Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S edition Competition (2017–2021) common faults

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

Before you buy

Known faults

4 important faults

expensive4

DL382 (7 speed S tronic): mechatronics, speed sensors, park lock

expensive

The most common source of faults on the longitudinal 7 speed S tronic that replaced the DL501 (0CJ / 0CK / 0CL) is the mechatronics unit as well. Typical faults are the input or turbine speed sensor (which makes the shifting unpredictable), clutch slip under load, and abnormal operation of the park lock.

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Servicing is a separate trap: because of the way the gearbox is built, this type uses up to three separate oil chambers and three filters. An incomplete oil change looks done at a glance, but the effect is missing.

between 60,000 and 100,000 km

What to check

Standing still, shift between D and R and watch the engagement: binding, a jolt or a delay is suspect
A jolt on the 1 to 2 shift is the most common early sign; try it cold and warm
Under load (a slope, an overtake) watch for the revs flaring, looking for clutch slip

2 more steps in the write-up

EA888 (1.8 / 2.0 TSI): water pump and thermostat housing leak

expensive

The combined housing of the water pump and the thermostat is plastic, and it is bolted directly to the hot engine block. The many heat and cool cycles warp it, it becomes brittle, and then it develops a hairline crack: the fault is almost always the housing, not the pump itself. The signs are slowly disappearing coolant with no visible puddle, the coolant level light, a sweet smell from the engine bay, and later a pink stain under the car. The repair means replacing the pump and the housing together, and the intake manifold has to come off for it: 4 to 6 hours of work. It shows up on model years 2015 to 2025.

What to check

Check the level in the expansion tank, and ask whether it needs topping up
With a cold engine, smell the engine bay: a sweet smell means a coolant leak
Shine a light under the intake manifold, on the right side of the engine: dried or pinkish deposits

2 more steps in the write-up

EA888 gen3: crankcase ventilation, oil in the intake

expensive

The crankcase ventilation (PCV) of the third generation 1.8/2.0 TSI fails less often than its predecessors, but it is not faultless. After sustained full load acceleration, under hard braking, the return branch of the ventilation can be overloaded, and the oil ends up in the intake instead of draining. The symptoms are oil consumption, blue smoke after load, and deposits in the intake.

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This also reinforces the other, already known phenomenon: because of the direct injection, the coke building up on the intake valves grows faster with oil reaching the intake.

What to check

After a test drive under load, look at the exhaust: it should not smoke blue under hard braking after sustained acceleration
Ask about topping up between two oil changes: adding oil every 1,000 to 1,500 km is not normal
Look at the intake connections and the ventilation hose: oily deposits mean oil in the intake

1 more steps in the write-up

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

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

cheap repair1

TSI ignition coil: misfire, jerking, engine warning light

cheap repair

The per cylinder ignition coil of these direct injection, turbocharged petrol engines fails. According to the Haynes service material this and similar simple electrical faults account for roughly eighty per cent of workshop visits.

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In cold, damp weather, on startup, the engine runs unevenly, misfires under acceleration, and the engine warning light flashes or stays on. Do not keep driving with the light flashing: the unburnt fuel destroys the catalytic converter.

What to check

Start with a cold engine and watch the first half minute: a rough idle or shaking is suspect
On the test drive load the engine at low revs with a lot of throttle: the misfire shows then
A flashing engine warning light calls for stopping immediately

2 more steps in the write-up

Official recall6 recallsShow

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

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.