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Audi S5Model year report

2010 Audi S5 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
58,273miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 4.2L 8-cyl AWD · 16 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Audi S5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2010 Audi S5. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 10 complaints (50% of the total), followed by air bags (7) and engine (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 58,273 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 637 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 65 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 6 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

Transmission and drivetrain: “When driving in hot weather, on a busy boulevard, coming to a red light, as automatic transmission shifts down to first gear, car lurches forward with a strong bang in the transmission. Almost hit pedestrians in the crosswalk. If I was not heavy on the brake pedal there would no doubt have been injuries. This is not an isolated incident. It has happened many times and without warning. Audi service tells me it is the mechatronic unit in the transmission malfunctioning when it gets hot. Needs to be replaced. …”

NHTSA complaint #10907437, filed 2016-09, 24,897 miles

Air bags: “Takata recall. I've received cards in the mail stating that I'm overdue on getting the airbag recall completed. My car has been to day Audi in monroeville, pa 3 times in the last 1.5 years and they inform me that they have no airbags in stock.”

NHTSA complaint #11046462, filed 2017-11

Engine: “Engine overheated august 21, 2017. It left me stranded on the side of a busy highway. I took it to day Audi monroeville, pa. The dealer advised that an Audi thermostat recall was just issued. I paid for the repair $999.71 and was promised by Audi customer care that I would be reimbursed. As of september 27, 2017, I was advised that my VIN number does not fall under the thermostat recall and that the recall has to be issued by the NHTSA. Therefore I received an empty promise from Audi that I would be reimbursed.”

NHTSA complaint #11030093, filed 2017-09, 84,088 miles

Fuel system: “Car started of going on limp mode about once a month then it started to get more frequent. Limp mode was supposed to be designed to put your car into a lower gear to protect the transmission, but instead of doing that the car would shift itself into neutral position while on the freeway causing me not have a full control of the car making it very dangerous to pull over. As soon as I turn off the car and turn it on the car would run normal again. While driving on the freeway it will go off on limp mode into the neutral without warning. …”

NHTSA complaint #10940030, filed 2017-01

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,897 and 65,000 miles.

9%0–1018%10–259%25–5045%50–759%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 58,273 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2011201520166201720182025
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Audi S5 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
S5 AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162419$4,350
S5 AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed manual142217$4,850

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 2010 Audi S5 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. 637 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 637 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi S5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025118,5772—23—Too new
202025—4—23Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2019643,3004—24—Not enough data
2018264,7502—24Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2014647,0800—21—Not enough data
20131679,0000—21—Falling
20121070,0001—19—Not enough data
2011865,0001—19—Not enough data
20102058,2730—19—Rising

All Audi S5 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Audi S5 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2010 Audi S5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Audi S5 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 10 complaints (50% of the total), followed by air bags with 7.

Has the 2010 Audi S5 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 2010 Audi S5 get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Audi S5 (S5, 4.2L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Audi S5 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 58,273 miles and the middle half falls between 24,897 and 65,000 miles; 36% 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.