I was pulling slowly into a parking space at a grocery store, with my right foot on the brake, nearly stopped. Then the car rapidly and suddenly accelerated unintentionally. The car jumped over a bush, a median, rammed into a parked car, pushing it across the next parking lane into a third car. The third car, in turn, bumped a fourth car. Safety: The air bags did not deploy. The potential for significant injury to me, nearby pedestrians and people in cars was extremely high. Luckily, I was able to brace myself sufficiently, there were no pedestrians nearby and no one was in any of the cars. There were no warning lights, beeps, messages or any other information to indicate a defect or potential malfunction.
Audi Q5 no deployment problems
16 of the 1,359 owner complaints about the Audi Q5 describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2014 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2014
- typical mileage
- 44,000
Is there a fix? There are 8 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20221
- 20183
- 20172
- 20162
- 20143
- 20121
- 20112
- 20092
Often reported together
Sudden acceleration 3Headlights 1Fire or smoke 1Airbag light 1
What owners say
On Tuesday, September 2nd, I was in a car accident on the freeway. A car jump out in front of me and did not go quickly enough, I hit my breaks, but still hit them going around 55-60 MPH. When the impact occurred, my car turned itself off and I saw smoke coming out of the dash / center area of the car. I was able to start my car and get it off of the freeway safely. My airbag did not deploy, and it appeared the charge went off. The airbag light is now illuminated on the dash. There are no open recalls on my car, and I am truly concerned there is an issue with the airbags and do not want anyone else to get hurt if their airbags do not go off. I spoke with the local dealership on Friday, and they recommended that I reach out directly to Audi. I contacted Audi, answered all of their questions, sent photos and the police report. This is the response I received from them today, 9/22: "Our engineer has completed the review of all the documentation you provided. Here is his assessment: Damage to this vehicle is to sheet metal and composite material components of the hood, fender, headlight, bumper cover, and radiator core support. The impact is offset to the right, outside the bumper reinforcement system with no apparent damage or longitudinal compression of the bumper deformation elements or frame long members. The progressive deformation of the components listed above absorbs crash energy over a longer period of time, lowering the vehicles rate of deceleration below the threshold criteria for airbag deployment. This vehicle performed as designed." I do not believe this is accurate because there was smoke inside the car, and now the airbag light is illuminated.
I was parking my car in a driveway on clear and sunny day. As I put the car into reverse, the engine suddenly accelerated. The car then spun around and moved sideways causing me to crash into the garage along the length of the car on passenger side. The garage was heavily damaged as were two other cars in the garage. I was not injured except for mild bruising and stiffness in neck and shoulders. Air bags did not deploy. My car had to be towed away. Three weeks earlier, the RF ACC sensor/module J428 was repaired by the Audi dealership in New London. It was out of alignment due to collision/damage to right front bumper from hit and run driver in a parking lot in June.
I was in an accident where I hit a herd of elk. My car was totaled. The airbags did not deploy and they definitely should have. It was hit on the front, and both front sides. There is no way the airbags shouldn’t have deployed.
Accident head on collision with wall airbags didn't deploy
Seatbelt tensioner and air bags failed to deploy when the vehicles was in a severe frontal collision when another vehicle ran a stop sign exiting the highway.
Car stationary on highway after traffic came to a stop due to a traffic incident ahead. Rear ended by vehicle going in excess of 40mph. Car pushed into car in front (car 3), spun around and hit the same car (car 3) in the front. Airbags did not deploy. Both driver and passenger were admitted to the hospital with injuries.
Air bags did not deploy in audi at full stop when struck from the rear by vehicle traveling at speed sufficient for their air bags to deploy. Driver and passenger were both wearing seat belts, but accident resulted in both being hospitalized with injuries. Driver with eye and abdominal injuries from striking the steering wheel, and passenger suffered concussion from striking the windshield with sufficient force to shatter it, plus sustaining numerous muscle and joint sprains from impact with dashboard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi q5. While the vehicle was in a parking lot with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a stairway rail of an apartment building. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The contact called audi livermore (3400 las positas rd, livermore, ca 94551) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 9,000.
Tl* the contact called on behalf on her client who owned a 2017 audi q5. While driving at 10-15 MPH, another vehicle was speeding through a red light and crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. No air bags deployed and no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the tow yard. A police report was filed. The driver received medical attention on the scene of the crash due to a broken sternum along with other unknown injuries. The driver had an appointment to see a doctor for a follow up. A police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
Related recalls
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
- Risk
- A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.
Recall number 24V251000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. In the event of a crash deploying the passenger's frontal air bag, the instrument panel carrier may break due to incorrect welding. If the carrier breaks, there may be damage to the passenger frontal air bag.
- Risk
- A damaged frontal air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of an injury.
- Remedy
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel and the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began August 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90N1.
Recall number 19V473000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V‑078.
Recall number 18V082000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
Recall number 17V001000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
- Risk
- If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Recall number 16V376000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834.
Recall number 16V078000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑822‑2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).
Recall number 16V045000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 q5 passenger vehicles manufactured between november 25, 2008 and june 4, 2009. A left and/or right a-pillar trim cover clip may not have been manufactured correctly, allowing the a-pillar trim to become loose when the sideguard head protection airbags deploy during a crash.
- Risk
- If this happens, a loose trim piece could injure the front seat occupants of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will inspect the clip in the middle of the left and right a-pillar covers and replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on january 22, 2010. Owners may contact audi at 1‑800‑253‑2834.
Recall number 09V484000 · Recall details
Questions about the Audi Q5 no deployment
Which Audi Q5 years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2014 (3 complaints), 2018 (3 complaints) and 2009 (2 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Audi Q5?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history