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Light NHTSA footprint — 38 owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2013 Audi A5 has 38 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 14 complaints (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 A5 | 34 | 0 |
| 2012 A5 | 22 | 0 |
| 2013 A5 (this page) | 38 | 3 |
| 2014 A5 | 29 | 3 |
| 2015 A5 | 9 | 3 |
| 2016 A5 | 7 | 3 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Audi a5. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18v229000 (engine) was received in june of 2018. After contacting the local dealer (Audi west houston, 15865 katy freeway, houston, tx), the contact was informed that the…
I have just become aware, on my own accord, that the used 2013 Audi a5 I purchased has a safety recall issued october of this year. I need to be advised on what course of action needs to be taken from this point. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of…
In sep 2016 my 2013 Audi a5 started smoking and overheating while driving on the freeway. I drove my car home and searched for a reputable auto shop in my city that I drove my car to. My vehicle was analyzed and inspected to find out that the coolant/waterpump needed to be…
While approaching a turn I slowed down , another car came around the right side. My car wasn't resoonding I wasn't able to bear right around curve and went across road and up hill. Approaching hill felt like I didn't have power steering, I took 2 hands and grabbed the steering…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Audi A5 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2013 Audi A5 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 14 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 38 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 14 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 38 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.