2011 Audi Q5 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

42Engine complaints

29.8%Of all 141 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS67 · 47.5%

ENGINE42 · 29.8%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM25 · 17.7%

POWER TRAIN12 · 8.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 5.7%

Share of the 141 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Audi Q5 overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11288637 — filed 12/12/2019

“TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT CAUSED IT TO JUMP, DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEADS AND VALVES. AS I WAS PROCEEDING TO STOP AT AT A LIGHT, THE…”NHTSA complaint 11240507 — filed 07/29/2019

“AT ABOUT 63,000 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I CHECKED CODE AND P0018 SHOWED UP. IT FAILED EMISSIONS TEST SUBSEQUENTLY FOR LICENSE…”NHTSA complaint 11233069 — filed 07/18/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Audi Q5 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Audi Q5: 42 of 141 complaints on file (29.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Audi Q5 have in total?

141 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.