Short answer
Among Audi A5 model years through 2024, 2024 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2018 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi A5: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 18 (2008–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 22
- Fewest recalls
- 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2018 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (14)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2018, 2019, 2020 and 3 more years
Audi A5 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Seat belts |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Suspension |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Suspension, Tires |
| 2018 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Structure, Suspension |
| 2017 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts |
| 2016 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2015 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2014 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2012 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20252 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20222 recalls
- 20215 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20186 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20122 recalls
- 20112 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20081 recall
Audi A5: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi A5 recalls are air bags (14), engine and engine cooling (10), electrical system (4), seat belts (4) and suspension (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 18 model years, and 2018, 2019, 2020 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Audi A5 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi A5?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Audi A5 model years have the most recalls?
2018 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "A5", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy