Audi S5 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Since the day of delivery, this 2025 Audi S5 has experienced daily electronic and safety system failures. At least once per day, on startup, the vehicle throws 10 or more warning codes disabling safety-critical systems including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, forward collision avoidance, rear traffic alert, and adaptive lighting. These failures occur without warning and persist for varying durations before clearing on their own. Additionally, on 5 occasions the adaptive cruise control refused to activate, displaying a false "door open" warning with all doors and trunk confirmed closed. On 4 occasions the power trunk failed to latch using the electronic controls. The 360-degree parking camera system intermittently stops rendering surroundings, displaying only the vehicle graphic with no camera feed. The vehicle was brought to the selling dealer for service. After one hour, the dealer stated no issue was found. A battery diagnostic was requested based on a documented case of an identical 2025 S5 with the same symptoms traced to a faulty 12V battery. The dealer declined to cover the diagnostic under warranty. The service manager later acknowledged these are known platform issues and confirmed a software update is expected from the manufacturer in July 2026. The vehicle already has the latest available software update (TSB 2079690, KD2, version 03.10.00/C) installed and the problems persist. The dealer has confirmed there is no current fix available. These failures put the driver and other road users at risk, as safety systems are non-functional during the error state with no indication of when they will restore.

The contact owns a 2025 Audi S5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to respond while attempting to drive. The vehicle was restarted after the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the issue could be related to a lane switch failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,577.

when starting vehicle every three or four days all safety systems fail and takes anywhere from one hour to 12 hours to reset. This forces me to drive vehicle without any safety systems i.e fwd collision, rear traffic alert, lane assist , side view mirror alerts, heads up display adaptive lighting. DEALER claims there is no fix at present and cannot repair until Manufacturer finds solution to software problem. This has happened on numerous occasions

The front driver-side tire experienced a full tire tread separation at highway speeds. It caused minimal damage to the vehicle's rim. No crash, other damage, or injuries occurred. Tire size 255/35R19 96H XL

Below is a detailed timeline of the problems I experienced: Intermittent starting issue Over the past few months, the car has occasionally failed to start on the first attempt. It always started on the second try, so I planned to mention it at the next service visit. Complete MMI/display blackout while driving on the highway In the middle of my trip, the entire center display and instrument cluster went completely black while I was driving at highway speed. All information disappeared (speed, fuel level, navigation, radio — everything). The car continued running, but I had no visibility into critical driving data. After pulling over and restarting the vehicle, only half the screen returned. Hours later, the second half came back on its own. Catastrophic front-right tire blowout in a remote area of Texas The following day, while driving through a very remote stretch of highway, the front-right tire suddenly exploded with a loud bang. I safely pulled over and discovered the tire was completely destroyed. No spare tire provided The trunk contained only a tire inflator kit — no spare tire or temporary spare. A new tire was required. Inadequate roadside assistance experience I called Audi Roadside Assistance twice. Both representatives appeared to be reading from a script, were located in another country, and could not understand the urgency or specifics of my situation. After repeated miscommunication, I received no meaningful help and had to resolve the situation on my own at significant personal expense. When the local tire shop inspected the vehicle, the mechanic immediately pointed out severe abnormal inner tire wear on both front tires and stated that the alignment is clearly defective. He said the left front tire was also about to fail and that the car was unsafe to drive in its current condition. Both front tires had to be replaced before I could continue.

Known-Best Assesment-Piston Skirt Defect and Non-Disclosure of Prior Issues: Approximately only three months after purchase of a brand new 2025 Audi S5 on 6/11/25 , I received a letter from Audi of America acknowledging a potential piston skirt defect/failure resulting from faulty material and/or workmanship. They extended the part warranty for 8 years or 80,000 miles but this doesn't help me feel safe driving this vehicle. I was informed the defect cannot be proactively repaired and would only be addressed after failure. This instruction is unreasonable, unsafe, and contrary to the purpose of purchasing a new vehicle. Audi has previously settled piston-related class litigation, yet no one at Audi Henderson disclosed any history of piston issues during the sale. Had I been informed of this material risk, I would not have purchased the vehicle. I now feel unable to safely or confidently use this vehicle for long-distance or out-of-state travel. Upon researching it I found this: The mileage at which a piston skirt defect will cause total failure varies widely, potentially from mere miles to tens of thousands of miles, or could last the entire life of the engine if it's a minor defect. It is highly risky to drive with a known defect, as damage accumulates over time and can lead to a complete and sudden engine failure and could lead to catastrophic, potentially deadly consequences.   Factors Affecting the Rate of Worsening :The time frame for failure depends almost entirely on the nature and severity of the initial problem, as well as driving habits. * Severity of the Defect: A small scuff might not cause issues for a long time, while a cracked or broken skirt can lead to catastrophic failure very quickly (e.g., within 5 miles or even minutes). * Maintenance: Regular oil checks and changes help manage the symptoms but cannot prevent eventual failure if the defect is significant. * Early reports: Some drivers have reported problems with low-mileage vehicles.

System malfunctions for new all new 2025 Audi S5 including drive system malfunction, loose wheel, brakes limited functionality, parking break malfunction, stabilization control malfunction, driving dynamics system malfunction, hold assist malfunction.

I got into a car accident that a ton of front end damage (the car was totaled) and none of the airbags deployed. I was alone in the car and wearing my seatbelt. I looked and found no noted recalls for the airbags in my specific car.

I began my lease for a brand-new 2025 Audi S5 on July 14, 2025. The vehicle was delivered with a dent in the door, which the dealer repaired before I could take possession. The dent repair was completed on July 22, 2025, at which time I took delivery. On July 23, I informed my sales representative that the SOS/eCall emergency communications system was not functioning. This safety feature, designed to automatically contact emergency services after a crash, has never worked since delivery. I returned the vehicle to the selling dealer on July 28, 2025. As of August 7, 2025, the vehicle remains in the dealer’s service department awaiting repair of the SOS module. No firm completion date has been provided. This defect means the vehicle cannot automatically summon emergency assistance in the event of an accident, creating a significant safety risk to occupants.

Fuel gauge does not move at all and showed tank was 5/8 full. However, when I was on the freeway, the vehicle stalled because I was out of gas. Luckily, I was on the right lane and therefore was able to pull over to the side without an incident. This is a new vehicle with faulty fuel sensors. Audi should have QC'd before releasing the vehicle for sale.