2021 Audi S5: common problems and reliability
· F5An average S5 year.
2 owner complaints, most about suspension. 5 recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 S5?The 2021 Audi S5 has 2 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are suspension. Owners most often flag mmi software bugs, random reboots, and connectivity failures including bluetooth and carplay.
Safety record for the 2021 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2021 Audi S5 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other S5 years only. How we score it
Is 2021 a good year for the S5?
Across the 16 S5 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2022) to 52 (2018). With 2 complaints, the 2021 S5 sits below 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 2021 S5
seat belts:rear/other:retractor
Campaign 21V606000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
tires
Campaign 22V034000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
exterior lighting:tail lights
Campaign 20V737000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly
Campaign 21V295000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Show 1 more recall
back over prevention:display function
Campaign 22V742000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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 2021 ranks against the rest.
Compare the S5 against its rivals
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