V
VIN Check Engine

VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Audi RS52014–2026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

13
Years Analyzed
0
Total Recalls
3
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Audi RS5 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2014

0 recalls · 3 complaints

Top issue: BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

Audi RS5 — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600——
100
40
79
Excellent
202500——
100
55
84
Excellent
202400——
100
68
89
Excellent
202300——
100
78
92
Excellent
202200——
100
85
95
Excellent
202100——
100
88
96
Excellent
202000——
100
87
95
Excellent
201900——
100
83
94
Excellent
201800——
100
77
92
Excellent
201700——
100
70
90
Excellent
201600——
100
63
87
Excellent
201500——
100
56
85
Excellent
201403——
97
50
81
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Audi RS5 Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
1
ENGINE
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the RS5 compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).

Best: 2021
2021 · 962020 · 952022 · 952019 · 942018 · 922023 · 922024 · 892025 · 842026 · 79

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 90).

Best: 2017
2017 · 902016 · 872015 · 852014 · 81

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year RS5 to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every RS5 model year.

Which RS5 years have the most problems?+

The 2014 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2014 RS5 leads with 0 recalls and 3 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common RS5 problems?+

The most frequently reported Audi RS5 issues involve: BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Audi RS5.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sports vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every RS5 year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →