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Audi SQ5Model year report

2016 Audi SQ5 Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl AWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Audi SQ5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi SQ5. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by steering (2) and engine (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 397 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 65 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Steering complaints overlap with 22 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

Other or unknown: “I am writing to express my extreme anxiety over my recent experience with the sensor-key. I typically keep the keys in my purse, open the rear door (behind the driver door), and leave my purse on the seat or the floor, close that door, then open the driver door and drive. A couple of weeks ago (march 8th, 2017), the car was parked in my driveway. I unlocked the rear door, placed all my bags inside, closed the door. Then I went to put a bumper sticker on. Must have taken less than 5 minutes. I heard the car lock itself- with my keys (car and home) inside. …”

NHTSA complaint #10971202, filed 2017-04, 15,550 miles

Steering: “The Audi sq 5 loses power steering if the rack/pinion power steering unit is exposed to water. This does not refer to flooding or submerged car Audi considers weather an outside influence and does not honor the warranty the car retains full propulsion but is impossible to steer the electrical mechanism on the power steering is dangerously exposed , and apparently not weather proof I made a left hand turn in a heavy rain storm up the apron of a driveway to a parking lot. I drove the car 100-150 feet to a secure spot to wait out a heavy houston rainstorm . …”

NHTSA complaint #11219220, filed 2019-06, 38,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The contact owns a 2016 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that the size and placement of the driver and passenger side mirrors caused a blind spot when making turns. The contact also stated that due to the failure, he nearly crashed into a pedestrian. The contact was concerned that the road was unable to be viewed which could result into a crash due to the failure. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was functioning as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000. Updated 05/04/16”

NHTSA complaint #10851463, filed 2016-03, 3,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,550 and 38,000 miles.

20%0–1020%10–2540%25–5020%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

201620172018201920212
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 2016 Audi SQ5. 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
SQ5 · SUV AWD★★★★☆4 / 5554 · 15.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2016 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: 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 2016 Audi SQ5 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
SQ5 AWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic172419$4,350

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 2016 Audi SQ5 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. 397 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 397 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi SQ5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202588001—22—Too new
20246—0—21—Too new
2022625,4552—21—Not enough data
20211310,7155—20—Not enough data
202086,0754—20—Not enough data
2019207,1505—21—Rising
2018254,2505—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
2017524,0000419—Not enough data
2016625,0000419—Not enough data
2015964,9661419—Not enough data
20141218,0001419—Not enough data

All Audi SQ5 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Audi SQ5 have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi SQ5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Audi SQ5 is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by steering with 2.

Has the 2016 Audi SQ5 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.

How did the 2016 Audi SQ5 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Audi SQ5 4 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 2016 Audi SQ5 get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Audi SQ5 (SQ5, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 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 2016 Audi SQ5 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,000 miles and the middle half falls between 15,550 and 38,000 miles; 80% 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.