Short answer
Among Audi S5 model years through 2024, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 4 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2021 has the most (5). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi S5: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 19 (2008–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 18
- Fewest recalls
- 2008, 2009, 2013 and 4 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (5)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (12)
Audi S5 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 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2024 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2023 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 5 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Suspension |
| 2019 | 4 | Not rated | Suspension, Air bags, Tires |
| 2018 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2016 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2015 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2014 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2013 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2008 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
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
- 20231 recall
- 20222 recalls
- 20215 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20171 recall
- 20160 recalls
- 20150 recalls
- 20140 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20090 recalls
- 20080 recalls
Audi S5: 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 S5 recalls are air bags (12), seat belts (4), suspension (4), tires (3) and back over prevention (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Audi S5 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi S5?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 4 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Audi S5 model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 5 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 "S5", 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