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Audi S5 Coupé 3.0 TDI quattro common faults.

2016–2020, coupé, diesel, 347 HP.

The fault list covers: DEWB engine, AL552 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

3 fault write-ups. 2 important. 11 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

critical2

2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6: the rear timing chain and the oil pump drive

critical

The timing chain of the longitudinal V6 diesel runs at the back of the engine, on the gearbox side, so replacing it means taking out the engine or the gearbox. That alone makes it expensive, but the mechanism is the point: the chains stretch and the hydraulic tensioners lose their pressure. The first and only early sign is a 2 to 3 second metallic rattle audible on a cold start. If that is ignored, the chain jumps or breaks, and the engine is badly damaged inside. The same chain kit also drives the oil pump: if that seizes, the engine is left without lubrication.

What to check

  • Start it cold, in a quiet place, with the bonnet open: the rattle is audible in the first 2 to 3 seconds
  • Stand at the gearbox side of the engine: the noise comes from there, not from the front
  • Ask whether the chain and the tensioner were replaced, and ask for the invoice (it involves removing the engine)
3 more steps in the write-up

B9 platform: cold start chain rattle on the 2.0 TFSI

critical

After standing for a longer period, on a cold start you hear a rattling, knocking noise from the timing chain for a few seconds. The cause is oil pressure draining away overnight: the chain tensioner can only tension properly once the oil pressure has built up. A slack chain causes misfires and loss of power, and if it jumps a tooth the engine is badly damaged.

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It shows up on early (2016 to 2017) A4 B9 cars and on the A5 F5 2.0 TFSI alike: the same engine, the same platform.

The test drive does not show this, because a warmed up engine is quiet. The only reliable check is starting the cold, standing car: that is why you have to insist that the seller does not warm it up beforehand.

What to check

  • Insist on a cold start: the car should stand at least one night, and the seller must not start it before you arrive
  • At the moment of starting, stand next to the engine bay and watch the first 2 to 3 seconds
  • Rattling or metallic clatter from the timing side calls for immediate expert inspection
2 more steps in the write-up

comfort1

B9 platform: MMI (black screen, spontaneous restart)

comfort

On the infotainment of the B9 platform (A4 B9, A5 F5, Q5 FY) the most common complaint is a black screen, a unit that restarts on its own, and a boot that stops partway. A significant part of these are software in origin, not a hardware fault: an update installed at a franchised dealer resolves it.

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The buttons of the control interface form a separate branch: a control panel damaged by water ingress or a spilled drink does not respond, and that is a parts replacement. On early cars small electrical faults are common too: intermittent dropouts of the central locking, the parking sensors and the phone connection.

What to check

  • After switching the ignition on, wait for the full boot: a screen that stops or stays black is a clear sign
  • Press every button on the central control panel and turn the rotary knob: all of them must respond
  • Try the reversing camera, the audio system and phone pairing too
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Audi S5 Coupé 3.0 TDI quattro

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall11 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 10 November 2021

21V874000SEATSSEATS10 November 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

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.

Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

The authority's notice

19V547000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE24 July 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

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.

Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.

The authority's notice

18V893000SUSPENSION:FRONTSUSPENSION:FRONT17 December 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.

Risk: A loose front wheel may increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40O2.

The authority's notice

18V836000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE27 November 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.

The authority's notice

17V822000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW20 December 2017 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the head curtain air bag, if the air bag does not deploy properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69T7.

The authority's notice

17V675000STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTSSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS25 October 2017 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.

Risk: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.

The authority's notice

A12/00689/20Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

Moisture can penetrate into the belt starter generator. This can result in a short circuit, leading to local overheating and increased risk of fire. Due to the permanent power supply of the starter generator, this can occur when the vehicle has already been parked for a while.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00752/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The vehicles may be fitted with a towbar with a swivel mechanism that may have a defective locking pin. As a result, the pin could break while driving, increasing the risk of an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/01401/20Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

Moisture can ingress into the belt starter generator, generating short-circuits. This can lead to local overheating of the component, increasing risk of fire.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0226/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The screw fitting the passenger airbag module to the instrument panel may not have been correctly tightened. This could have an impact on the inflation of the airbag and thus the protection of the occupant.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0382/19Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

In certain vehicles, fuel can leak onto the engine fuel rail. Fuel leakage close to a source of ignition may increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

DEWB

255 kW (347 HP) · diesel

AL552 · 8-speed automatic (longitudinal)

automatic · 8 speed

Torque limit700 Nm
MakerZF

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
Coupé 3.0 TDI quattro
Body
coupé
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
2967 cc
Power
255 kW (347 HP)
Drive
AWD
Production
2016–2020

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Engine oil and oil filter

    • LongLife30,000 km or 2 years(valid only with LongLife-approved oil)
    • 15,000 km or 1 year

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Coolant (antifreeze) change

    • first: 193,000 km or 10 years, then 97,000 km or 5 years(G13 / G12++: first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles or 5 years)

  • Fuel filter, diesel

    • 60,000 km or 2 years
All F5 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms