report |
Vs average: how this year's complaint rate compares with the average car of the same age. 1× is average, 2× is twice as many. Per 10k cars: complaints so far for every 10,000 cars Audi made for the U.S. that model year. The complaint count also includes owners who wrote in only about a recall notice, with no problem to report. The score leaves those out. Generations follow Audi's own model history.
Every complaint filed with NHTSA for the model year, plus its recalls. Recall-notice filings with no fault are left out.
A popular car gets more complaints just because there are more of them. We divide by the number Audi made for that model year and compare with the average car of the same age.
70 is average. Twice the average rate of complaints costs 10 points, half the rate adds 10. Serious problems count more than everyday ones.