2018 Audi S5 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Audi S5.

20162019
Complaints
40
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2018 Audi S5 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#19 complaints

Engine Problems

#23 complaints

Airbags

#33 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Audi S5.

Engine Problems
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Audi S5. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Audi S5

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~353,669 vehicles.

21V874000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger · Seats
~208,332 affected

Volkswagen 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.

19V547000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
~145,337 affected

Volkswagen 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.

Other Audi S5 Years

2018 Audi S5 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Audi S5 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2018 Audi S5 has 40 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Audi S5?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (9 complaints); Airbags (3 complaints); Wipers & Visibility (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2018 Audi S5?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Audi S5 include 4 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Audi S5 have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 353,669 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Audi S5?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2018 Audi S5 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Audi S5 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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