Model year guide

2018 Audi SQ5

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Audi SQ5 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 297 on record.

2018 Audi SQ5 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Audi SQ5 at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints24
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$37,407

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2018 Audi SQ5 recalls 5

Structure:body NHTSA Campaign #21V947000 · manufacturer #90S9 · 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.

Structure:body NHTSA Campaign #19V737000 · manufacturer #66K8 · 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.

Wheels:hub NHTSA Campaign #19V416000 · manufacturer #66K6/66K7 · 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder NHTSA Campaign #19V277000 · manufacturer #47O9 · 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper NHTSA Campaign #18V369000 · manufacturer #47N8, 47N9, 47N6 · 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 contact Vo…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2018 Audi SQ5 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 24 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.
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.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
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 SQ5 safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Rollover risk: 16.3% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2018 Audi SQ5 SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2018 Audi SQ5 MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,900
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S8)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$7,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2018 Audi SQ5 worth?

Low
$644
Typical price
$37,407
High
$50,832

From 12 comparable 2018 Audi SQ5 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Audi SQ5 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$19,500
Fuel only$19,500
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
183.9 in
Width
74.4 in
Height
65.4 in
Wheelbase
111.0 in
Curb weight
4,398 lb
Front track
63.8 in
Rear track
63.4 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2018 Audi SQ5. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 804

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 804.

This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.

Bulletin TSB_2083409_1 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.

Bulletin TSB_2052680_2 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.

Bulletin TSB_2020552_15 · Visibility/wiper · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.

Bulletin TSB_2074846_5 · Steering · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.

Bulletin TSB_2078648_4 · Structure · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.

Bulletin TSB_2030471_9 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when there is an abnormal knocking noise from the engine compartment; V6 3.0L TFSI.

Bulletin TSB_2081030_4 · Engine · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.

Bulletin TSB_2051095_12 · Sep 2026

This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.

Bulletin TSB_2068999_5 · Structure · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate.

Bulletin TSB_2079214_4 · Electrical System · Sep 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SQ5 AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 5

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi SQ5. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

Issue: On certain vehicles, if you spill liquid on the rear seat, or drive through heavy rain or deep water, the gateway control module could be damaged. If this happens, the vehicle may enter emergency mode and suddenly lose power to the wheels. Note: The power steering and braking systems will continue to work. You may also see warning messages on the instrument panel when th…

Transport Canada #2021740 · Dec 2021

Structure

Issue: On certain vehicles, the cover trim for the rear wheel arches may become loose. This could cause the trim to detach while driving. Safety Risk: Trim that completely detaches from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to replace the four clips that s…

Transport Canada #2019520 · Oct 2019

Structure

Issue: On certain vehicles, the cover trim for the wheel arches may become loose. This could cause the trim to detach while driving. Safety Risk: Trim that completely detaches from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to secure each wheel arch trim with a…

Transport Canada #2019265 · Jun 2019

Brakes

Issue: Some vehicles were built with an incorrect brake master cylinder. The master cylinder may be too short, which could cause it to fail. This could cause a complete loss of braking (with the exception of the emergency/parking brake function). Safety Risk: A loss of brakes can create the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct…

Transport Canada #2019173 · Apr 2019

Brakes

On certain vehicles, a problem with the brake system may cause gas bubbles to form in the brake fluid. This could cause a soft brake pedal feel and a reduction in brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will bleed the front or rear brakes as necessary. Note: In the interim, owners are advised to stop drivin…

Transport Canada #2018292 · Jun 2018

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Audi SQ5

The Audi Q5 is a series of compact luxury crossover SUVs produced by the German luxury car manufacturer Audi from 2008. The original first-generation model was the third member of the B8 family to be released after the Audi A5 and fourth-generation A4, all being based on the Audi MLB platform. The second generation Q5 debuted in 2018 and shares the Audi MLB Evo platform with the corresponding B9 versions of the A4 and A5.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2018 Audi SQ5 trims & engines on record

Trims
quattro Prestige · quattro Premium Plus
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 354 hp

2018 Audi SQ5 vehicles on record

2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY4J2214414 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY0J2131067 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY1J2112360 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY2J2214721 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY6J2142485 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY8J2034059 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY4J2224755 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY8J2112699 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY0J2019613 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY5J2067057 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY1J2227945 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro PrestigeWA1C4AFY8J2074609 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5 quattro Premium PlusWA1A4AFY4J2058012 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1A4AFYXJ2188005 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1B4AFY3K2003346 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1B4AFY5K2001078 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1C4BFY9J2221087 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1C4AFY0K2001641 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1C4AFYXK2006197 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1A4AFY7J2229609 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WAUZZZFY5J2188919 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1C4AFY5J2124656 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WA1A4AFY1J2149755 2018 Audi SQ5 2018 Audi SQ5WAUZZZFY4J2193822

Other Audi SQ5 model years

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

2018 Audi SQ5 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Audi SQ5 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi SQ5. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi SQ5?

Across all 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, power train.

What is the 2018 Audi SQ5 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2018 Audi SQ5 crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi SQ5 get?

The 2018 Audi SQ5 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 21 mpg combined (19 city / 24 highway).

How much is a 2018 Audi SQ5 worth?

Comparable 2018 Audi SQ5 listings run roughly $644–$50,832, typically around $37,407 (from 12 vehicles).

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