2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Subaru Outback
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Audi Q5 | 2018 Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 202 | 811 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,083 | 432 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 17,750 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi Q5 | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 71 | 265 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 233 |
| Engine | 31 | 37 |
| Steering | 11 | 35 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 43 |
| Visibility | 3 | 41 |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 18 |
| Structure | 21 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 6 |
| Stalling | 12 | 47 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 54 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
2018 Audi Q5
2018 Subaru Outback
Compare all Audi Q5 vs Subaru Outback years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.