Used Audi Q5 (Mk1, 2008-2016) review - What should you look out for?
Robustly built from high quality materials, the Q5 promises to be a durable and dependable choice.
It’s a sophisticated car, but thanks to Audi’s strong reputation for high-quality engineering the Q5 is well-built and reliable. However, there are some niggles that you need to keep an eye out for when assessing a potential purchase.
Common used Audi Q5 Mk1 problems
Suspension
Creaky front suspension is usually down to worn ball joints, which can result in vague steering. Look out for this on test drives.
Ride
The Q5 rides firmly; wheels bigger than 18 inches, fitted with low-profile tyres, can be uncomfortable. These were popular options, though.
Finish
On cars that are regularly jet washed, the paint can come off the wheel arch lips, leading to corrosion. Inspect potential buys for imperfections.
Transmission
The manual gearbox can be notchy in its changes, while the S tronic auto can suffer from costly control unit failures.
Recalls
The Mk1 Q5 has had 10 recalls. The earliest (2009) was for cabin trim that could come adrift in an impact. Two campaigns (2017 and 2018) were for possible air-con auxiliary heater failure.
Three (2016, 2017, 2018) were for airbags failing to deploy correctly.
A 2015 action was for potential fuel leaks; a 2017 recall covered overheating water pumps; a 2018 recall was for rear brake glitches.
