The Q5 and Q7 are the Audis we see most on the school run and the A27, and they are genuinely well built. They are also complex, heavy and often diesel, which means they wear in fairly predictable ways. Knowing the handful of faults each model is known for helps you catch one early, while it is still a small job rather than a large one. Here is what Q5 and Q7 owners in and around Worthing should keep an eye on.
Common Audi Q5 problems
Oil consumption on 2.0 TFSI petrol engines
Earlier Q5s with the 2.0 TFSI petrol engine can get through noticeably more oil than you would expect, because of the piston ring design used on that generation of engine. The first sign is usually the oil level warning appearing between services, or a faint burning smell after a long run. It is the same engine family that affects the A4 of the same era, and our guide to oil consumption on the 2.0 TFSI explains the causes and what can be done about it. The important thing is not to let the level drop unchecked between services.
Timing chain and tensioner wear
The Q5 uses a timing chain rather than a belt, and on some engines the chain tensioner is the weak point. The classic warning is a rattle from the engine for a second or two on a cold start, sometimes with a rough idle. A chain that jumps causes serious engine damage, so a start-up rattle is worth having looked at promptly rather than monitoring. Our Audi timing chain guide covers the symptoms in more detail.
S tronic hesitation, judder and jerky low-speed shifts
Q5s fitted with the S tronic dual-clutch gearbox can develop a shudder or hesitation when pulling away or crawling in traffic, usually traced to an overdue gearbox oil and filter service or a tired mechatronic unit. It rarely fixes itself and tends to worsen. The warning signs of Audi DSG and S tronic trouble are worth knowing, because catching it at the service stage is far less involved than dealing with a failed mechatronic unit.
Water pump and thermostat housing leaks
The plastic water pump and thermostat housing used across this engine family can crack or weep coolant as it ages. Watch for a sweet coolant smell after a drive, drips at the front of the car, or the temperature gauge sitting higher than usual. Replacing the assembly is routine work; overheating because it was left is not.
Panoramic sunroof drains and damp footwells
Q5s with the panoramic roof have drain channels that carry rainwater down the pillars and out under the car. Leaves and grit block them over time, and the water then finds its way into the headlining or the footwells instead. A damp carpet, a musty smell or misted windows are the usual clues. Clearing the drains periodically is far cheaper than drying out a soaked interior and the electrics that live under it.
Common Audi Q7 problems
Air suspension leaks and compressor failure
On Q7s fitted with adaptive air suspension, the air springs perish with age and start to leak. The car then settles overnight and sits low on one corner, or throws a suspension warning on the dashboard. Because the compressor works harder to keep up with a leak, a small perished spring left alone often takes the compressor with it, which turns one job into two. If your Q7 is sitting lower than it should in the morning, get the leak found early. Our guide to common Audi suspension issues covers what to look for.
Timing chain wear on the 3.0 TDI
The 3.0 TDI V6 in the Q7 drives its timing chains from the back of the engine. They are durable, but when the chains or tensioners do wear the symptoms are the same as on any chain engine: a rattle on cold start-up, and sometimes a correlation fault logged between the camshaft and crankshaft. It is a job worth catching at the rattle stage, because the access makes it a significant repair once it fails.
Brake and suspension wear on a heavy SUV
The Q7 is a large, heavy car, and it goes through brakes and suspension bushes faster than a saloon doing the same mileage. Front control arm bushes are a common wear point and show up as a knock over speed bumps, vague steering or uneven tyre wear. Around Worthing, a lot of short stop-start journeys and speed bumps make it work harder still.
MMI and electrical faults
The Q7 carries a lot of electronics, and owners report MMI screens freezing or going blank, reversing cameras dropping out, and intermittent sensor warnings. These are rarely worth guessing at. A proper diagnostic read points at the module actually at fault instead of replacing parts in hope.
Faults that affect both the Q5 and the Q7
DPF, EGR and AdBlue problems on diesels
Both cars are commonly diesel, and both rely on a diesel particulate filter, an EGR valve and, on later models, AdBlue to keep emissions down. Short, low-speed journeys are the enemy: the DPF never gets hot enough to burn off its soot, warnings appear, and the car can drop into limp mode. Our guide to Audi DPF and AdBlue problems explains what each warning light actually means and what causes it.
The EGR valve suffers from the same driving pattern and tends to stick before the filter blocks, which is the cheaper of the two to catch. Audi EGR problems sets out the symptoms and what cleaning can and cannot fix.
Start-stop that has quietly given up
If the engine no longer cuts out at the lights, that is usually the car telling you something rather than a fault in the start-stop system itself. A battery past its best is the most common reason, and the system is also suppressed while a DPF regeneration is running. Our guide to troubleshooting Audi start-stop faults runs through the causes worth checking.
Getting a Q5 or Q7 fault looked at
Almost everything above is cheaper and simpler to fix at the first symptom than at the point of failure. A start-up rattle, a car sitting low overnight, a warning light that keeps returning: these are all worth a diagnostic read rather than a wait-and-see. As a Worthing Audi specialist, Stedmans Garage handles Audi servicing, diagnostics and repairs. If your Q5 or Q7 is doing something it did not use to, get in touch and we will take a look.
Audi Q5 and Q7 problems: FAQs
What are the most common Audi Q5 problems?
The best known Q5 faults are oil consumption on the 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, timing chain tensioner wear, S tronic gearbox hesitation or judder, water pump and thermostat housing coolant leaks, blocked panoramic sunroof drains, and DPF or EGR issues on diesel models.
What are the most common Audi Q7 problems?
The most common Q7 faults are air suspension leaks and compressor failure on cars fitted with adaptive air suspension, timing chain wear on the 3.0 TDI, faster than average brake and suspension bush wear because of the weight of the car, MMI and electrical glitches, and DPF or AdBlue faults on diesels.
Why is my Audi Q7 sitting low on one side?
That is the classic sign of a leaking air spring on the adaptive air suspension. The car settles when parked and may show a suspension warning. It is worth diagnosing early, because a leak makes the compressor work harder and can lead to it failing too.
Does the Audi Q5 have a timing chain or a timing belt?
The Q5 uses a timing chain. Chains are designed to last, but the tensioner can wear, and the usual warning is a rattle from the engine for a second or two on a cold start. Any start-up rattle is worth having checked promptly.
Does Stedmans Garage repair Audi Q5 and Q7 models in Worthing?
Yes. Stedmans is a Worthing Audi specialist and looks after Audi servicing, diagnostics and repairs, including the Q5 and Q7 across petrol and diesel models.