2018 Audi S5 Problems: 5 Known Issues
2018 model year · 313+ owner reports · Updated October 2026
According to Au7o's analysis of 313+ owner reports, the 2018 Audi S5 has 5 documented known issues, with 2 rated critical. The most serious are Roller Rocker Arm Needle-Bearing Collapse Destroying Camshafts (Early B9 3.0T) ($6,000-$20,000 repair) and Seat Heater Cable Fault Disabling the Passenger Airbag (PODS) - Recall 21V874 (Audi 74E3) ($0-$0 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Thermostat and Water Pump Assembly Failure with 211 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $400 to $20,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
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All 5 Known Issues
NHTSA Recalls10 recalls
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron, and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
TIRES
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Audi S5 problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 313+ owner reports, the 2018 Audi S5 has 5 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Roller Rocker Arm Needle-Bearing Collapse Destroying Camshafts (Early B9 3.0T), Seat Heater Cable Fault Disabling the Passenger Airbag (PODS) - Recall 21V874 (Audi 74E3), Thermostat and Water Pump Assembly Failure. Of these, 2 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Audi S5 reliable?
The 2018 Audi S5 has 5 known issues documented across 313+ owner reports. 2 issues are rated critical: Roller Rocker Arm Needle-Bearing Collapse Destroying Camshafts (Early B9 3.0T) and Seat Heater Cable Fault Disabling the Passenger Airbag (PODS) - Recall 21V874 (Audi 74E3). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Audi S5 problems?
Repair costs for known Audi S5 issues range from $0 to $20,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Roller Rocker Arm Needle-Bearing Collapse Destroying Camshafts (Early B9 3.0T), typically costs $6,000-$20,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2018-2019 Audi S5 Roller Rocker Arm Needle-Bearing Collapse Destroying Camshafts (Early B9 3.0T)?
Early B9 3.0 TFSI turbo V6 engines used roller rocker arms (roller finger followers) with undersized needle roller bearings. The bearing cage breaks up, the roller seizes, and the rocker then chews the camshaft lobe and sends metal debris through the oil system. Owners report sud… Repairs typically run $6,000-$20,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2018-2020 Audi S5 Seat Heater Cable Fault Disabling the Passenger Airbag (PODS) - Recall 21V874 (Audi 74E3)?
The cable connecting the passenger seat heater mat to the Passenger Occupant Detection System can develop a contact fault. The control software misreads the fault as a PODS malfunction and switches the passenger frontal airbag off, so an occupied front passenger seat is left unpr… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2010-2025 Audi S5 Thermostat and Water Pump Assembly Failure?
The S5 3.0T thermostat and water pump assembly uses a plastic housing that degrades over time. Leaks develop at the housing seams and O-ring seals, often around 60,000-80,000 miles. Repairs typically run $400-$1,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2025 Audi S5 Direct Injection Carbon Buildup?
The S5 suffers from carbon deposit accumulation on intake valves common to all Audi direct-injected engines. The performance-oriented tuning makes power loss from carbon more noticeable than in base models. Repairs typically run $400-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2018 Audi S5 2018 S5 3.0L Mechanical Coolant-Pump Fault P000000/33688 - Diagnosis Required?
Audi TSB 2058890/4 applies to 2018 S5, S5 Cabriolet and S5 Sportback vehicles when the instrument cluster displays “Switch off the engine and check coolant” and the engine control module stores P000000 with symptom code 33688. The code indicates a possible malfunction of the vacu… Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.