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Audi SQ5 3.0 TFSI quattro common faults.

2017–2021, SUV, petrol, 354 HP.

The fault list covers: CWGD engine, AL552 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

3 fault write-ups. 1 important. 10 recalls.

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

Before you buy

Known faults

1 important faults

expensive1

FSI direct injection: intake valve coking

expensive

With direct injection the fuel does not wash the intake valves: the petrol goes into the cylinder, not behind the valve. The oil mist and soot arriving through the EGR and the crankcase ventilation therefore build up on the valve stem and head, and from 80,000 to 100,000 km they restrict the flow. Symptoms are hesitation, loss of power, a rough cold start and misfire. It is not a part failure: it is a consequence of the design, and therefore it comes back. Cleaning (walnut or dry ice blasting) helps for a few tens of thousands of kilometres.

What to check

  • After a cold start watch the idle: rough running and shaking point to coked valves
  • Under load at low revs watch for hesitation
  • With a code reader look for per cylinder misfire (P0300 to P0304)
1 more steps in the write-up

comfort2

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.

Show the rest

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

Coolant temperature sensor (G62) failure

comfort

The G62 sensor tells the engine control unit how hot the coolant is. If it is faulty, the control unit thinks a warm engine is cold, and runs it rich: hard warm or cold starting, a rough idle, markedly increased fuel consumption, and a dash temperature gauge that jumps around or never reaches its usual reading. The part is cheap and can be replaced in half an hour: the trouble is that many people do not recognise it and replace an injector or a lambda sensor instead. If the fault persists, the rich mixture can destroy the catalytic converter too.

What to check

  • Warm it up and watch the dash temperature gauge: the needle should sit steadily at the middle reading, not jump around
  • Watch a cold start, then a warm start after twenty minutes standing
  • With a code reader look for the 17664 / P1256 code in the engine control unit
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Audi SQ5 3.0 TFSI 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 recall10 recallsShow

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

Most recent: 8 December 2021

21V947000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCMELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM8 December 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, 2018-2022 Q5, and SQ5 vehicles. A liquid spill in the rear seat, or water ingress from an insufficient body seam underneath the vehicle may allow liquid to penetrate the gateway control module, causing it to shutdown.

Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover on the gateway control module and seal an underbody seam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90S9.

The authority's notice

19V737000STRUCTURE:BODYSTRUCTURE:BODY16 October 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi SQ5 and 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. The rear wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach from the vehicle.

Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four clips securing the forward part of the rear wheel arch trim, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 66K8.

The authority's notice

19V416000WHEELS:HUBWHEELS:HUB5 June 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The wheel arch cover trim may loosen and detach.

Risk: The detached trim may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the wheel arch trim with an additional screw and nut, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66K6.

The authority's notice

19V277000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDERSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER8 April 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake master cylinder casting may be too short.

Risk: A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. The electronic parking brake and its emergency brake function are not affected and will still function.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 3, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47O9.

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

A12/01401/20Safety 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

A12/0835/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The master brake cylinder's wall may not be thick enough and the cylinder may develop a leak or fail to work. This may cause a failure of the hydraulic braking system, potentially leading to 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

A12/0993/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The individual pistons on the rear wheel brake may not work as required. This could lead to a delayed brake performance, increasing the risk of accidents.

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

A12/1077/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The wheelhouse trims may not have been adequately attached to the vehicle. As a result, the wheelhouse trims could detach in motion, posing risk for the following traffic.

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

A12/1328/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

During the production of the instrument panel, the welding of a joint may not have been executed in line with the specifications in the area where the passenger airbag is attached to the control panel. As a result, the airbag may be damaged during deployment, reducing its protective capacity and increasing the risk of an injury.

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

CWGD · 3.0 TFSI (S4)

260 kW (354 HP) · petrol

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
quattro
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
2995 cc
Power
260 kW (354 HP)
Drive
AWD
Production
2017–2021

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)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All FY 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