There are 17 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2014 Audi Q5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The front subframe has experienced catastrophic failure due to severe and premature rust-through corrosion. Multiple holes have perforated the component, compromising the vehicle's structural integrity. The part is available for inspection upon request. The safety of my family and others was put at significant risk, as the subframe is the primary component that mounts the engine, suspension, and steering rack to the vehicle. A failure of the subframe while driving could cause a complete loss of steering control and the collapse of the front suspension, leading to a serious or fatal crash. The problem was independently reproduced and confirmed by both an independent service center and an authorized Audi dealership. Both establishments have deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive due to this specific issue. The manufacturer (Audi of America) has been made aware of the issue through their dealership network. They have acknowledged the defect by offering a "goodwill" repair to replace the subframe, confirming their awareness of this failure mode. However, the manufacturer has made this safety-critical repair contingent on the owner first paying for several thousand dollars of unrelated maintenance items, creating a financial barrier that prevents the safety fix from being implemented. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure's discovery. This is a silent failure that provides no warning to the driver. It was only discovered during a routine service visit when the vehicle was on a lift.
It has been very cold here in the North East. Under freezing for more than a month. My door lock sensors stopped working about 4-5 weeks ago. Two days ago I was driving and the power steering stopped working. Then after about 2 days it began working again. Just as the temps went above freezing. And the door lock sensors started working again. I had noticed over the last month or so that papers I had behind the front seat when I went to retrieve them were very wet, soaked. I took my car to my mechanic today and he told me that the computer is under the front seat. And water in this area may be causing the failure of the power steering and the door locks. So he said I should report it to you and you could possibly help.
Steering shaft rusted and sized. Water and mag chloride got passed the seal causing the slip joint of the steering shaft to corrode and size. The outer tube of the shaft was almost corroded through with visible holes in the metal. I believe this to be a safety concern do to the possibility of the shaft braking while driving. I am a certified Audi technician and have seen this problem on other similar vehicles. This is my personal vehicle and I have the old steering shaft for inspection if needed.
I have a 2014 Audi Q5 Premium Plus with 3.0 liter engine. I was in Wolfeboro NH this past weekend and it was very cold, -15 at night. My vehicle has 123000 miles on it and has run with no issues to this point. Luckily , I parked the car to go into store and when I came out DSC red warning light came on , could not budge the steering wheel. Looked up issue in manual and said do not drive. I am from CT so no car now in NH. I had vehicle towed to closest Audi dealer , 60 miles away for service. It turns out to be I need a whole new steering column due to cold temperatures. If this happened while driving it would have been devastating. My issue is there was a recall on the 2014 SQ5 for the exact same issue. I have found numerous complaints for the same issue for the same vehicle, why has there not been recall? This could have ben a deadly incident in the wrong situation. Vehicle at Audi dealer to the tune of $3600 for repairs.
WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN SUDDENLY SHE WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY STEER. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE AUDI SQ5, BUT NOT THE Q5. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, MULTIPLE AUDI Q5 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI GAINESVILLE (1920 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK & PINION AND ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN IN COLD CONDITIONS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.*JB*LN*JB
SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS STEERING FAILURE IN 2014 AUDI Q5: WARMED THE CAR UP, DROVE 15 MINUTES TO A GAS STATION, TURNED IT OFF TO FUEL UP AND WENT TO RESTART AFTER ENGINE WAS OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, UPON START UP AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "STEERING DEFECTIVE" DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WAS NON FUNCTIONAL AND THE WHEEL ESSENTIALLY LOCKED UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, BOTH AT VERY COLD TEMPERATURES (ONCE AT -40 DEGREES BELOW AND ONCE AT -15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO). SOME QUICK INTERNET SEARCHING LEADS TO LOTS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SITUATION FOR 2014-2015 Q5'S. THE SQ5 OF THE SAME YEAR HAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE BUT THE Q5'S FOR SOME REASON DID NOT GET THE RECALL. IT SOUNDS LIKE IN SOME INSTANCES ITS A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE AND IN SOME CASES ITS AN ENTIRE NEW STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT COSTING UP TO $5,000. IT SOUNDS LIKE AUDI HAS NOT COVERED THIS ISSUE UNDER WARRANTIES NOR HAS IT ISSUED A RECALL TO COVER THE SAME ISSUE ON THE Q5'S AS WAS EXPERIENCES WITH THE SQ5 OF THE SAME YEAR (RECALL #48M1 & NHTSA #11184036). I AM 300 MILES FROM THE NEAREST AUDI DEALER. AUDI SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED IT MATCHES A RECALL FOR THE SQ5 AND BELIEVE THE Q5 WAS OVERLOOKED WITH THAT RECALL, THEY WERE OF NO ASSISTANCE. AUDI SAYS I CAN PAY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY ARE NOT LIKELY GOING TO COVER ANY OF IT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF US OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THIS SAFETY ISSUE FIXED BY AUDI? LUCKILY I WAS STATIONARY ON BOTH OCCASIONS OTHERWISE THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH AND POSSIBLE INJURY. IM SCARED TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER ANYMORE. I WOULD THINK AUDI WOULD CARE ABOUT SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!
STEERING ESSENTIALLY "LOCKED" UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WARNING ALARM SOUNDED AND "STEERING DEFECTIVE, DO NOT DRIVE" WARNING APPEARED. VERY DANGEROUS, CAN BARELY TURN WHEEL. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING I'VE NO DOUBT ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY INJURY, WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
I APPROACH A CITY INTERSECTION AT THE FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT AND HAD NO BRAKES, STEERING, OR ACCELERATOR CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I FLEW THROUGH THE INSPECTION HITTING THE CURB AND LAUNCHING MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 50' OF DISTANCE OVER A DRAINAGE DITCH SLAMMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE SPEED WAS AT LEAST 40-50MPH AT THAT MOMENT, MAYBE FASTER SINCE THE VEHICLE JUST ACCELERATED BUT WOULD NOT BRAKE OR STEER. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED AND AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE FRAME LITERALLY SHATTERED ON IMPACT. I SUSTAINED SERIOUS TRAUMA TO MY FACE AND BACK AND ANKLES.
WE WERE ABOUT 350 MILES INTO A 600 MILE DRIVE. STOPPED AT A REST AREA TO EXERCISE THE DOG AND VISIT THE RESTROOM. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 97 DEGREES. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 7-8 MINUTES. UPON RESTARTING THE Q5 TDI, THE DASH INDICATOR FOR DYNAMIC STEERING CONTROL LIT UP ALONG WITH A DO NOT DRIVE WARNING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TO DATE, IT SITS AT THE AUDI DEALER WITHOUT REPAIR WAITING ON THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. THEY INITIALLY SAID THAT AUDI COULD HELP IF THEY HAD MORE "HISTORY" ON THE CAR. I JUST BOUGHT IT AS AN OFF-LEASE AND POST-DIESEL QUARANTINE SIX MONTHS AGO. THIS IS OUR FIRST AUDI AND HAVEN'T HAD REASON TO VISIT A DEALER FOR REPAIR YET. AUDI'S SECOND COMMENT WAS THAT WE HAVE NO HISTORY AT THE LOCAL DEALER. IT IS ODD THAT THE SAME PART ON THE SQ5 HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT ON THE Q5. AUDI NEEDS TO OWN A BAD PART REGARDLESS OF WHICH MODEL IT IS INCLUDED.
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING, WENT TO RESTART AFTER ENGINE WAS OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 HOURS, HEARD AN ALARM SOUND UPON START UP AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "STEERING DEFECTIVE" DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WAS NON FUNCTIONAL HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO DRIVE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AS WE WERE STRANDED OUT OF STATE, ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, WARNING LIGHT TURNED OFF AND POWER STEERING RESUMED, CAR SAT OVERNIGHT, UPON START UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE ALARM WENT ON AGAIN WITH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN, TURNED CAR OFF AND DID NOT DRIVE, CAR SAT FOR 10 HOURS AND UPON START UP POWER STEERING RETURNED AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY COULD NOT GET THE SYSTEM TO REPEAT THE DEFECTIVE STEERING WARNING ILLUMINATE, RAN THE CODES AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE, TRANSFERRED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHO IN TURN DIAGNOSED IT WITH A FAULTY STEERING (SAME AS THE SQ5'S WHICH HAVE THE RECALL) AUDI REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. CAR ONLY HAS 41K MILES ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALMOST CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI OF QUEENS (30-35 COLLEGE POINT BLVD, FLUSHING, NY 11354, (929) 297-0700) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
THE STEERING LOCKS-UP AND IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION WHILE DRIVING. THE SAME CONDITION EXISTS IN THE STATIONARY POSITION.
CAR HAS ~30000 MILES. DROVE IT FOR 120 MILES, TURNED CAR OFF AT REST STOP. STARTED CAR AND AN ERROR INDICATOR "STEERING DEFECTIVE, DO NOT DRIVE" APPEARED. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED STEERING ASSEMBLY AND NOTED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL ITEM ON THE AUDI SQ5 BUT NOT ON THE STANDARD Q5. THEY EXPLAINED THAT IF I WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR TO SAFETY. CALLED AUDI AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID AUDI COULD NOT ASSIST OR COMMENT ON THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (RAY CATENA AUDI TOMS RIVER EAST, 325 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT EXHIBIT ANY RESISTANCE AND DID NOT ADJUST TO THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AUDI FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. REPORTING AGAIN, BECAUSE DEALER COMPLETELY REPLACED AUDI "ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT". VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP HARD, REQUIRING VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO TURN EVEN A FEW DEGREES. MESSAGE ON A DISPLAY "STEERING IS DEFECTIVE". VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AUDI FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE JUST ON 23 OCT 2013. REPORTING AGAIN AS A NEW ISSUE, BECAUSE DEALER HAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AUDI "ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING UNIT" AND OTHER PARTS. *TR
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