2017 Audi Q5 problems & reliability
42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Audi Q5, alongside 5 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
2 complaints report injuries (3 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2017 Audi Q5 vehicles were involved in 10 fatal crashes with 2 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 19 | 45% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 12% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 10% |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 10% |
| Steering | 4 | 10% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 7% |
| Structure | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown / Other | 3 | 7% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 16 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Coolant tank empty - leaking. Coolant leaking from the thermostat housing to engine. Had to replace the thermostat housing and reseal the valve cover Because the oil leak coming from the valve cover is causing oil to reach the thermostat sear and cause the rubber seal to expand and blow out causing the coolant to leak…”
Engine · filed Jun 15, 2026
“My rear subframe is completely rotted out and the dealership I bought it from but a new inspection sticker sold it to me and told me it was perfect condition”
Structure · filed May 14, 2026
“Oil consumption. Audi Q5 oil consumption in my car is not functioning properly. I have to put oil in it about every 3 weeks or less depending on how much I’m driving.”
Engine · filed Jan 26, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
736 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2017 Audi Q5. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 26, 2026
This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
TSB_2069904_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 21, 2026
This bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
TSB_2069078_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 21, 2026
This bulletin provides information when there is corrosion on the friction survace of steel brake discs.
TSB_2067132_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 21, 2026
This bulletin provides information about leather care and seat repair.
TSB_2076945_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2026
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
SM 05-2026 · Other · issued Aug 18, 2026
This bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.
TSB_2079732_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 11, 2026
This bulletin provides information about the general approach for brake vibration concerns.
TSB_2075120_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 11, 2026
This bulletin provides information on the GFF test plan required for AC compressor replacements regardless of the concern.
TSB_20741717_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 11, 2026
This bulletin provides information when there is an ABS/ESC speed sensor implausible signal.
TSB_2072304_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 11, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2017 Audi Q5 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2017 Audi Q5?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.