Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 16,369 complaints for AUDI
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
The vehicle defrost system stopped working due to the aluminum heater core getting clogged. The Audi maintenance does not have an interval for flushing the system on a regular basis. The vehicle only has 58,000 miles and the the failed/clogged heater core is preventing the defrost and defogging of the windshield making visibility dangerous in cold weather and sunlight.
Incident date: Dec 14, 2022
Audi claims to have fixed their 2.0t engine piston defect which can cause safety issues and accidents caused by the car seizing or loosing power at any time due to their faulty pistons which class action act filed on 2014 indicates that 2012-2017 2.0t engine are susceptible to the same default. The company tried to hide this and failed to fix the issues on vehicles pass 2011. Please I have kids an... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
Warning appeared for electrical malfunction contact dealer. Within 15 minutes of driving to the dealer, electrical failure please pull over appeared. My antilock breaks, transmission, and finally the entire electric panel failed. The car entirely stopped while in traffic. I was unable to even turn on hazard lights. It would not turn back on. It required towing to audi dealership. I have bee... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
During a normal service visit it was brought to my attention that the rear suspension coil was broken. They attributed this to normal wear and tear after only 52,000 miles. Upon research it seems this is far more common in 2018 Q5s than it should be this is early.
AUDI
Q5 SPORTBACK
(2023) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dec 20, 2022
Incident date: Dec 5, 2022
Once the car is programmed to open/close your garage door, the car must be running in order to use this feature. This means that you must start the car BEFORE opening the garage door when you want to pull out and likewise you need to close the garage door before turning off the motor when you pull into the garage. I consider this a safety defect. The garage door should always be open before you s... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V155000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was not working as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed but no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact sta... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
Engine coolant leak reported only at around 30K miles. Leak detected and fixed at owners cost.
Incident date: Nov 30, 2022
My car almost overheated on the high on thanksgiving night thank god my brother was behind me driving and took me to go get antifreeze my coolant was leaking and i think my water pump messed up almost a accident cause i was in the middle lane and my vehicle was slowing down on the highway at night
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
Audi Dealer inspection revealed Rear spring is broken and mounts are deteriorating. Dealer states not common and would result in accident if not repaired. Research indicates broken springs common with certain Audi vehicles (A4/S4, Q5 & Q7), especially 2018 model year. See Audi World forum website. It would appear these springs are defective and will result in accident, injury and death. Audi ref... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2022
I have had multiple instances of the emergency breaking applying improperly. On at least two occasions the rear backup/parking sensors detected some sort of object when one didn’t exist and abruptly engaged the breaks despite there being no object behind me. On one occasion I had a passenger who witnessed the behavior. On another instance, and the one that concerned me, the front collision indi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2022
I have had multiple instances of the emergency breaking applying improperly. On at least two occasions the rear backup/parking sensors detected some sort of object when one didn’t exist and abruptly engaged the breaks despite there being no object behind me. On one occasion I had a passenger who witnessed the behavior. On another instance, and the one that concerned me, the front collision indi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2022
I have had multiple instances of the emergency breaking applying improperly. On at least two occasions the rear backup/parking sensors detected some sort of object when one didn’t exist and abruptly engaged the breaks despite there being no object behind me. On one occasion I had a passenger who witnessed the behavior. On another instance, and the one that concerned me, the front collision indi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
I was trying to park my car in my office parking space, after right turn to parking space, I applied brake to stop, but the car suddenly accelerated and within few seconds it crashed into the office building. I was still applying brake when it accelerated and I could not do anything else. The fact that vehicle climbed two levels of curbs to hit the building shows that the acceleration was out of m... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
I was trying to park my car in my office parking space, after right turn to parking space, I applied brake to stop, but the car suddenly accelerated and within few seconds it crashed into the office building. I was still applying brake when it accelerated and I could not do anything else. The fact that vehicle climbed two levels of curbs to hit the building shows that the acceleration was out of m... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 4, 2022
Component Failed: Believed to be Starter Generator Part number 4N0-903-028-P on 11/04/2022 Cause: Ended up stranded on the side of the highway at night with no power, to include power steering and hazard flashers. Car had to be pushed out of the high way to avoid being hit by traffic. Problem is ongoing and easily reproducible. Manufacturer confirmed faulty Starter Generator on 12/15/2022 From f... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2022
The electrical system malfunctioned driving on the busy 422 expressway. Going at 55mph. Car dash lights up warning signs like electrical system failure, transmission, brake, power steering failure and the car shuts down in the middle of the road. Steered it to the side of road. Car would not start. Had to get it towed to dealer, Car has 33000 miles. The dealer has confirmed the failure. The compo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A7. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V155000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was providing inaccurate reading and would indicate 650 miles to empty; however, after driving 2 miles, the fuel gauge indicated 600 miles to empty. There was no warning lig... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2022
Water pump failure. A very well known issue with this particular part and the same exact vehicle as mine, also with lots of other Audi models.
Incident date: Oct 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Audi SQ5. The contact stated that while the gear shifter was shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. As a result, the contact stated that he bumped into another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Back Over Prevention system failed, and the infotainment unit software needed to be replaced. The vehicle was... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2022
My boyfriend was driving the vehicle and it killed on him in the middle of Veterans Highway in Metairie. La back in August 2022. I did not want to drive the car after that. I have grandkids and am a single female and do not want to die or get in a serious accident because the fuel is not getting to the engine properly, or be stranded on the side of the road. i then tried to sell the car and was to... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2022
My boyfriend was driving the vehicle and it killed on him in the middle of Veterans Highway in Metairie. La back in August 2022. I did not want to drive the car after that. I have grandkids and am a single female and do not want to die or get in a serious accident because the fuel is not getting to the engine properly, or be stranded on the side of the road. i then tried to sell the car and was to... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control and ABS control module warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V91300... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control and ABS control module warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V91300... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2022
Starter/Generator Alternator failed and caused the battery to die ultimately leading to losing full power of the car on highway. Warning lamps were present and indicated "electrical system malfunction and contact the dealer for service." Car lost full power on the way to dealership and almost resulted in a crash. Component has been inspected by the Audi Dealer and confirmed to be the issue. Sy... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2022
Starter/Generator Alternator failed and caused the battery to die ultimately leading to losing full power of the car on highway. Warning lamps were present and indicated "electrical system malfunction and contact the dealer for service." Car lost full power on the way to dealership and almost resulted in a crash. Component has been inspected by the Audi Dealer and confirmed to be the issue. Sy... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2022
Starter/Generator Alternator failed and caused the battery to die ultimately leading to losing full power of the car on highway. Warning lamps were present and indicated "electrical system malfunction and contact the dealer for service." Car lost full power on the way to dealership and almost resulted in a crash. Component has been inspected by the Audi Dealer and confirmed to be the issue. Sy... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
While driving at high speeds on the Freeway with my wife and 2 children (ages 4 & 5), an alert on the dashboard said - Electric System Malfunction. Drove straight to the near by dealership and was told not to turn off the vehicle as it might not start. Service Advisor said we were lucky it didn't stop on the freeway as it has for others. He asked us to collect our belongings as the car was not dri... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2022
My car was schedule for the 21H7 recall. I received 2 letters this year to have the recall work done. Audi of Pittsburgh's only available date was 12/08/22. I took the car in and later that day I got a call stating the recall was done back in March of this year. I told them it was not. Later I got a call saying it was done in April of 2019. I asked for the repair order and no one will provide it. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2022
I purchased this vehicle on 10/16/2022 and the very next day took it back and informed them that it was leaking oil. It was repaired and from that point on it was telling me to add a quart of oil once every week. Was diagnosed by the Audi dealership of the pistons needing to be replaced and that my car fell under the lawsuit that has yet to be settled. Was told I could spend the 9k to fix the car ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
Both rear coil springs were found rusted and broken by Audi dealer and need to be replaced. Car shouldn't be driven since both broken coil springs are just resting on the lower control arms. Quoted $2,171.05 before tax and shop fees.
