2021 Audi Q5 E Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 24%of 29 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 Audi Q5 E, 24% of the 29 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When I powered on the car, I got a message Electrical system failure , and was unable to start the car. After multiple tries, the car started, but had the check engine light on. Had this failure happened while the car was moving, this could have been a very dangerous situation. We live in Arizona, and could have easily been stranded in the desert without cell service, creating another life threatening situation.”
NHTSA complaint #11420815, filed 2021-06“I and my wife were emerging from an intetstate highway entrance ramp when our car suddenly and completely lost power. A Transmission Malfunction warning suddenly (and for the first time) appeared on the dashboard.We had just completed a merge with heavy traffic going 70-75 miles per hour. Immediately behind our car was a very large tractor-trailer that hit its brakes but came within inches of the rear of our car before we could get on the highway shoulder--i.e., we came extremely close to suffering serious injury or death. …”
NHTSA complaint #11742774, filed 2026-06“The incident occurred on a busy road during evening rush hour. I was in the middle lane of three lanes, and the lane to the right of me was closed due to construction. The phrase “electrical malfunction” flashed across my dashboard, there were beeping sounds, and about 5-10 later the steering froze up and the car would no longer accelerate. There were no other prior warning indications. I was unable to steer over on a side road or shoulder. I blocked traffic in the middle lane. My 1-and-a-half-year-old was in the back seat with me, and I was 35 weeks pregnant at the time. …”
NHTSA complaint #11426209, filed 2021-07“While driving in the far left of the 405N in Long Beach, the vehicle experienced some catastrophic failure. The accelerator stopped working, gear shifting was not possible, the interior lights turned on and flashed, there was some text instruction on the screen about the vehicle having lost power, and the emergency On-Star system was not available. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms prior to the malfunction of the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11446264, filed 2022-01Related service bulletins
- 11036901Aug 4, 2026This bulletin provides informatin when there is binding or vibrations in tight turns with quattro Ultra.
- 11033465May 27, 2026This bulletin provides informatin when there is binding or vibrations in tight turns with quattro Ultra.
- 11033475May 6, 2026The high-voltage batteries in electric vehicles are subject to various ageing effects which could lead to the energy content (energy density) being reduced. This reduction in the…
- 11031003Mar 20, 2026This bulletin provides information when the hydraulic pump cannot be adapted - P17EF00 in gearbox control unit.
- 11028433Jan 22, 2026This bulletin provides informatin when there is binding or vibrations in tight turns with quattro Ultra.
- 11027358Dec 11, 2025This bulletin provides additoinal information to assist in determining the energy content of lithium-ion high-voltage batteries.
- 11025335Oct 17, 2025This bulletin provides information when the Gearbox malfunction message appears in the instrument cluster; DTC P288200 is stored.
- 11023739Sep 26, 2025This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off.
- 11022669Aug 15, 2025This bulletin provides informaoitn when there is droning noises/vibrations in tight corneres, in vehicles that have quattro with ultra technology.
- 11021441Jul 30, 2025This bulletin providesi nformation when various DTCs are stored; high maximum temperature recorded for clutch K1.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2021 Audi Q5 E
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsForward collision avoidance
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
2 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Audi Q5 E
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology