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2016 Audi SQ5 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Audi SQ5 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 6owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
6 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 2016 Audi SQ5?
The components named most often in the 6 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2016 Audi SQ5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2016 Audi SQ5 as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2016 Audi SQ5 owners report?
6 of the 6 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.
THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WATER PUMP FAILED AT 18,313 MILES ON MAY 12, 2019. THE REPLACED ENGINE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 24,700 MILES ON APRIL 25. 2021. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE.
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS A KNOWN DEFECT ON EVERY MLB-PLATFORM AUDI MODEL. MY SQ5, LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, HAS DEVELOPED A KNOWN DEFECT THAT CAUSES A SQUEAKING/CREAKING THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. IT CAN ALSO BE FAINTLY HEARD. INSTEAD OF INITIATING A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE, AUDI HAS RELEASED TONS OF TSBS THAT ONLY COVER IN-WARRANTY CARS, EVEN THOUGH MAY CARS DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM WITH AS LITTLE AS 20,000 MILES. AT 53,000 MILES, MY CAR HAS THIS ISSUE NOW AND I'LL BE FORCED TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A REPAIR THAT EITHER INCLUDES REPLACING PARTS OF…
THE AUDI SQ 5 LOSES POWER STEERING IF THE RACK/PINION POWER STEERING UNIT IS EXPOSED TO WATER. THIS DOES NOT REFER TO FLOODING OR SUBMERGED CAR AUDI CONSIDERS WEATHER AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND DOES NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY THE CAR RETAINS FULL PROPULSION BUT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM ON THE POWER STEERING IS DANGEROUSLY EXPOSED , AND APPARENTLY NOT WEATHER PROOF I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM UP THE APRON OF A DRIVEWAY TO A PARKING LOT. I DROVE THE CAR 100-150 FEET TO A SECURE SPOT TO WAIT OUT A HEAVY HOUSTON RAINSTORM . THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR CAME ON…
I HAVE A REPEAT OF MY ISSUE 10971202. WHILE IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL- THAT THE CAR LOCKS ITSELF AFTER I PLACE MY PURSE WITH MY KEYS ON THE BACK SEAT AND CLOSE THE DOOR- IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR A WOMAN IN A MALL. I GET LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR, AND SOMETIMES MY PHONE IS IN MY PURSE, LEAVING ME STRANDED. AUDI CLAIMS THAT NO ONE HAS REPORTED THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAR DOES NOT LOCK ITSELF IF IT DETECTS THE KEY INSIDE, UNLESS IT DETECTS A SECOND KEY OUTSIDE THE CAR. THIS WAS NOT MY CASE.
I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME ANXIETY OVER MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE SENSOR-KEY. I TYPICALLY KEEP THE KEYS IN MY PURSE, OPEN THE REAR DOOR (BEHIND THE DRIVER DOOR), AND LEAVE MY PURSE ON THE SEAT OR THE FLOOR, CLOSE THAT DOOR, THEN OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR AND DRIVE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO (MARCH 8TH, 2017), THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I UNLOCKED THE REAR DOOR, PLACED ALL MY BAGS INSIDE, CLOSED THE DOOR. THEN I WENT TO PUT A BUMPER STICKER ON. MUST HAVE TAKEN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. I HEARD THE CAR LOCK ITSELF- WITH MY KEYS (CAR AND HOME) INSIDE. I MOST DEFINITELY DID NOT TOUCH THE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI SQ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS CAUSED A BLIND SPOT WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE, HE NEARLY CRASHED INTO A PEDESTRIAN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ROAD WAS UNABLE TO BE VIEWED WHICH COULD RESULT INTO A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 05/04/16*LJ *TR
2016 Audi SQ5: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Audi SQ5 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi SQ5; the most common categories were steering (2, 33.3%), engine (1, 16.7%), visibility/wiper (1, 16.7%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi SQ5?
Across 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are steering (33.3% of complaints), engine (16.7% of complaints), visibility/wiper (16.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Audi SQ5 have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2016 Audi SQ5. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2016 only.