9.3

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,471 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Audi Q5 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2021 Audi Q5 Owner Comments

problem #14

Feb 212024

Q5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Warning lights came on and car completely stopped. Towed to dealer where we were told that Gateway control module part no 80C907468F has failed due to water damage. Dealer informed us that this is not covered by warranty for this reason. We do not believe we spilt any water there as it is located under the back passenger seat. We asked dealer to proceed with repair when we were informed that the part is on back order. We assumed this would be a matter of days or perhaps few weeks. It has been 3 and half month and no ETA yet. I found on Audi World user group that this is a common problem with this model and others have suffered similarly. I believe the OEM is responsible for making parts available within a reasonable time. In dealing with Audi America and the dealer they offered no remedy for this problem. And I am with out a car now going into 4 months. Surely they must be responsible to consumers for providing the services to maintaining the purchased vehicle operating!

- Milford , OH, USA

problem #13

Nov 282022

Q5

  • miles
Several electrical system malfunction lights came on the dash. Audi says it is the starter generator. Car almost stopped in the road.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #12

Jun 102022

Q5

  • miles
All warning lights flashing-??brakes and steering not working. Engine would not shut off, all screens /dash went black.mange-??s to get in bike lane(still partially in road),emergency flashers worked fortunately.towed to dealer to be inspected and fixed -??waiting for results. Was previously scheduled for recall fix.disablement happened about a week before scheduled recall fix, due apparently to water spillage in backseat

- Chico, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 052022

Q5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The electronic system failed while we were driving 40 mphs. The vehicle completely stopped. A recall notice was generated but never sent even though Audi has email, phone, etc. for information. If this would have happened the prior day while driving 75 mphs this could have killed my entire family. I was without a car for 2 months and Audi did nothing to rectify the situation. My car was towed to another city, with supply chain issues it took 6 weeks to fix. I have lost significant money as a result of this. Audi has been unaccountable for all of that. I had no idea the long history of electrical problems with Audi. Consumers need to know this!

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #10

Apr 122022

Q5

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the windows started to go up and down. The contact lost power steering functionality however, the brakes was functional and she was able to safely stop the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that water had entered the vehicle and short circuited the gateway control module. The failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V947000 (Electrical System, Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 122022

Q5

  • miles
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V947000 (Electrical System, Structure). The dealer was contacted and informed her that an appointment for service would not be available for two months. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact was informed that the protective cover used to repair the failure was a plastic cover which the contact did not believe was adequate for the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Crestview Hills, KY, USA

problem #8

Nov 172021

Q5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The failed component is the gateway module that sits underneath the rear seats below the cup holders. In my case approximately 5 oz of water seeped out of my briefcase via a leaky water bottle and it shut down the gateway module and rendered the car inoperable.. losing all power and engine on the highway at approximately 60 mph. Fortunately I was successful in navigating the car to the side of the road by coasting and other than the fear was not harmed. Car was towes to Audi service where they confirmed that the gateway module failed.. they did not notice any water on the module and replaced it next day..I was surprised that they had 5 in stock.. just googling Audi Q5 gateway module I noticed many similar incidents like mine I am worried that a family unknowingly with children in the back could have a similar incident and create serious risk. This needs to be communicated immediately to all Audi owners that are impacted and a recall needs to be initiated once a solution is developed and tested.

- Glen Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #7

Oct 112021

Q5

  • miles
While driving on the road, multiple warning and error messages suddenly appeared on dashboard. Entire car shut down in very short time left no time for driver to safely pull over. The car cannot move in the middle of the road and put the driver, passengers and surrounding vehicles at risk. The car was towed to a dealer and they confirmed the gate way module under rear seat is wet and shorted.

- Broomall, PA, USA

problem #6

Sep 062021

Q5

  • miles
While driving the vehicle many warning lights suddenly turned on and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop in the middle of an intersection. Then the windows rolled down automatically. Vehicle would not start, posing a serious safety issue as it was in the middle of an intersection. Audi dealer indicated the gateway module malfunctioned. They said it had gotten wet, which I have no idea how it would-??ve gotten wet. The gateway module is located under the backseat center console. The dealership indicated they had 5 cars brought in in 2 weeks with same issue. I have since read on Audi forums that this has happened to many others and left some stranded in the center-lane of highways.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #5

