This bulletin provides informaiton when the transmission warning message appears in the cluster; P074100 stored in the TCM.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Audi S5 powertrain problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 10 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Audi S5, 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
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 75,000-100,000 mi band — 5 of 6 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The high-voltage batteries in electric vehicles are subject to various ageing effects which could lead to the energy content (energy density) being reduced. This reduction in the energy content, which is due to factors. Revised header. Added Model years
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides additoinal information to assist in determining the energy content of lithium-ion high-voltage batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information when there are leaks from the transmission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This TSB provides information when event memory entries cannot be deleted (Mode$0A error) on gearboxes: DL501, DL382/DL382E and DQ500.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
After the car sits over night, and is driven w/o bring warmed up it slips going into 1st and 2nd gear, rough downshift or slight bump when coming to a stop, and a rough idle and noise coming from the transmission when in park. Car has 87k.
My car went into limp mode where the transmission doesn't engage and come to find out it was the mechatronic unit in the transmission and a very well known problem. The car wouldn't move when I was on a busy road. It said continue to drive but I couldn't. It happened at 65k miles. I had it rebuilt for over $2000 and the car is very well maintained.
My vehicle as well as many audis with the mechatronic system are having an issue that present a error, " mechatronic failure TPMS gearbox malfunction). It often either not drivable, even when in traffic or drives at a snail's pace when attempting to exit traffic. Audi corporate said a recall is only done when the NHTSA feel that's it a issue that can calls safety &/or death. This seem to effect,…
I was driving on the freeway all of the sudden I lost power and felt jerky movements I had to pull over. Obviously I had check engine light come and gearbox malfunction message. The problem turns out to be a mechatronic issue with my vehicle there's a technical service bulletin on it tsb number is 10054213-2278. Although I tried to open a case with Audi usa. My case got denied because they…
NHTSA Safety Complaint DraftVehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2013 Audi S5 Premium Plus CoupeVIN: [XXX]: Power Train / Transmission (7-Speed Dual-Clutch S-Tronic / DSG)Description of Safety Defect:I am writing to report a severe, recurring safety defect regarding the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in my 2013 Audi S5. The vehicle is experiencing catastrophic transmission issues, including…
while driving, got a notification on the dash board "transmission malfunction, limited functionality" and a "tpms malfunction" notification. Car seemed like it was skipping 1st and 2nd gear after i continued driving.
Vehicle is throwing transmission fault codes, shifting as if the trans is in limp mode, when stopped and then going, the trans bogs, as well as between shifts. Doesn't go into manual mode either for the dsg trans my car has. A shop said the metatronic unit needs replacement.
Transmission fault code popped up. Trans bogs when trying to start, almost in a limp mode for the transmission. The code comes on and off sometimes, and doesn't allow me to go into manual mode. The trans is a dsg, and is acting very weird. Mechatronic was told to be replaced by a european auto shop.
I had a very pricey service performed on my vehicle and during that service they said there was a service bulletin or recall that required a software upgrade for the transmission (Audi of El Paso, TX). Once that occurred, my transmission would shift very hard especially going from 1st to 2nd gear or downshifting from 2nd to 1st gear. My service advisor told me that my vehicle had to learn again…
mechatronic unit failed incident : random jerking when driving had to pull the car over car lost power "gear box malfunction" code on my dashboard. after replacing the mechatornic unit had to pay 5127 dollars out of pocket to get fixed
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Audi S5?
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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Audi S5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 81,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2013/Audi/S5.
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.