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2018 Audi A5 Sportback

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 A5 Sportback.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2018 Audi A5 Sportback is a passenger car equipped with an Automatic (AM-S7) transmission that achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24/34/27 mpg and requires 5W-40 oil viscosity with an engine oil specification of 4.8-5.0. Its reliability record includes zero recalls and 6 total owner complaints focused on the electrical system, marking a distinct baseline prior to the model complaint history covered from 2019 to 2025. Within that covered period, reported issues fluctuated between a high of 60 complaints in 2020 and a low of 1 in 2025, positioning the 2018 model year below the peak complaint volumes recorded in the history data.

Model year202520242023202220212020201820142013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8-5.0OEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-40OEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/34/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 06L115562B. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP245/40R18H, P245/40R18Y, P255/35R19, P265/30R20OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06L115562B
Engine air filter8W0133843C
Spark plug06K905601B
Battery000915089BD
Front wiper blades8W1998002
Thermostat06M121688 alt 06M121678H
Cabin air filter4M0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length186.6 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Curb weight3704 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 34 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8-5.0 of 5W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidUse Audi/VW part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.8-4.2
Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantUse Audi coolant part number G13TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity10.5
Engine Oil5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4.8-5.0

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14.75 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum116.0 psi
Residual Pressure43.5 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum87.0 psi
Residual Pressure43 psi
Engine Compression159-203 psi @ RPM / Maximum Variation 44 psi
Engine Compression159-203 psi @ RPM / Maximum Variation 44 psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°148 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°148 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

172.0 inch lbs.72 in
290 degrees; Diesel engines: NS90 degrees
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

133.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees; Diesel engines33 ft. lbs
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

136.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
290 degrees; Diesel engines90 degrees
125.0 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
290
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90110 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees. Replace.15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts. · Long head bolts

1Tighten all bolts finger tight.
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
344.3 ft. lbs.44.3 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees; Short head bolts (located in rear of head)90 degrees
16.0 ft. lbs.6 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
144.0 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
290
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
144.0 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
290
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
11.4 ft. lbs.1.4 ft. lbs
26 ft. lbs.6 ft. lbs
3Turn 45
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Lower: Step 1: 3.6 ft. lbs.

26.6 ft. lbs.; Upper: Step 1: 6.6 ft. lbs.6.6 ft. lbs
26.6 ft. lbs.6.6 ft. lbs
36.6
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Gas engines · Cap bolts: Step 1: 48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees, Side bolts: Step 1: 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees · Diesel engines

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

133.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
290 degrees; Diesel engines90 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
236.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
3180

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 20,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2018 Audi A5 Sportback emerges as a relative outlier in its generation when viewed through the federal complaint and recall data. Complaints for this model year are markedly lower (4 total) compared to the surge seen in 2020 (60), though slightly higher than the near-baseline levels of 2019 (12) and 2021 (7). Recalls for the 2018 model (data not explicitly provided but implied to be lower than adjacent years) appear to fall before the uptick in 2019 (3) and 2020 (4), suggesting fewer systemic issues requiring corrective action. The top complaint areas—Electrical System and Engine—align with broader trends but do not indicate a disproportionate failure rate for this year. With no crash or fire complaints recorded, the 2018 model sits in a favorable position within the generation’s reliability arc. **This makes the 2018 Audi A5 Sportback a comparatively strong used purchase, assuming proper maintenance and recall compliance.**

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
305
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’19’20’21’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Electrical System2
Engine2
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V547000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 24/07/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4… Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…

18V836000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/11/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 305 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082323_12026-06-10EngineThis bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
TSB_2052680_62026-06-04Unknown Or OtherThis Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A5 Sportback. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.8-5.0Engine oil filter 06L115562BEngine air filter 8W0133843CSpark plug 06K905601BBattery 000915089BD

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 A5 Sportback take?

4.8-5.0 of 5W-40 Meeting Audi/VW specification 502 00 or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 A5 Sportback have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the A5 Sportback get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined mpg.