2011 Audi A5 Problems
Compared with other Audi A5 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.2× that of a typical Audi A5 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- None of its 25 complaints were filed by the end of 2013.
- Most reported part: Air bags (14 complaints, median 52,000 mi).
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 25filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 66,574miles, 10 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl AWD · 21 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Audi A5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2011 Audi A5. The part named most often is air bags, with 14 complaints (56% of the total), followed by engine (6) and other or unknown (4). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,574 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 986 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 51 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 5 Audi A5 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags14 56%
- Engine6 24%
- Other or unknown4 16%
- Fuel system1 4.0%
- Seat belts1 4.0%
Example complaints
Air bags: “There is safety recall-69n1 -takata sdi driver frontal airbag for my vehicle, and when I called dealership, they do not have parts available and nor they have eta. So as it is driver side airbag, we cannot risk our lives by driving that vehicle, so we asked for loaner and Audi dealership said no. So as I cannot drive the vehicle and loaner is not available, so we will have to get rental, which again will cost us, so we need compensation for rental vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10863566, filed 2016-05, 36,000 milesEngine: “Audi of america acknowledged on 2015 that 126,000 vehicles present excessive oil consumption. My vehicle was taken to Audi of san juan, puerto rico on may 16, 2017 where various repairs were performed. Dealer indicated that oil service needed to be done prior to start oil consumption test phase 1(pcv valve) which I authorized. After this, low oil light turned on within less than 900 miles. On june 5th, 2017 the vehicle was taken back to the dealer to perform phase 2 of the oil consumption test. Dealer documented that the vehicle consumed 1.08 qt in 1,000 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #10993546, filed 2017-06, 63,148 milesOther or unknown: “Was leaving house, car started shaking violently so I drove back home, engine light turned on. Have been waiting long before this happened to hear back from Audi about oil consumption warranty recall, car was under 80k mi at the time I made report, had already paid for the required tests they needed, took them 4 months to finally get back to me. Received special case since it was a pre owned vehicle & could not provide them with the service maintenance records since I had just purchased vehicle, not the dealership nor Audi have been helpful with obtaining that information. …”
NHTSA complaint #11025410, filed 2017-09, 81,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I was moving from a stationary position and saw an error for TPMS and then an error came up as no reverse gear available - you can cotnue to drive. I can move forward not reverse and the gears move in odd number from 1 -3-5 etc. I bought this certfied preowned car over a week ago and this issue came up. The mileage on the car is 37k m so I dont know whats the issue”
NHTSA complaint #10780967, filed 2015-10, 37,123 milesMileage when problems were reported
30% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 37,123 and 81,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2011 Audi A5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A5 quattro AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | 21 | 31 | 25 | $3,300 |
| A5 quattro AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 Audi A5 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 986 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038027Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
- 11038042Sep 22, 2026Steering. This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
- 11036917Aug 26, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
- 11036911Aug 21, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
- 11036909Aug 21, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
- 11036934Aug 11, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.
- 11036921Aug 11, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information about the general approach for brake vibration concerns.
- 11036915Aug 11, 2026Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides information on the GFF test plan required for AC compressor replacements regardless of the concern.
- 11036914Aug 11, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information when there is an ABS/ESC speed sensor implausible signal.
- 11035854Jul 27, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.
Other model years of the Audi A5
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 881 | 2 | — | 26 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 8 | 19,748 | 0 | 5 | 27 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 8 | — | 0 | — | 27 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 7 | — | 2 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 8 | 30,148 | 5 | 5 | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 60 | 67,000 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 78 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 12 | 15,000 | 3 | 5 | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 38 | 7,000 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2016 | 7 | 35,000 | 3 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 8 | 25,000 | 3 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 28 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 26 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2013 | 35 | 50,250 | 3 | — | 24 | 64 · Typical | Stable |
| 2012 | 22 | 75,000 | 0 | — | 25 | — | Falling |
| 2011 | 25 | 66,574 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 34 | 64,224 | 0 | — | 23 | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 11 | 45,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 5 | 46,300 | 1 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
All Audi A5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Audi A5 have?
NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2011 Audi A5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2011 Audi A5 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 14 complaints (56% of the total), followed by engine with 6.
Has the 2011 Audi A5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Audi A5 get?
The EPA rates the 2011 Audi A5 (A5 quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 21 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Audi A5 reported?
Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,574 miles and the middle half falls between 37,123 and 81,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.