Sep 072021

Q5

  • miles
The 2021Audi Q5 has a gateway module under the middle back seat. Any fluid that contacts this module will cause it to fail shutting the car down completely. In addition, immediately above the module are 2 drink car holders. It only takes a small amount of spilled drink to cause this to happen. This happened to me on Sept. 7 causing my car to come to a complete stop immediately after passing thru and intersection. Eventually this will get someone killed on seriously injured. Audi has been aware of this issue but they don't inform potential buyers. This has happened numerous times before and I have attached other incidents posted on the internet. Please take action to make Audi take responsibility and corrective action. Electrical System problem #1 On August 19th, we drove our Audi through heavy rain early in the day on interstate 90 to go to mass general hospital. It was then parked in their covered parking garage. When we went to return home, we were on the entrance ramp to I 90 east and suddenly the car displayed messages of brake failure, electrical failure, steering failure, and then it died. It could not even be put in park. I was able to coast to the narrow shoulder. It was towed to brookline Audi. We are told by the service technician that the gateway module in the vehicle got wet and it is our responsibility as we drove through water. Although we certainly drove in pouring rain, we never drove through any flooded areas. The apparent fact that water somehow got into this new car and shorted out this all important device is terrifying. Electrical System problem #2 Driver was with 2 passengers (3 young females) driving in a new 2021 Audi Q5 (less than 5 months old and less than 6000 miles) at about 70 mph on garden state parkway in NJ. A brake malfunction warning light appeared on the dashboard and within 5 seconds the car completely shut down in the middle lane of the parkway (in a black car at 10pm). This was the first notification or warning--nothin

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #4

Sep 032021

Q5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle control module failed while driving. All car functions failed. Had a difficult time pulling off the road safely. Car towed to dealer. Found the module wet. However area around module was dry. They don-??t know where the water is coming from. Audi is aware of the issue and is replacing the part free of charge. If we were on a highway when the module failed it could have been disastrous.

- White Plains, NY, USA

problem #3

Aug 192021

Q5

  • miles
On August 19th, we drove our Audi through heavy rain early in the day on Interstate 90 to go to Mass General Hospital. It was then parked in their covered parking garage. When we went to return home, we were on the entrance ramp to I 90 East and suddenly the car displayed messages of brake failure, electrical failure, steering failure, and then it died. It could not even be put in park. I was able to coast to the narrow shoulder. It was towed to Brookline Audi. We are told by the Service Technician that the Gateway Module in the vehicle got wet and it is our responsibility as we drove through water. Although we certainly drove in pouring rain, we never drove through any flooded areas. The apparent fact that water somehow got into this new car and shorted out this all important device is terrifying.

- Rhinebeck, NY, USA

problem #2

Jun 172021

Q5

  • miles
Driver was with 2 passengers (3 young females) driving in a new 2021 Audi Q5 (less than 5 months old and less than 6000 miles) at about 70 mph on Garden State Parkway in NJ. A brake malfunction warning light appeared on the dashboard and within 5 seconds the car completely shut down in the middle lane of the parkway (in a black car at 10pm). This was the first notification or warning--nothing in the prior minutes or days. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts and was unable to drift to the shoulder of the parkway. The SOS button in the vehicle didn't work and hazards didn't appear to be working either. Several cars driving at or above the 65 mph speed limit were braking and swerving at the last second to avoid collision and several cursed at the vehicle (as they were unable to see the vehicle in the darkness). Passenger in front seat called 911 to request assistance to provide a roadblock as it seemed imminent that the vehicle was going to be hit. 911 operator said safest place was to remain in the vehicle given the vehicle location and the speed of other drivers. The radio briefly turned back on and then turned off. Nothing else was working. When the tow arrived, the driver notified the individuals that the front hazards were working but the back hazards were?not. The vehicle was towed to the local Audi Service Center. Eleven days after Audi accessed the vehicle, a report was received which said that the vehicle had an "elec[trical] malf[unction]" and that they "found car would not turn on and no communication to any control units. [They] performed hard reset to gate way control unit[,] found fuse blown for control unit[,] ?replaced fuse [and] still same concern found[.] [G]ateway control unit internally faulty causing car not to start[.] [R]eplaced and recoded control unit [and] cleared faults and test drove car[.]" The report also notes that 3 weeks after the car was leased, the vehicle owner indicated that the car was stalling out.?

- Ridgewood, NJ, USA

problem #1

Dec 212020

Q5

  • 600 miles
Q5 has a very serious defect, that is, there is a gateway module located under the rear seat cushion/cup holder. All of the communications to all the controllers go through this little box. If water spills, it collects around the gateway and corrodes it, which will shut down the car. This shutdown occurred while I was driving my family. Lost all power, engine, electrical, everything. Barely coasted out of the roadway. This is a design flaw to locate this sensitive module underneath rear cup holders and will lead to dangerous situations for people in the car.

- La Mesa, CA, USA

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