Incident date: Dec 7, 2022
A warning message appeared that there is an electrical system problem. I arranged to bring to dealer for service the next day. While driving to dealer, multiple malfunction messages appeared on dashboard. Eventually all displays went black and shortly thereafter the engine stopped. I rolled to a stop. Car was dead. Audi stated it needs a replacement starter/generator. Very dangerous as it happene... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2022
A warning message appeared that there is an electrical system problem. I arranged to bring to dealer for service the next day. While driving to dealer, multiple malfunction messages appeared on dashboard. Eventually all displays went black and shortly thereafter the engine stopped. I rolled to a stop. Car was dead. Audi stated it needs a replacement starter/generator. Very dangerous as it happene... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2022
The electronic steering control module failed while the vehicle was stopped. A light came on the dash which stated something like ~"Do Not Drive Major Steering Malfunction" and the steering became almost impossible to turn. The vehicle was towed to an Audi Dealer and repaired at my significant cost. I am suspicious that there is a known defect which has not been acknowledged by Audi. I also own a ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2022
Symptom of low coolant in overflow reservoir; below minimum line. Pressure test concluded leak in thermostat/water pump part. Appears to be a rampant problem spanning over a decade and affecting multiple trims and redesigns (i.e B8/B9 redesign/updates). Safety put at risk for possible vehicle fire or high pressure damage for engine coolant/radiator. The problem was reproduced and confirmed at... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2021
The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q5. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at various speeds, extra pressure was needed to depress the accelerator pedal for the vehicle to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that she heard a knocking sound throughout the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she needed to add one quart... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2022
While driving on an interstate highway, an electrical fault warning appeared. 5 minutes later, a series of warnings appeared pertaining to a whole host of Audi systems, and I suddenly lost power to the car. I coasted off the highway to the shoulder, where the car died. I was told by the dealership that the issue is a generator, and that it's a common issue affecting A6s. It was truly disconce... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2022
While driving on an interstate highway, an electrical fault warning appeared. 5 minutes later, a series of warnings appeared pertaining to a whole host of Audi systems, and I suddenly lost power to the car. I coasted off the highway to the shoulder, where the car died. I was told by the dealership that the issue is a generator, and that it's a common issue affecting A6s. It was truly disconce... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2018
The contact owns a 2018 Audi A5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the gears unexpectedly shifted. Additionally, on one occasion, the vehicle lost motive power for two full days. The vehicle was later able to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the Engine Control Unit (ECU) was replaced; however, the contact stated that... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2022
Shortly after taking delivery of our new car, the camera system for the rear backup camera and all other surround view cameras malfunctioned. Upon shifting into reverse the screen that would normally show the rear of the car and the car's surroundings was all white. Changing the camera view did not fix the problem. The system functioned normally the next time we started the car, but then failed... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2022
Shortly after taking delivery of our new car, the camera system for the rear backup camera and all other surround view cameras malfunctioned. Upon shifting into reverse the screen that would normally show the rear of the car and the car's surroundings was all white. Changing the camera view did not fix the problem. The system functioned normally the next time we started the car, but then failed... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2022
Shortly after taking delivery of our new car, the camera system for the rear backup camera and all other surround view cameras malfunctioned. Upon shifting into reverse the screen that would normally show the rear of the car and the car's surroundings was all white. Changing the camera view did not fix the problem. The system functioned normally the next time we started the car, but then failed... Read more
Incident date: Nov 21, 2022
My vehicle had a complete electrical failure, when caused everything to shut down. The engine, door locks, hazards, power steering, e brake, etc. were all inoperable. On Sunday, Nov 20th, I received a yellow warning light that said, "electrical system malfunction, please contact service." I parked the car and called the dealer the following morning to ask how sever this warning was (could I dri... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirm... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
alternator failed, multiple electrical/ computer systems shut down, eventually left me stranded.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2020
Hi dear. i wanna Report and make a complaint, about some defect in my Audi SUV, i bought this vehicle with those problem. 1st ) all system in this vehicle are fork up, works intermittently, Screen, back up camera, Sound audio, Battery draining, Door key doesn't work, Airbag, Electric defect, Truck back door doesn't close proprely, 4 module in this vehicle don't work. As i submit photo of all defe... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2020
Hi dear. i wanna Report and make a complaint, about some defect in my Audi SUV, i bought this vehicle with those problem. 1st ) all system in this vehicle are fork up, works intermittently, Screen, back up camera, Sound audio, Battery draining, Door key doesn't work, Airbag, Electric defect, Truck back door doesn't close proprely, 4 module in this vehicle don't work. As i submit photo of all defe... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2020
Hi dear. i wanna Report and make a complaint, about some defect in my Audi SUV, i bought this vehicle with those problem. 1st ) all system in this vehicle are fork up, works intermittently, Screen, back up camera, Sound audio, Battery draining, Door key doesn't work, Airbag, Electric defect, Truck back door doesn't close proprely, 4 module in this vehicle don't work. As i submit photo of all defe... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2022
The electrical system failed while driving at highway speeds on the interstate. Car lost power, all safety systems shutdown and I had to navigate the car while coasting off the road. Car would no longer start and left me stranded on the side of the interstate for 2hrs. I have since learned from the audi service department that the 48V generator had failed and caused this situation.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2022
The electrical system failed while driving at highway speeds on the interstate. Car lost power, all safety systems shutdown and I had to navigate the car while coasting off the road. Car would no longer start and left me stranded on the side of the interstate for 2hrs. I have since learned from the audi service department that the 48V generator had failed and caused this situation.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2022
The electrical system failed while driving at highway speeds on the interstate. Car lost power, all safety systems shutdown and I had to navigate the car while coasting off the road. Car would no longer start and left me stranded on the side of the interstate for 2hrs. I have since learned from the audi service department that the 48V generator had failed and caused this situation.