Model year guide

2018 Audi Q5

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Audi Q5 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 34 on record.

2018 Audi Q5 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Audi Q5 at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints195
Combined25 mpg
Typical price$29,468

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2018 Audi Q5 recalls 6

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper NHTSA Campaign #18V369000 · 01/06/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.

Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may conta…

Wheels:hub NHTSA Campaign #19V416000 · 05/06/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.

Structure:body NHTSA Campaign #19V737000 · 16/10/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder NHTSA Campaign #19V277000 · 08/04/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.

Seat Belts:pretensioner NHTSA Campaign #16V955000 · 29/12/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may…

Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Electrical System:body Control Module/bcm NHTSA Campaign #21V947000 · 08/12/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.

Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2018 Audi Q5 common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2018 Audi Q5 MPG & running costs

Combined25 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2018 Audi Q5 worth?

Low
$23,995
Typical price
$29,468
High
$36,490

From 29 comparable 2018 Audi Q5 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Audi Q5 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,250
Depreciation (5 yrs)$700
Total$15,950
Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($29,468) with the same model 5 model-years older ($28,774), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2018 Audi Q5 trims & engines on record

Trims
quattro Premium Plus · quattro Premium · quattro Prestige
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 252 hp

2018 Audi Q5 vehicles on record

Other Audi Q5 model years

2018 Audi Q5 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Audi Q5 have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2018 Audi Q5. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi Q5?

Based on 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, service brakes, engine.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi Q5 get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2018 Audi Q5 at about 25 mpg combined (23 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2018 Audi Q5 worth?

Comparable 2018 Audi Q5 listings run roughly $23,995–$36,490, typically around $29,468 (from 29 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.