2021 Audi Q5 e problems
The Audi Q5 e-tron is a battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Audi through the SAIC-VW joint venture in China. Based on the MEB platform, it is the fifth battery electric model in the Audi e-tron series. Closely related to the Q4 e-tron, the model is regarded as the Audi equivalent of the similarly sized Volkswagen ID.6, and not mechanically related to the Audi Q5 or the Q8 e-tron which use the MLB platform.
Overview
The Q5 e-tron was revealed at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show as the first three-row model of the e-tron series, and the ninth model that is based on the MEB platform. While sporting a separate exterior design, dashboard design is derived from the Q4 e-tron, with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Two variants are offered, which are the Q5 40 e-tron and Q5 50 e-tron quattro. The Q5 40 e-tron is powered by a single 201 hp (204 PS; 150 kW) motor, while the flagship Q5 50 e-tron quattro features a dual-motor setup with 301 hp (305 PS; 224 kW) and all-wheel drive. It is available with a 83.4 kWh battery.
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Common 2021 Audi Q5 e problems
The 2021 Audi Q5 e, a plug-in hybrid variant of the Q5, has been subject to several recalls due to various issues. One such recall, announced on December 7, 2021, affects the gateway control module, which may shut down due to a liquid spill in the rear seat or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle. This can cause a sudden reduction in engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Another recall, also announced on December 7, 2021, concerns the engine control module (ECU/ECM) in certain 2022 Audi A6 Sedan, A4 Sedan, Q5, and Q5 Sportback vehicles. The semiconductor inside the engine control unit may short-circuit, leading to an engine stall.
In addition to these recalls, owners of the 2021 Audi Q5 e have reported several common problems. Some users have experienced major electrical issues, with the gateway module failing and causing the car to shut down completely while driving. The electrical system remains glitchy even after the module is replaced. Other issues include the air conditioning system suddenly stopping, with some owners having to wait for extended periods for parts to become available for repairs.
The infotainment system has also been a source of frustration for some owners. Error messages, such as "user not found setup required not connected to Wu-Fi" or "no phones," can render the system useless without the phone connected. Connectivity issues, particularly when multiple Apple phones are in the car, have also been reported.
The 2021 Audi Q5 e's in-car electronics, specifically the infotainment system, have received criticism from owners. The wireless Apple CarPlay feature has been described as "comically bad," taking 20+ minutes to pair at times. Software updates have been attempted to address these issues but have not been successful in resolving them completely.
In summary, the 2021 Audi Q5 e has faced recalls related to the gateway control module and engine control module, as well as common problems such as major electrical issues, air conditioning system failures, and infotainment system connectivity and functionality problems.
What is the common problem in Audi Q5?
Oil Consumption and Piston Rings
Resulting in a class action lawsuit, the 2.0t oil consumption issue plagued several years of Audi vehicles, not just the Q5. The oil consumption was traced to an issue with the piston rings installed on Audi applications of the 2.0t. Piston rings sit in grooves encircling the pistons.
How reliable are 2021 Q5?
The 2021 Q5 has a predicted reliability score of 63 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Is there a recall on 2021 Q5?
(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.
How many miles per gallon does the Audi Q5 50 TFSI E get?
166.2 mpg
Claimed economy is 166.2 mpg, which when we were in electric mode the Q5 achieved comfortably. Drive in Hybrid mode though & as we did over 250 miles & your overall read out is likely to be around 40mpg. CO2 emissions are 38g/km which accounts for it's low BIK of just 8%.
What is the engine problem with the 2021 Audi Q5?
(Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
What is the most common problem of Audi Q5?
What are common Audi Q5 problems?
- Excessive oil consumption. Turbo Q5 models, specifically the 2011 model, suffer significantly from excessive oil consumption. ...
- Defective timing chains. ...
- Start-stop system issues. ...
- Sunroof concerns. ...
- Leaky fuel pump flanges.
Is 2021 Q5 reliable?
The 2021 Q5 has a predicted reliability score of 63 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
What is the electric range of the Audi Q5 TFSI E 2021?
The Q5 Sportback 50 TFSI e quattro features a combined output of 220 kW (279 PS), while the Q5 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro has an output of 270 kW (367 PS). The lithium-ion battery in each model has a net capacity of 14.4 kWh – enough for an electric range of up to 61 km (38 mi).
