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2014 Audi SQ5 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2014 Audi SQ5 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 12owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 12%fail the UK MOT
12 complaints, against an average of 9 for the other 12 Audi SQ5 model years.
Every Audi SQ5 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2014 Audi SQ5?
The components named most often in the 12 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2014 Audi SQ5 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 12 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2014 Audi SQ5 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Steering: Electric Power Assist System Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Audi SQ5 vehicles manufactured May 22, 2013, to April 14, 2015. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering assist system that may shut down in cold temperatures due to a steering motor sensor fault.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48M1.
How often does the 2014 Audi SQ5 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2014, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2014 Audi SQ5 owners report?
12 of the 12 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
After seeing the rear subframe of a 2014 Audi Q5 nearly split in half due to rust, causing vehicle handling and steering issues, I inspected the rear subframe of my 2014 Audi SQ5 and found similar rust, though not quite as bad. The plastic gravel guards that use plastic rivets to attach to the rear subframe trap water, salt, and brine inside the hollow steel tubing of the subframe causing it to rust rapidly from the inside out in two locations, weakening the subframe and greatly increasing the chances of serious injury or death due to losing control of the vehicle. Photos of the damage were…
Vehicle has suffered extensive and catastrophic corrosion to the rear sub-frame resulting in structural danger to operate vehicle. Extensive rust appears to be the result of substandard materials and the manufacturer supplied installation of plastic guard which traps and retains moisture and debris next to the subframe. Damage was detected before vehicle incident could occur on road.
I have a 2014 Audi sq5. Had vehicle in for service today and the tech discovered a huge rust hole in the rear subframe on both the left and right sides under the plastic shielding. This is a huge safety issue and this is not normal on a 10 year old vehicle to have this massive rust problem. After doing some research this seems to be a very common issue on this chassis, someone is going to die if one of these completely rusts through and breaks while driving. My previous car (13 Mercedes c300) had a recall for a similar issue with rear subframe rot. Something needs to be done with this Audi…
FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE TRIP AND FORTUNATELY WAS ON ROADS WITH LOW TRAFFIC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V452000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES DRIVING TO OR FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX, THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. IT STARTS AGAIN AFTER VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. THE FIRST TIME IT SHUT DOWN AT BLYTHE CALIFORNIA AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER IN RANCHO MIRAGE. DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED NO ISSUES WITH PUMP. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 6/21/2019 WHILE DRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX. IT SHUT DOWN ON THE I-17 FREEWAY (I-17 AND JEFFERSON STREET). LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE DURING AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY TO EXIT AND COAST UP THE EXIT OUT OF HARMS WAY. AUDI CHANDLEWR…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V452000 (STEERING). WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI BEVERLY HILLS (2340 S FAIRFAX AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90016) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND TRAVELED DOWN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO OBJECT ENCOUNTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE MATERIAL WAS NOT STURDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
THIS IS MY SECOND FAILURE EVENT LOOSING STEERING ON MY 2014 SQ5. TWO YEARS AGO I POSTED THE 1ST EVENT. THE DEALER ORDERED NEW RACK AND PINION FROM GERMANY WHICH FIXED IT....TEMPORARILY. HERE TWO YEARS LATER NOW JANUARY 2016, THIS 2ND EVENT I WAS NOT DRIVING. UPON STARTING THE CAR THE DISPLAY LIT UP RED "DO NOT DRIVE STEERING FAILURE". THE AUDI FOLKS HAD FLATBED TRUCK COME. AT THIS MOMENT A 2ND NEW RACK AND PINION IS COMING FROM GERMANY. IN 2015 I RCV'D THE RECALL NOTICE AND HAD AUDI DO THE UPDATE FIRMWARE FIX. OBVIOUSLY MY 1ST REPLACED R&P PLUS THE FIRMWARE FIX DID NOT ELIMINATE THIS DANGEROUS…
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A TAPPING / KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER AND FASTER THEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BOOM, WHITE SMOKE PLUME AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. MEANWHILE THE SMELL OF OIL ENTERED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND IT COASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON AN EXIT RAMP. *TR
WE HAVE A 2014 AUDI SQ-5 THAT SURGES INTERMITTENTLY FROM A FEATHERED THROTTLE. THIS IS A VERY STRONG FORWARD LURCH THAT MAKES THIS CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN TIGHT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OR IN A PARKING LOT OR ANY TIME YOU DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF ROOM IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS LESS THAN 1/100 FEATHERED THROTTLE SITUATIONS. WE FOUND THIS OCCURS IN A ALL POSITIONS OF DRIVE SELECT BUT LESS IN THE COMFORT SETTING. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO RECTOR AUDI ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR THIS BUT THEY FOUND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT OF THE SUPERCHARGER CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FROM FEATHERED THROTTLE…
RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR STEERING LOCKED, LIKE IT'S LOST POWER BOOST, WITH A MESSAGE "STEERING FAILURE". *TR
2014 Audi SQ5: questions owners ask
Is the 2014 Audi SQ5 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Audi SQ5; the most common categories were steering (4, 33.3%), fuel/propulsion system (3, 25%), suspension (2, 16.7%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Audi SQ5?
Across 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are steering (33.3% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (25% of complaints), suspension (16.7% of complaints), electrical system (8.3% of complaints), engine (8.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2014 Audi SQ5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2014 Audi SQ5; the most recent (campaign 15V452000, 2015-07-20) concerns Steering: Electric Power Assist System. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2014 Audi SQ5 have rust or paint problems?
3 of the 12 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2014 Audi SQ5 (25%) describe rust, corrosion or peeling paint. One owner wrote: "Vehicle has suffered extensive and catastrophic corrosion to the rear sub-frame resulting in structural danger to operate vehicle." (NHTSA complaint 11614147, September 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own SQ5
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2014 only.