Audi · A5 · 2009
1
Recall
11
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Audi A5 has 1 recall and 11 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (3 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Remedy Status
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
MY AIR BAG LIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT ICON CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME WHILE STARTING AND REMAIN ON. I HAVE READ THE EXACT SAME DESCRIPTION FROM OTHER AUDI OWNERS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 6901 16V376. WHY IS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED?? I HAVE RESTARTED MY TIMES TO NO AVAIL.
I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2015 WITH 35K MILES. SINCE THEN, ITS BEEN OVER ELEVEN TIMES REGARDING WATER LEAKING ISSUES, PARTICULAR INVOLVING THE SUNROOF DRAINS ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT REAR DRAIN OVER THE PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL WINDOW NEAR THE AIRBAG AREA (C-PILLAR). THE HEADLINER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE (IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED OTHER TIMES, BUT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY CLEANED THE STAINS). THE SUNSHADE HAD TO BE REPLACED/REPAIR TWICE BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED DURING MANIPULATION OF THE HEADLINER, AND THE SUNROOF HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ADJUSTED DUE TO SQUEAKING. THIS SUNROOF CONTINUES TO HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, WHICH RESULTS IN WATER LEAKAGE ONTO AND STAINING THE HEADLINER. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE DRAINS WERE BLOCKED AND NEEDED CLEANING, BUT THE CAR IS MOSTLY GARAGED KEPT AND IS NOT EXPOSED TO A LOT OF TREE LITTER. I ASKED IF THERE IS A PERMANENT FIX, AND I'VE CONTACTED AUDI USA REGARDING THIS ISSUE ASKING FOR A PERMANENT FIX OR REPURCHASE/REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE TO WHICH THEY RESPONSE WAS NO THEY CAN'T HELP ME OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER, WITH WHOM I'VE ALREADY WORKED WITH AND THEY'VE BEEN HELPFUL, BUT IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, THEN AUDI USA SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY OR BUYBACK THE VEHICLES AND MAKE THEIR CONSUMERS WHOLE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT RUSTING, COMPROMISE OF THE SIDE AIRBAG (C-PILLAR), AND FUTURE DETERIORATION OF THE HEADLINER. BUT ALSO THE INCONVENIENCE AND FRUSTRATION OF TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A HEAVY RAIN (52MI DRIVE ONE-WAY) TO DEAL WITH A LEAKY ROOF DRAIN. PLEASE HELP, INITIATE A RECALL SO CONSUMERS CAN BE MADE WHOLE BY WAY OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OR RE-PURCHASE OF THEIR VEHICLES THIS WOULD SHOW AUTO MANUFACTURES THAT THEY CANNOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CONSUMERS.
RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) DOOR LATCH/LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. BECAUSE THE LOCK FAILED, THE ALARM SYSTEM DOES NOT SEE THE DOOR AS CLOSED AND WILL NOT ARM THE SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED UNLESS YOU ACTIVATE USING THE CHILD PROOF OVERIDE NEAR THE LATCH MECHANISM. YOU MUST REACH IN THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR USING THE HANDLE. THIS IS A SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY CAR WITH LESS THAN 55K MILES ON IT. THE AUDI FORUMS HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE B8 MODEL CAR (A4/A5/S4/S5/RS5). ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE OVER $650 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THIS MAY BE A DIY IF YOU ARE VERY SKILLED (READ: A MECHANIC) AND IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SPECIALTY TOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PART ALONE COSTS $200 FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT. USED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT IF THE FAILURE RATE IS CLOSE TO THE 50-55K MILE MARK, NOT MANY OF THESE ARE AVAILABLE AND THOSE THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE QUESTIONABLE WITH REGARDS TO RELIABILITY. I HAVE ASKED AUDI AMERICA (USA) FOR GOOD FAITH ASSISTANCE BUT THEY HAVE REMAINED SILENT.
AUDI A5 2009 IS NOT A RELIABLE CAR I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI PRODUCT IN MY LIFETIME. I CANT BELIEVE HOW I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE WITH THE MISFIRE ISSUE AND I FIND IN MY RESEARCH THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES FOR VARIOUS MODELS UNBELIEVABLE. HAD I SEARCH THIS PRODUCT, WOULD HAVE BEEN MY ONLY WISH. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START UP TODAY. HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 8 MONTHS. AT 45,000...
WATER PUMP COOLANT CAMPAIGN MY AUTO BODY SHOP SAID MY CAR IS LEAKING COOLANT AND THERES A CAMPAIGN OUT ON THE WATER PUMP. I'M ASKING IF YOU COULD PUSH THE CAMPAIGN THROUGH AND RECALL THE WATER PUMPS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS I'M AFRAID MY CAR WILL BREAK DOWN. *TR
AUDI A5 3.0L DIESEL QUATTRO EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY HAD JUST COME TO A HALT. ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART. TURNS OUT THE FAILURE OF MAIN THE MAIN DIESEL PUMP DESTROYED ENTIRE FUEL LINE SYSTEM! AUDI QUOTED 13,000K REPLACEMENT COST TO CHANGE ALL 3 PUMPS, ALL 6 INJECTORS AND CLEAN FUEL TANK! I AM SHOCKED. AUDI DEALER SAID QUITE A FEW CASES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
AFTER LETTING MY CAR SIT FOR 8+ HOURS, EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AND PUT IT INTO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT PULLS HARD AS IF I'M PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN I'M NOT. IN ORDER TO NOT LET IT ACCELERATE, I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE QUITE HARD. THIS FINALLY GOES AWAY AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES. *TR
KEYLESS DOOR SENSORS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK VEHICLE WHEN TOUCHED. BROUGHT PROBLEM TO ATTENTION OF DEALERSHIP, WHICH STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND THEREBY REFUSED TO FIX ISSUE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THE COST HAS TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THESE KEYLESS DOOR SENSOR FAILURES. *TR
OCTOBER 2010 SEVERE WOBBLING OF STEERING WHEEL, AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINT WITH DEALER THEY HAVE TO CARRY OUT FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT TOOK 3 ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY. THIS SAME COMPLAINT HAS NOW STARTED AGAIN ALTHOUGH ONLY A PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY AUDI DEALER AND WHEEL CAMBER APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WOULD NOT RECTIFY FAULT UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS IS ACCORDING TO THEM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE, I HAVE DONE 2.5K MILES SINCE ALL 4 WHEELS WERE DONE AND I HAVE NOT HIT OR DAMAGED MY WHEELS ALIGNMENT AND AUDI WILL NOT SUPPORT ME AS THE DRIVER AND WILL ONLY BACK THEIR DEALERSHIP. I DO BELIEVE MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM AS THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT ON THE N/S FRONT AND REAR WHEEL. HAS ANYONE ELSE SUFFERED FROM THIS.....I REFUSED TO PAY THEM UNDER RANSOM AND I AM NOW SEEKING A SECOND OPINION. *TR
THE WATER PUMP BROKE CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE "STOP ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT SOME WATER IN THE EMPTY COOLANT TANK - BUT ALL OF THE LIQUID LEAKED THROUGH. STEAM WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT I PUT WATER IN THE COOLANT TANK AND DRIVE TO THE FACILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (IT WAS ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY.) THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED WATER PUMP, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK DUE TO THE PRESSURE. APPARENTLY FIVE OTHER VEHICLES (AUDI A5 AND Q5) WERE BROUGHT IN OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. REPLACEMENT PART IS BACK ORDERED AND VEHICLE IS STILL IMMOBILIZED AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING PART FROM GERMANY. THIS VEHICLE HAD ITS 5,000 MILE SERVICE LESS THAN A WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *TR
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ENGINE SURGE WHEN STARTING COLD (HEATED GARAGE 45) AND MOVING APPROX 50 TO 75 FEET. THE RPM SURGES FROM 500 TO 1800RPM SEVERAL TIMES AND WILL OCCASIONALLY DIE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH VARIOUS BRANDS OF PREMIUM FUEL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE ADDED A FUEL CONDITIONER, REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE STILL SURGES AT VARIOUS TIMES. IT HAS DIED AFTER LEAVING AN ON STREET PARKING SPOT IN TRAFFIC. IT DOES NOT SURGE ON SUBSEQUENT STARTS WITHIN 6 - 8 HOURS AND GENERALLY NOT DURING SUMMER MONTHS. *TR
The 2009 Audi A5 has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 11 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Audi A5.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Audi A5.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Audi A5 are engine and engine cooling (3 reports), structure (2 reports), fuel system, diesel,power train (1 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2009 Audi A5. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.