2021 Audi Q5 e car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi Q5 e problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Steering problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Audi Q5 e vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Audi Q5 e complaints
The NHTSA has received 20 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Audi Q5 e.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-19
- VIN: WA1F2AFYXM2
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Reporting a potentially dangerous situation related to the vehicle's braking system. This incident happened on [XXX], on [XXX] in around the Fife WA area. The vehicle is an 2021 Audi Q5 hybrid, purchased new and been taking to dealership for service for every service interval. Initially, the vehicle was in adaptive cruise control, speed set at about 60 miles per hour. Then when the vehicle comes to a congested section of the freeway, the adaptive cruise control tries to slow down the vehicle, but it is about getting close to the vehicle in front, so I manually pressed on the brake and add additional brake force to make sure the vehicle stop in time. About that moment, there were multiple messages showed on the instrument panel, I did not have time to read all of them, but for sure one of the messages said braking system malfunction, and plus the icon with the vehicle and some curve line show up. After I came to a complete stop, and all the message disappeared, (I think the at that time, the vehicle icon with curve line still on), I begin to accelerate again, but then I noticed the brake is not functioning properly. The brake was very tight, I was only going maybe 15 miles per hour at the time and still have hard time stopping. If I would have accelerated to a higher speed, I may not be able to bring the vehicle to a stop safely then. On a busy freeway, I turned on my hazard light, and I drove slowly and safely try to move to an area on the freeway where I can slowly roll the vehicle to a complete stop and I have to push the brake very hard to do so. I reset my vehicle couple of times. Then the brake appears to be working again. But the check engine light came on. Since the braking system is working again at that time, I continue my drive home. After I arrived home, I restarted my vehicle again, and the check engine light disappeared. But please investigate this situation as the safety of the drivers and others are at risk INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-14
- VIN: WA1E2AFY8M2
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: I have had three occurrences where the Automatic Emergency Braking system and Forward Collision system have been activated for no reason. In one case the Q5 braked suddenly, and the seat belts tightened to the point that it made my passengers back sore. Fortunately, no vehicle was following close behind to cause a rear end collision. I another case I was stopped at a traffic light with a car also stopped in front of me and the seat belts tightened for no reason. It was very startling. The third instance I was driving along a straight 2 lane road with no cars travelling in either direction and the AEB activated. The braking was violent. I am concerned that the AEB could activate on an interstate highway causing a serious accident. The date I used was just one occurance.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-20
- VIN: WA1E2AFY2M2
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: In several instances, my Audi Q5 has erroneously thought there was a road hazard and slammed on the brakes. It was terrifying. Luckily there were not cars close behind or they would have collided with my car. We took it to the dealer who adjusted the system they call “Pre-sense” but the car still slammed on its brakes for no reason a couple of months later.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-08
- VIN: WA1F2AFY5M2
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Gas gauge stuck. Other Audi gas sensors have been recalled.
STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-28
- VIN: WA1E2AFY2M2
- Components: STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS
- Summary: Every possible warning light came on without notice and the car came to an abrupt halt. Ultimately the front tires locked and the car could not be moved out of park. This happened at Yosemite National Park and was very dangerous. Fortunately I was able to glide most of the car to the side of the road (not all) before the complete shutdown of all systems. The car was towed to our Audi dealer. Audi confirmed that it was the Gateway Module that had completely shut down due to "water ingress." This was perplexing because: 1) There had been a recall to fix this issue in similar Audi's about a year ago and we had promptly taken it in for the fix; and 2) We did not spill any water on the back seat nor drive over any substantial water which in any event should not have resulted in a complete system failure based on the fix that had been prescribed for the recall. Audi indicates they have fixed the issue and applied a sealant underneath as an added measure. We are very concerned about how - after the recall fix - this could have happened and want to know what assurance there is it cannot happen again.
BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-25
- VIN: WA1F2AFY6M2
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5E. The contact stated that the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer due to an accident unrelated to a failure; however, the contact stated that while his vehicle was being serviced at the dealer, he was notified by the technician that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V742000 (Back Over Prevention) however, during the software update, the infotainment module became corrupted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-05
- VIN: WA1G2AFY1M2
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Charging socket lock errors out. Disables charging and inhibits the vehicle’s electric drivability. The vehicle displays the following error: Could not execute action. Locking error in charging system.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-23
- VIN: WA1E2AFY3M2
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: During heavy rain storms, the audi windshield wipers will stop whenever the car is at a stop. This occurs at every setting, auto, low or hi Settings. This is very dangerous especially at a stop light or sign. A pedestrian could be walking in front of your vehicle and because your wipers are not operating you could not see the pedestrian walking in front of your car. Very dangerous!
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-26
- VIN: WA1E2AFY5M2
- Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Six months ago received a warning saying Electrical System Failure: safely stop vehicle. Took it to the dealer. They had the vehicle 30+ days and said they had finally fixed it. Almost immediately began receiving the same error message upon driving vehicle again. Called dealer and asked what to do. They said it must be a sensor problem because they replaced everything. Said it could be ignored. Warning light would come on and then go off periodically but we continued to drive vehicle on dealer's advice. Then, one night, while traveling on a local street, received a warning that there had been a Transmission Failure, and vehicle came to a sudden halt, blocking traffic. Wheels locked, making it extremely hard to get onto a tow truck. Had been driving on the highway shortly before this happened and could have died if the car had suddenly stopped moving at highway speed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-16
- VIN: WA1E2AFY3M2
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5 E. The contact stated that when she purchased the vehicle the MMI (Multimedia Interface) system failed to load correctly. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that the system would upload later as the system was not communicating with Audi corporate and she would be able to finish the programming later. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer as messages that the navigation system was not loaded, the driver assistance was inoperable, the fuel gauge display was incorrect, and the Lane Assist feature had failed. The contact stated that she had experienced the failure for the past year. The contact stated she received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V742000 (Back Over Prevention) several months ago and the dealer informed the state DMV that they were unable to repair the recall at the time. The contact stated that she had been communicating with the director at her state DMV as she was unable to have the dealer repair the vehicle. The contact stated that a case was not opened with her state DMV. The contact stated that the manufacturer and dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 10.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-30
- VIN: WA1E2AFY2M2
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: When the car was initially purchased in 2021 a fully filled gas tank and fully charged battery gave a total range of approx 400-420 miles. As of recently the fully filled up gas tank and fully charged battery are giving a digital range reading of 368 miles. At the minimum this is a 32 mile to 52 mile range difference. Took it to the dealership on Jan 2023 after noticing an issue in December 2022 and they are insisting the systems are correct and working. They are refusing to look into the matter. We are not sure if the sensor is wrong or if the car is prematurely stopping fueling internally causing it to not fill and give this reading.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-01
- VIN: wa1e2afy9m2
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5 E. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle came to a sudden halt as the malfunction indicator light illuminated the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately 15 minutes and drove the vehicle to a dealer(Audi of Quad Cities-1777 E 53rd St, Davenport, IA 52807) where they discovered a defective switch on the vehicle's battery pack which was linked to TSB-9321462062953/1. The contact had the switch repaired by the dealer. The contact stated that the failure recently occurred again while driving at 30 MPH; however, the time, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it remained in their possession and where it had yet to be diagnosed. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and he was sent a form for a possible vehicle buyback. The vehicle had yet to be repaired or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-17
- VIN: wa1e2afy8m2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: A/C condenser leaking. Known issue for Audi Q5.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-17
- VIN: WA1E2AFY6M2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal noise and all the warning lights illuminated. The contact proceeded and drove at 15 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and could not be driven any further. In addition, all the windows were independently opened and closed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was pending a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 10,000.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-31
- VIN: WA1G2AFY0M2
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
