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Electrical systemPart report

2018 Audi Q5 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
74about this part
Share
36%of 208 total for the year
Median mileage
31,900miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 74 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Audi Q5, 36% of the 208 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 31,900 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was about to get on the freeway when my car's electrical system failed and I got several warning lights. The braking/stop start system, lights and a few other lit up. I pulled off the road and had it towed. The dealership said water (rain) got in through my sunroof and shorted my system (warranty won't cover). There are several class action suits re. This issue already and Audi knows about it, but there's no recall and cars have stopped suddenly on the freeway. It's very dangerous.”

NHTSA complaint #11416186, filed 2021-05, 30,000 miles

“I was driving 65 miles an hour on I-95 in the left lane approaching the exit for I-695 north on saturday, january 4th at 5:00pm. It was raining. No one was in front of me or behind me when my car dash lit up with an Audi pre sense red sign on a black background. The brakes stopped the car suddenly on their own and my seat belt slammed me tightly into my seat. Fortunately no one was behind me or this could have caused a multi car accident. There was nothing visible on the road to set this system off. …”

NHTSA complaint #11298053, filed 2020-01, 8,000 miles

“Car suddenly tied while driving in city; engine/all systems shut off. It took several hours for roadside assistance to arrive, and the 1st 2 towing companies could not disengage the braking system to load onto truck! Once vehicle towed to Audi dealer, their diagnosis was gateway control module j533, water in control module, corrosion in connector, causing fuse for gateway control unit to blow we were told by dealer that liquid must have spilled into area behind rear seats . We have no young children, and nobody was recently sitting in rear seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #11350209, filed 2020-08, 24,498 miles

“I've had several issues with my vehicle when backing up and the presence going off without a reason. When backing up on several occasions, the sensors will beep and bring the vehicle to grinding stop. When I check the area, there are no vehicles, person, or objects in the path of the vehicle. Recently, when driving on the highway, the pre sense went off when no vehicles were around and slowed the vehicle down at a rapid rate. Twice when driving, the pre sense will activate and bring the vehicle to a complete stop when there are no vehicles in front, behind, or beside me.”

NHTSA complaint #11323111, filed 2020-05, 31,900 miles

“Navigation locks up, driver cockpit and dash screen shuts down when carplay is activated. At time the car doesn't recognize carplay. Additionally the volume control will only increase and not decrease volume. Sometimes it says speech recognition not recognized when adjusting volume. Has not resolved for the 10 months I have owned the car.”

NHTSA complaint #11331247, filed 2020-06, 6,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20252146%
2024210%
20231023%
2022732%
20212736%
2020832%
20191325%
20187436%
2017410%
20161013%
201544%
201499%
2013910%
201253%
201186%
201077%
200913%

Other parts of the 2018 Audi Q5

Other or unknown
46 complaints
Engine
31 complaints
Suspension
25 complaints
Brakes
22 complaints
Body and structure
21 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
19 complaints
Vehicle speed control
14 complaints
Air bags
13 complaints
Exterior lighting
13 complaints
Steering
11 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
10 complaints
Seat belts
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Audi Q5

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology