There are 3 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2014 Audi Q5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
On Tuesday, September 2nd, I was in a car accident on the freeway. A car jump out in front of me and did not go quickly enough, I hit my breaks, but still hit them going around 55-60 MPH. When the impact occurred, my car turned itself off and I saw smoke coming out of the dash / center area of the car. I was able to start my car and get it off of the freeway safely. My airbag did not deploy, and it appeared the charge went off. The airbag light is now illuminated on the dash. There are no open recalls on my car, and I am truly concerned there is an issue with the airbags and do not want anyone else to get hurt if their airbags do not go off. I spoke with the local dealership on Friday, and they recommended that I reach out directly to Audi. I contacted Audi, answered all of their questions, sent photos and the police report. This is the response I received from them today, 9/22: "Our engineer has completed the review of all the documentation you provided. Here is his assessment: Damage to this vehicle is to sheet metal and composite material components of the hood, fender, headlight, bumper cover, and radiator core support. The impact is offset to the right, outside the bumper reinforcement system with no apparent damage or longitudinal compression of the bumper deformation elements or frame long members. The progressive deformation of the components listed above absorbs crash energy over a longer period of time, lowering the vehicles rate of deceleration below the threshold criteria for airbag deployment. This vehicle performed as designed." I do not believe this is accurate because there was smoke inside the car, and now the airbag light is illuminated.
Seatbelt tensioner and air bags failed to deploy when the vehicles was in a severe frontal collision when another vehicle ran a stop sign exiting the highway.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ALSO INJURED, BUT IS WAS UNKNOWN IF MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,296. *TT
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026