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Audi A5Model year report

2021 Audi A5 Problems

Complaints
8filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
30,148miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid AWD · 24 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Audi A5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2021 Audi A5. The part named most often is electrical system, with 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by other or unknown (2) and air bags (1). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 30,148 miles. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 1,072 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 353 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 109 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2021 Audi A5. The contact stated while the driving 35 MPH, the instrument panel was blinking on and off several times and then went dark. A local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the dealer was waiting for the parts to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 56,795.”

NHTSA complaint #11667401, filed 2025-06, 56,795 miles

Other or unknown: “I was driving down the interstate when my Warning Transmission Failure light came on. Then another message said you can drive with limited use if vehicle. Seconds later the Warning Transmission Failure light came on again and said drive to your nearest repair shop. Moments later the Warning came on and said safely stop your vehicle. I pulled over on the side of the road and pit my car in park. After doing so the Warning Transmission Failure stayed on and the car no longer would shift into any gears. The car never overheated or stopped running. I had to get the car towed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11700320, filed 2025-11

Air bags: “The passenger side air bag indicator constantly turns off and on in my Audi no matter if there is or is not a passenger in the seat. I took my vehicle to an authorized Audi service center to have the issue checked and they determined the issue to be a failed pods mat based on the error code returned. Upon researching, I’ve discovered that this issue was a safety recall issue with Audi A5 Sportback vehicles in 2020. My vehicle was manufactured during the time of this particular recall and the issue appears to be indicative of this recall. The recall was safety recall code: 74E3.”

NHTSA complaint #11707412, filed 2025-12

Engine: “Car began bucking at low speeds. I parked car and when I turned on ignition next day, dashboard warning indicated Transmission malfunction and warned me not to drive car. I had it towed to dealer. Diagnosis was that it was a gearbox malfunction that according to dealer was occurring more and more frequently, so much so that Audi had issued a Technical Service Bulletin. My car which is less than 5 years old and has 65,000 miles required $3,600 worth of repairs for this issue. If this is major engine problem occurring with increasing frequency, why is this not a recall?”

NHTSA complaint #11764446, filed 2026-09

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 3,500 and 56,795 miles.

50%0–100%10–250%25–5050%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 30,148 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

202120232024202532026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Audi A5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
A5 Sportback · sedan AWD★★★★★4 / 4555 · 9.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 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).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
A5 Sportback S line quattro AWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid7-speed automatic243127$3,050
A5 Sportback quattro AWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid7-speed automatic253428$2,950
A5 quattro AWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid7-speed automatic243127$3,050

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

Recall details for the 2021 Audi A5 → · Check a 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. 1,072 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,072 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202588812—26—Too new
2024819,7480527—Too new
20238—0—27—Too new
20227—2—27—Not enough data
2021830,1485527—Not enough data
20206067,000452778 · MoreRising
20191215,0003527—Not enough data
2018387,0006527100 · MoreRising
2016735,0003—26—Not enough data
2015825,0003—26—Not enough data
20142860,0003—260 · FewerStable
20133550,2503—2464 · TypicalStable
20122275,0000—25—Falling
20112566,5740—250 · FewerFalling
20103464,2240—2329 · FewerFalling
20091145,0001—20—Not enough data
2008546,3001—21—Not enough data

All Audi A5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Audi A5 have?

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2021 Audi A5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Audi A5 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 2.

Has the 2021 Audi A5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Audi A5 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Audi A5 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Audi A5 get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Audi A5 (A5 Sportback S line quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Audi A5 reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 30,148 miles and the middle half falls between 3,500 and 56,795 miles; 50% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.