⌘K
Home›Audi›A5›2016
Audi · Compact car

2016 Audi A5

Gas
Subcompact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
55 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls3 critical3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA7
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Audi A5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A5 quattro, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 7 complaints, most often about the engine.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223226$3,000
A5 Cabriolet quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212924$3,250
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213024$3,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36390, 36382, 36381.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Audi A5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

19N3/19N4
342,867 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.RiskA blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
NHTSA campaign 18V229000reported Apr 11, 2018Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
!critical

Electrical System

80C5/80C6
216,913 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.RiskThe melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
NHTSA campaign 17V622000reported Oct 5, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

19M1
342,867 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.RiskIf the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.FixAudi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
NHTSA campaign 17V002000reported Jan 3, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
7complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Engine3
Power Train2
Steering1
Electrical System1
Structure1
Unspecified1

What owners describe

“On August 3, 2025, my wife and I came home from dinner and I couldn’t get out of the driver’s side door. I took it to Naples Audi where I bought the car and delt with its Assistant Service Manager and Service Advisor. Audi estimated the repair to be over $1,300. I called Audi USA Regional Customer Service and Mike …”Aug 7, 2025 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“Electromechanical steering rack has gone out. Had this completely failed while driving myself and others could be put in serious harm of a collision or crash. There are many online complaints and issues with the audi steering racks. No other warnings then it just went out at the same time it tells you stop driving.”Mar 19, 2024 · Steering · NHTSA owner report
“The drive chain broke, causing permanent damage to the engine which requires a complete engine replacement. The car was 5 + years old with 38,000 miles on it and well maintained.”Aug 31, 2021 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other A5 model years

A

2027 Audi A5

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Audi A5

0 recalls · 1 complaints

B

2025 Audi A5

2 recalls · 9 complaints

A

2024 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2023 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

B

2022 Audi A5

2 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2021 Audi A5

5 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2020 Audi A5

4 recalls · 60 complaints

C

2019 Audi A5

3 recalls · 12 complaints

F

2018 Audi A5

6 recalls · 37 complaints

D

2017 Audi A5

3 recalls · 2 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

JSON for this page · API