Audi›Q5›2021›Overview/audi/q5/2021/base/

2021 Audi Q5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Q5.

Transmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2021 Audi Q5, built on Audi’s modular MQB platform as a midsize luxury SUV, is powered by a drivetrain that uses 5.4 qt of 0W‑20 oil and is paired with the AM‑S7 automatic transmission, delivering an EPA rating of 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. While the model’s overall owner‑complaint count stands at 69, with electrical systems identified as the most frequent issue and eight recalls recorded, its complaint volume is modest compared with the peak of 196 complaints seen in the 2018 model year. Positioned toward the lower‑end of the 2008‑2026 complaint spectrum, the 2021 Q5 reflects a relatively stable reliability record within the model’s history, suggesting fewer systemic problems than earlier peaks.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182013

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/28/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage. battery, 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.

Battery groupBCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage.OEM · verified
Tire size235/60R18 103HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06L115562B
Engine air filter8W0133843C
Spark plug06Q905601A
Battery000915089BC
Front wiper blades80B998002
Cabin air filter4M0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height65.4 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4045 lb
Track (front / rear)63.8 / 63.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 28 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Q5 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.5–16.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.50 sec — 2021 55 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
202155 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 14.1-kWh4.50 sec13.20 sec362 hpAWD
202155 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro (Dynamic Mode) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 14.1-kWh4.50 sec13.20 sec362 hpAWD
202155 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro (Auto Mode) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 14.1-kWh4.80 sec13.50 sec362 hpAWD
202145 Premium Plus Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec5.50 sec14.20 sec362 hpAWD
202145 Prestige Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec5.70 sec14.40 sec261 hpAWD
202155 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro (Auto Mode, Battery-Save) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 14.1-kWh8.50 sec16.70 sec362 hpAWD
202155 Premium Plus S-Line PHEV Quattro (Auto/EV Mode) 2.0L Turbo I-4 + Elec 14.1-kWh16.40 sec20.90 sec362 hpAWD
20182.0T Premium Plus Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-45.80 sec14.50 sec252 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.4 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantAudi Coolant G13-TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity10.5 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · Synthetic
Engine Oil Capacity5.4 qt

Engine torques

Cylinder Head InstructionsOnly use new bolts.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity45 TFSI
Oil Capacity45 TFSI

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum116.0 psi
Residual Pressure43.5 psi

Brakes

ABS Sensor Torque6.4
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079" in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1LC; Rear: 1KD

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 150.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°110 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts with Collar37 ft. lbs

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 Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Engine 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 2021 Audi Q5 sits within the second generation (2018–present) and shows a notable uptick in reported issues after a brief period of improvement. Complaints rose to 69 from just 22 in 2020, and recalls peaked at 8—the highest in the entire dataset—while TSBs also reached a generation high of 1,099. This reverses the downward trend in complaints seen after the generation’s launch year (2018, with 196 complaints), suggesting that 2021 introduced new or unresolved problems, particularly in the electrical system and engine areas. The presence of two crash complaints, though low, adds a safety consideration absent in the prior two years. Given the spike in recalls and the concentration of issues in critical systems, a 2021 Q5 represents a riskier choice than the preceding 2020 model; a buyer should verify that all 8 recalls have been fully addressed before purchase.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1099
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
69
Owner complaints
2 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
’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 69 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System12
Engine8
Forward Collision Avoidance5
Power Train5
Electrical System,Structure3
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine3
Unknown Or Other3
Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V606000Seat Belts:Rear/Other:RetractorReported 05/08/2021

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… Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact…

22V034000TiresReported 26/01/2022

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… Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1099 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2076404_82026-06-29Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin provides a deployment overview for customer service packages MLB and MQB…
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2079226_52026-06-24StructureThis bulletin provides information when the sliding glass panoramic sunroof is leaking.
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…

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 Q5. 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.

Group R batteryVehicles taking 5.4 qtEngine oil filter 06L115562BEngine air filter 8W0133843CSpark plug 06Q905601ABattery 000915089BC

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 2021 Q5 take?

5.4 qt of Audi 0W-20 Synthetic, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Q5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Q5 get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 28 highway / 25 combined mpg.