- Summary: My vehicle was completely shut down. After towing to dealer and had the problem checked out, dealer service department had identify that the problem was the damage of the control module caused by possible liquid reaching to the gateway. This is what the recall is. However, dealer cannot do any repair but rather than forcing me to pay for replacing module part. Dealer claims that they are not aware of any such recall of (Manufacturer Recall Number90S9 NHTSA Recall Number21V947). Manufacturer should be responsible for correcting and paying for any the damage of the flaw in their vehicle design.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-11
- VIN: WA1E2AFY7M2
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: While driving in the far left of the 405N in Long Beach, the vehicle experienced some catastrophic failure. The accelerator stopped working, gear shifting was not possible, the interior lights turned on and flashed, there was some text instruction on the screen about the vehicle having lost power, and the emergency On-Star system was not available. There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms prior to the malfunction of the vehicle. We managed to coast across 4 lanes of traffic moving at a high freeway speed, with our hazard lights flashing and honking to get other drivers' attention, and made it to the right shoulder before using the brakes to stop the car. Upon stopping, all four windows automatically rolled down slightly. It was not possible to restart the vehicle, change the gear, put the car in neutral or operate any of the electrical systems in the car, including On-Star. We were fortunate, but still very much in danger, to have stopped at a small triangular shoulder between the 405 freeway and an adjacent on-ramp. Cars were passing us at full speed and in close proximity on both sides of the car. We called AAA as well as 911 to assist us in getting out of that harrowing situation safely. The vehicle was towed directly to the Audi Service Center in Santa Monica, where we left it with an after-hours note describing the issue we experienced. We called Audi the following morning and the service tech, Angel, said they would review the problem. Upon review, Angel confirmed that the issue was a failure in the gateway control module - a problem that Audi is aware of and has occurred in many of the same types of vehicles. We found through online searches of this issue that it is generally caused by water spilled in the backseat of the vehicle. Angel confirmed that no moisture was found inside the vehicle and he did not believe the failure was caused by spilled liquid. Audi is now insisting that we continue to drive the car, without the issue being fixed.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-24
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: WA1E2AFY2M2
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The vehicle automatic emergency braking has engaged over 6 times when no vehicle or other object was in front of the vehicle. The aggressive hard braking has nearly caused rear ending accidents and has also caused a neck injury. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership to address. The dealership indicated they reduced the sensitivity/distance of the system. This has not resolved the problem, and Audi has indicated they have no other actions they can take.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-10
- VIN: WA1E2AFY8M2
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: My 2021 Audi Q5e is a PHEV. There are ion-lithium batteries in this vehicle, but absolutely no markings on the body that this is a hybrid vehicle. The only marking is a small clear window sticker on the driver's side window, which is almost impossible to read. As an exvoluntiee fireman, we had extensive how to handle a fire when it involved a hybrid/electric vehicle. Audi has done enough to alert emergency personnel that the Q5e contains ion-lithium batteries. There needs to be much better badging on the Q5e indicating it is a hybrid. Audi should at least add the letter "e" to the Q5 emblem on the rear tailgate.
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-16
- VIN: WA1E2AFY8M2
- Components: STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The incident occurred on a busy road during evening rush hour. I was in the middle lane of three lanes, and the lane to the right of me was closed due to construction. The phrase “electrical malfunction” flashed across my dashboard, there were beeping sounds, and about 5-10 later the steering froze up and the car would no longer accelerate. There were no other prior warning indications. I was unable to steer over on a side road or shoulder. I blocked traffic in the middle lane. My 1-and-a-half-year-old was in the back seat with me, and I was 35 weeks pregnant at the time. The temperature was 104 outside and my car wouldn’t start despite several trouble shooting attempts to turn it back on. The car kept beeping and flashing malfunction signals on the dashboard indicating that all the different safety functions were not functioning. The windows were inoperable as well and would randomly go up and down. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, and they determined the J533 Gateway Module needed to be replaced. This module is located underneath the back row in a tub-like recess, which had collected water, and the module had malfunctioned. It is unknown if the module is available for inspection upon request.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-28
- VIN: WA1E2AFY3M2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: When I powered on the car, I got a message "Electrical system failure", and was unable to start the car. After multiple tries, the car started, but had the check engine light on. Had this failure happened while the car was moving, this could have been a very dangerous situation. We live in Arizona, and could have easily been stranded in the desert without cell service, creating another life threatening situation.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Audi Q5 e problems:
How common is the "Q5e Electrical System Malfunction ...
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2021 Audi Q5 Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · In-car Electronics · Electrical Accessories · Steering And Suspension · Body Hardware · Noises And Leaks · Drive System · Climate System.
2021 Audi Q5 Problems, Issues & Top Complaints | Lemon?
Those that the Audi Q5 and other models have in common relate to forward collision avoidance and steering (2 complaints, 1 about the Q5 E). The Q5 E also has 1 ...
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