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ProblemsByVin File / 2014-AUDI-Q5 NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Audi

2014 Audi Q5 problems

The 2014 Audi Q5 has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 106 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

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What tends to fail on the 2014 Audi Q5, and when

Across the NHTSA owner-complaint record for this vehicle, the earliest problems cluster around 5,500 miles (visibility). The first failure owners report as severe is visibility, around 5,500 miles at roughly $350 to put right.

2014 Audi Q5 — reported failures in mileage order, from NHTSA owner complaints
SystemTypically shows aroundTypical repairOwner reports
visibilitysevere5,500 mi~$3503
lighting11,000 mi~$2503
electricalsevere16,000 mi~$8506
powertrain33,399 mi~$2,5005
airbagssevere41,296 mi~$1,1003
steeringsevere49,843 mi~$70017
suspension72,000 mi~$9006
engine76,193 mi~$3,10029

Mileage figures are averages across owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not a manufacturer schedule or a prediction for any individual vehicle. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified, and owners who have no trouble rarely file — so this shows where and when problems cluster, not how likely they are. Repair costs are estimates. Federal records as of October 2026.

The 2014 Audi Q5 has 106 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of October 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 29 complaints, typically surfacing around 76,193 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Audi Q5 owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2011 Q5 143 5
2012 Q5 4 6
2013 Q5 92 5
2014 Q5 (this page) 106 5
2015 Q5 100 6
2016 Q5 78 5
2017 Q5 42 5
2014 Audi Q5
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Audi Q5
0 5 10
Reliability score
6.4 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

1
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2014 Q5?
Acceptable — with caveats

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.

NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 4 / 5 overall

Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal crash ★★★★★ 4/5
Side crash ★★★★★ 5/5
Rollover ★★★★★ 4/5

Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2014 Audi Q5 SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.

Buying a used 2014 Audi Q5? Check these first

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.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 49,843 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 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 →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2014 Audi Q5

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.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
29 reports · fails ~76,193 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
steering
17 reports · fails ~49,843 mi · avg $700
severe
body
7 reports · avg $1,500
moderate
electrical
6 reports · fails ~16,000 mi · avg $850
severe
suspension
6 reports · fails ~72,000 mi · avg $900
moderate
powertrain
5 reports · fails ~33,399 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
3 reports · fails ~41,296 mi · avg $1,100
severe
lighting
3 reports · fails ~11,000 mi · avg $250
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2014 Q5's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2014 Q5?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2014 Q5 · steering
Seriously dangerous steering failure in 2014 Audi q5: warmed the car up, drove 15 minutes to a gas station, turned it off to fuel up and went to restart after engine was off for approximately 5 minutes, upon start up and the message displayed "steering defective" do not drive…
12/23/2020 · at 44,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11384647.0 · see steering pattern →
2014 Q5 · body
Vehicle rear subframe comes with plastic covers that trap road salt and cause severe corrosion. Issue only presents itself when plastic covers are removed, revealing rust/corrosion and lost material, and a risk of the subframe to split resulting in lost of vehicle control on the…
2014 Q5 · powertrain
This has happened now several times, when the car comes to a complete stop or just about a complete stop, then trying to accelerate there is no throttle response instead of accelerating as expected. Is the ABS system cutting power to the engine? The car is 'dead' for about two…
12/16/2014 · at 5,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10664729.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2014 Q5 · engine
The car has a known "oil consumption issue" that has led to engine failure that Audi has failed to take responsibility for. This is a 2104 Audi Q5. The car is in San Francisco and available for inspection. The car vibrates and can't be safely driven at highway speeds, if the…
View all 106 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2014 Audi Q5? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 5

critical NHTSA 17V001000 January 3, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
severe NHTSA 18V229000 April 11, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
severe NHTSA 17V622000 October 5, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
View all 5 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2014 Audi Q5 reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Audi Q5 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2014 Audi Q5?

The 2014 Audi Q5 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2014 Audi Q5?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 29 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 76,193 miles. 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.

Is the 2014 Audi Q5 a good used car to buy?

It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 106 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 76,193 miles. 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.

What's the most common problem on the 2014 Audi Q5?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 29 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 76,193 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 76,193 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Audi Q5 has open recalls?

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.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2014 Audi Q5?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 106 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.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Audi/Q5. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Audi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.