I received a letter that my car was under a recall for the water pump I have a 2017 Q5 Audi which the dealer said needed a water pump bio waited until after my mileage went up then made me pay out of pocket rather then honoring the recall. This was criminal and I feel Audi should Reimburse me or get dealer to reimburse me for this scheme Audi is horrible and should be ashamed for allowing this…
2017 Audi Q5 engine problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Audi Q5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Engine accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Audi Q5 has a documented history of engine and cooling system failures, including catastrophic piston/long-block failure, thermostat and pump leaks (some recurring even after recall repairs), excessive oil consumption, and PCV valve issues. Multiple recalls for cooling components remain unresolved due to parts unavailability, and Audi has declined coverage on some failures.
Owners describe multiple engine and cooling-system failures on the 2017 Q5. One owner experienced catastrophic engine failure at 66,539 miles—engine shut down on the highway, went into limp mode with EPC and low oil pressure lights, then failed again. The dealership recommended full long-block replacement ($16,881.79) for piston failure, but Audi has discontinued the 2.0 Turbo engine for this model, leaving no parts available. Audi USA refused to authorize repairs.
Thermostat housing and coolant pump failures are common. One owner had the housing and pump assembly replaced in 2021 for $1,688.77 after the coolant reservoir repeatedly emptied. Another owner reports the pump was replaced in 2018 and 2019 under recall but failed again—leaking after only six years. Multiple owners report recall campaigns 18V229000 and 17V002000 (engine and cooling) with parts listed as unavailable through dealers.
Oil consumption is a recurring complaint—owners report needing oil top-offs every three weeks or less, with one case of excessive consumption diagnosed at 101,000 miles. One owner reports piston rings failure. A PCV valve malfunction requiring extensive repair is documented, with the owner noting an earlier recall for 2016 models doesn't cover the 2017. An after-run coolant pump recall (19N4) was issued for potential short circuit and overheat, but repair parts were not yet available.
Same Audi Q5 engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Catastrophic piston failure / long-block engine failure
Engine seized or suffered internal failure requiring complete long-block replacement. Owner reports piston failure diagnosed at dealership.
When: 66,539 miles (September 2022); 8 months after passing complete engine inspection in December 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stopped/disabled while driving at 45 mph on highway; Limp mode activated; EPC light illuminated; Low oil pressure light illuminated before shutdown; Engine restarted after waiting period but went into limp mode again
Codes mentioned: EPC light, Low oil pressure light
Repairs/costs cited: Long-block replacement estimated at $16,881.79; Audi has discontinued manufacturing 2.0 Turbo engines for this model, making replacement unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi USA declined to authorize repair, stating 'all issues start and end with the dealer'; Audi dealership confirmed engine is no longer manufactured
Thermostat housing and coolant pump failure
Thermostat housing leaked at top edge and coolant pump failed, causing coolant loss. Multiple repairs indicate recurring issue.
When: First reported 8/5/21, repaired 8/11/21; another owner reports leak after pump replaced in 2018 and 2019 by Audi due to recall, now leaking again after 6 years
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leaking from thermostat housing and pump; Coolant reservoir emptying during driving or when parked; Low coolant warning alert; Risk of overheating; Confirmed via diagnostics
Codes mentioned: Low coolant indicator light
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat housing and coolant pump assembly replaced; cost $1,688.77 in 2021 case; one owner's pump replaced twice (2018, 2019) under recall, now failing again
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 18V229000 and 17V002000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued; multiple owners report parts unavailable for recall repair; Audi Lakeland, Audi Westmont, and other dealers confirmed parts not available
Excessive oil consumption
Engine consuming abnormally high amounts of oil, requiring frequent top-offs. One owner mentions piston rings failure as cause.
When: Approximately 101,000 miles on one vehicle; another owner reporting every 3 weeks or less
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally high whistling pitch sound from engine; Excessive oil consumption requiring frequent additions; No warning lights in one case
Repairs/costs cited: One case diagnosed by independent mechanic as excessive oil consumption; vehicle not repaired. Piston rings failure cited in another narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline; no repair authorization mentioned
PCV valve malfunction
PCV valve failed, requiring extensive repair. Owner notes similar issue is subject to recall for earlier model years (2016 and earlier) but 2017 is excluded.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: PCV valve malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Extensive repair bill required; specific parts and cost not stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for 2016 Audi models with 3.0 engine but does not cover 2017 model year
After-run coolant pump failure
Defective after-run coolant pump creating safety hazard with risk of short circuit and overheat.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Potential short circuit; Potential overheat
Repairs/costs cited: <UNKNOWN>
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety Recall 19N4 issued but repair not yet available at time of complaint
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Audi q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v229000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called the local dealer (Audi westmont, 276 e ogden ave, westmont, il 60559, (630) 537-0310) and was informed that the parts were not available. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Audi q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v229000 (engine and engine cooling), which indicated that the part for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The contact expected to be notified when the part was…
thermostat housing leaking at the top edge and the coolant pump leaking, replaced thermostat housing and coolant pump assembly. vehicle is available for inspection upon request. the coolant reservoir would empty every time I drove the car or let it sit, the vehicle did let me know with an alert when the fluid was too low. I had to continually keep fluids in it so that the vehicle did not…
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally high whistling pitch sound coming from the vehicle. The contact had to add additional oil to the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of…
Letter to deputy administrator king in regards to safety recall 19n4- after run coolant pump " which warns that the vehicle may experience a short circuit and/or overheat and a statement noting:" this recall repair is not yet available. *ld *js
Had engine trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Audi Q5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 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?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 101,000 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 $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/2017/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.