2018 Audi S5: common problems and reliability
· F5One of the worst S5 years.
One of the Audi S5 years to avoid. All S5 years
52 owner complaints, most about engine. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 S5?The 2018 Audi S5 has 52 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and air bags. Owners most often flag rocker arm defect on 2017-2018 and early 2019 builds leading to potential catastrophic engine failure.
Safety record for the 2018 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 Audi S5 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other S5 years only. How we score it
Is 2018 a good year for the S5?
Across the 16 S5 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2022) to 52 (2018). With 52 complaints, the 2018 S5 sits above the model's median of 10.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2018 S5
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 19V547000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
seats
Campaign 21V874000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
What owners report on the F5 S5
Owners of the 2016-2024 F5 S5 generally adore the car, calling it one of the most striking cars on the road and praising its driving dynamics, interior quality, and the strong turbocharged 3.0 V6 paired with the ZF 8-speed transmission.
- Very frequentRocker arm defect on 2017-2018 and early 2019 builds leading to potential catastrophic engine failure
- Very frequentMMI software bugs, random reboots, and connectivity failures including Bluetooth and CarPlay
- RecurrentWater pump failure
- RecurrentThermostat housing cracking
- RecurrentPCV valve failure
Owner insights for the F5 S5. Read the full F5 owner report.
Other S5 model years
Compare every S5 year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.
Compare the S5 against its rivals
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