2012 Audi Q5 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Audi Q5 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 203
- 36 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 85 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 3 reported crashes · 4 injuries
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,535
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Audi median
+52
median 152 across 46 Audi records
Vs 2010-2014
-89
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
42%
Air Bags: 85 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Audi Q5
- AIR BAGS 85
- ENGINE 47
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10
- STRUCTURE:BODY 8
6 recalls on record for the 2012 Audi Q5
- NHTSA 18V818000 · 2018 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the ris
- NHTSA 18V082000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal
- NHTSA 16V078000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal
- NHTSA 17V001000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or
- NHTSA 16V660000 · 2016 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Audi Q5
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Audi Q5 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Audi Q5 reliable?
NHTSA has 203 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Audi Q5 and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (85 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Audi Q5 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Audi Q5?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (85), engine (47), fuel/propulsion system (20), unknown or other (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Audi Q5?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.