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What 26 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Audi S5

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (26)Crash / fire / injury (3)Engine (9)Airbags (3)Visibility & wipers (3)Electrical system (2)Parking Brake (2)Seat belts (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Body & structure (1)Brakes (1)Driver assistance (1)

2 of 26 complaints match · Parking Brake · clear filters

Oct 21, 2024Parking BrakeAirbagsFuel system1 injury

•Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions. •Previous Complaints and Lack of Resolution: Previous complaints about the parking brake and Intoxalock device were dismissed without proper investigation or resolution. •Parking Brake Failure: The parking brake failed to hold the car, leading to uncontrollable movement and collision with an obstacle. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned, causing distractions and contributing to the accident. •Financial Burden and Lack of Refund: Intoxalock placed the account in collections despite timely payments and failed to refund lockout fees. •Safety Concerns: Parking brake malfunction and faulty Intoxalock device. •Installation Issues: Unprofessional installation and lack of functionality. •Customer Impact: Dangerous situations and potential vehicle damage. Intoxalock’s faulty installation and negligent response to previous complaints led to a parking brake failure and subsequent accident. The incident resulted in significant damage to the vehicle and highlighted the company’s lack of accountability for customer safety. Legal action is being considered due to the ongoing safety risks and unresolved issues.

NHTSA ODI 11621015

Apr 9, 2019Parking BrakeTransmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARBOX AND PARKING BRAKE RELEASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI GREENWICH (181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830, (203) 661-1800), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11194999

Working with the data? Download all 26 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Audi S5 verdict →