Reliable Auto DB

2018 Audi SQ5 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Audi SQ5 has 24 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 11 SQ5 years on this site. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Body control module, Structure, body, and Hub.

2014 Audi SQ5
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

24

Per year

2

Recalls

5

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (8 of 24), then Engine (6) and Forward collision avoidance (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 SQ5 has 5 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2019 has 19 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Audi SQ5. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

Recall electrical system, body control module 2021-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 21V947000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall structure, body 2019-10-16 · NHTSA campaign 19V737000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall wheels, hub 2019-06-05 · NHTSA campaign 19V416000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall Brake master cylinder 2019-04-08 · NHTSA campaign 19V277000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2018-06-01 · NHTSA campaign 18V369000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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 Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.

Complaints by component (24 total)

Electrical system
8
Engine
6
Forward collision avoidance
4
Powertrain
4
Exterior lighting
3
Service brakes
2
Steering
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Air bags
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Parking brake
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Show 5 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120173201822019120203202112022520236202422026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I purchased my 2018 Audi SQ5 on September 12, 2025, from Audi Denver (McDonald Automotive Group). On XXX, at 114,145 miles, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving on the highway near…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-08-09
  • "While driving a 2018 Audi SQ5 with the EA839 3.0T engine, a coolant warning light activated and engine temperatures began rising to 210-215°F. The vehicle was pulled over immediately. Upon inspection the coolant…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-07-05
  • "Heavy rain leaked into the cabin of my SUV,and damaged the module, no controls worked through the key fob, no start . I keep my SUV under cover 90% of the time. A recent wind storm damaged my car port that I usually…"
    Electrical system · filed 2024-12-29
  • "Car's electrical system fried overnight during a rainstorm. All systems unresponsive to keys or key faub. Car was towed to used dealership and they told me due to drainage system blockage a pool of water collected in…"
    Electrical system, Exterior lighting · filed 2024-11-22
  • "During a rainstorm, water drained from roof drains that are apparently supposed to be cleaned & maintenance done by dealership on a regular basis but were clogged due to them not being any maintenance done. Water…"
    Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2024-08-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Audi SQ5 SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
SQ5 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (AM-S8) All-wheel drive 19 24 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

FY generation, 2018–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (confirm on cap)
Tire size 255/45R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V369000 covers certain 2018 Audi SQ5 and Q5 vehicles (with several Volkswagen models in the same campaign) where brake caliper pistons may have insufficient coating, which can reduce brake performance. Recall 19V416000 covers certain 2018-2019 SQ5 and Q5 models where wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach while driving. Recall 19V277000 covers certain 2018-2019 SQ5 and Q5 models for a brake master cylinder concern. Recall 19V737000 covers certain 2018-2019 SQ5 and 2018-2020 Q5 models for a rear structure/body issue on that campaign list.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Audi SQ5 Next year 2019 Audi SQ5 See every Audi SQ5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Audi SQ5 reliable?

The 2018 Audi SQ5 has 24 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 11 SQ5 years on this site. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Body control module, Structure, body, and Hub.

What are common problems with a 2018 Audi SQ5?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (8 of 24), then Engine (6) and Forward collision avoidance (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2018 Audi SQ5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 SQ5 has 5 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2019 has 19 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Audi SQ5 been recalled?

The 2018 Audi SQ5 has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Audi SQ5?

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 2018 Audi SQ5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Audi SQ5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Audi SQ5 is 21 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What SQ5 generations does this site track?

8R (2014-2017) and FY (2018-on).

What does recall 18V369000 cover on the FY SQ5?

Certain 2018 Audi SQ5 and Q5 vehicles (with several Volkswagen models): brake caliper pistons may have insufficient coating, which can reduce brake performance.

Is oil specified on this SQ5 record yet?

Not yet with a sourced US fill — confirm Audi/VW oil spec from the filler cap and owner’s manual for your engine.