My 2011 Audi q5 would not start one morning when trying to start the car in my garage (dec 2019). I had it towed to the fletcher jones Audi dealership in chicago il where I have been a loyal customer since moving here in 2014. They performed a diagnostic and identified that the timing chain tensioner had slipped, and may have caused "catastrophic" failure to my engine. They proceeded to ask…
2011 Audi Q5 engine problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 28 engine complaints filed for the 2011 Audi Q5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of Audi Q5 in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Oil consumption issue while driving down the road. Under any acceleration, smoke comes out the exhaust. Uses about 1 quart of oil per 300 miles. Leak down test was done, showing leakage past piston rings. Resulting in a complete rebuild of engine costing me $5,000 plus. Vehicle has just about 100,000 miles.
After my car had been sitting for 8 days I went in garage to crank it. The car cranked but shook violently. I immediately shut it off. I tried to re crank it but it would not crank. I called Audi and had it towed in. They told me the "lifetime" timing chain was stretched. That the repair would cost between $4,000 and $7,000 to fix. I did some quick searching and saw other folks with…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 Audi Q5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 Audi Q5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 72,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 92,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 72,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Audi/Q5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.