Reliable Auto DB

2020 Audi SQ5 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Audi SQ5 holds 8 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most SQ5 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Tires, Body control module, and Rear non-powered axle assembly.

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

8

Per year

1

Recalls

4

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (3 of 8), then Speed control (2) and Back-over prevention (1).

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 SQ5 has 19 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2021 has 13 complaints, 2 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Audi SQ5. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Tires 2022-01-26 · NHTSA campaign 22V034000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
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 Rear non-powered axle assembly 2021-04-26 · NHTSA campaign 21V295000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Remedy Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
Recall Seats 2020-08-26 · NHTSA campaign 20V505000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.

Complaints by component (8 total)

Forward collision avoidance
3
Speed control
2
Back-over prevention
1
Engine
1
Service brakes
1
Steering
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1202022022220231202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "2020 Audi SQ5, 3.0T EA839 engine. On 9/22/2026 an independent repair shop inspected the vehicle and found engine coolant pooling in the engine valley beneath the coolant module (integrated water pump / thermostat…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-22
  • "My 2020 Audi SQ5 (3.0L turbo V6, EA839 engine) experienced premature water pump failure at 64,361 miles. Coolant leaked into the vacuum system, damaging the vacuum unit and related components. Failed parts are available…"
    Speed control, Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-18
  • "My sunroof spontaneously imploded while driving my vehicle on the highway. I was going to speed limit in the middle lane, very little traffic, no semi-trucks near and did not drive under an overpass."
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-01-08
  • "I recently purchased this vehicle 8/5/23 and since then the pre sense function has activated it’s jarring emergency breaking three times. Once it happened to me backing out of my driveway without any obstruction,…"
    Forward collision avoidance · filed 2023-08-21
  • "The sos emergency system continues to fail. It alarms that it failed. Warning light on the dashboard continues to be on. The car was brought to the dealer. emergency calling unavailable while driving."
    Unknown or other · filed 2023-03-28

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 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 (8-speed) All-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $4000

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 2019 Audi SQ5 Next year 2021 Audi SQ5 See every Audi SQ5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Audi SQ5 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Audi SQ5 holds 8 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most SQ5 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Tires, Body control module, and Rear non-powered axle assembly.

What are common problems with a 2020 Audi SQ5?

The complaints owners file most often name Forward collision avoidance (3 of 8), then Speed control (2) and Back-over prevention (1).

Is the 2020 Audi SQ5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 SQ5 has 19 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2021 has 13 complaints, 2 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Audi SQ5 been recalled?

The 2020 Audi SQ5 has 4 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 2020 Audi SQ5?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2020 Audi SQ5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Audi SQ5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Audi SQ5 is 20 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.