Audi Q5 8R (2008-2017): known problems and buying guide

Built: 2008–2012
Median price: €9,900
Listings: 917
Running cost per month: €519–€609
Power: 170–240 PS (125–176 kW)
Reliability: 3/5
DIY: 2/5

An average used SUV when serviced, but check the S tronic, petrol oil use and the timing chain first, and ask for recall proof on every car.

Updated 26 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
3.0 TDI, 240 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€609	€9,499	252	Diesel	CCW	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2008–2012
2.0 TDI, 170 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€538	€10,400	226	Diesel	CGL	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2009–2012
2.0 TFSI, 211 PS, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research	€580	€9,600	121	Petrol	CDN	Automatic (8)	2011–2012
2.0 TFSI, 211 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€574	€9,600	121	Petrol	CDN	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2008–2011
2.0 TDI, 170 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive	€519	€9,500	92	Diesel	CGL	Manual (6)	2008–2012

At a glance

Years: built 2008 to 2017. Facelift in 2012. The facelift brought better piston rings and a better timing chain on the 2.0 TFSI.
Most common: S tronic gearbox faults, oil burnt by the 2.0 TFSI, and front hub bearings.
Reliability: 3/5, because the S tronic, petrol oil use and timing chain faults are costly. AUTO BILD's TÜV table also shows fewer defects than average at 10 to 11 years.
DIY: 2/5, because gearbox, chain and oil repairs need a workshop. The checks below need no tools unless marked.
Prefer: a facelift car with proof of piston and chain work. Avoid: an early 2.0 TFSI that burns oil with no repair proof, and any S tronic that jerks or shows fault codes.

Engines and gearboxes

2.0 TFSI EA888 gen 2 (CDN, CNC): oil use, timing chain stretch, ignition coils and variable oil pump faults are reported. Water pump and thermostat leaks are also reported. See the 2.0 TFSI guide for gen 3.
2.0 TDI EA189 (CGL, CJC, CSU): EGR, DPF and injector faults. See the 2.0 TDI guide.
2.0 TDI EA288 (CNH): coolant leaks, EGR and AdBlue faults. See the 2.0 TDI EA288 guide.
3.0 TDI V6 (CCW, CDU, CTB, CVU, DEH): soot, EGR and DPF faults at high mileage. No guide exists for this engine.
S tronic DL501 7-speed dual clutch (0B5): jerking, clutch wear and mechatronic faults. Details below.
8-speed automatic (ZF 8HP): see the ZF 8HP guide for shift faults and leaks.

Known issues

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost
S tronic gearbox faults	S tronic DL501 (7-speed dual clutch)	30,000-60,000 km	About 300,000 RUB (Russia, 2023, kolesa.ru)
Petrol timing chain stretch	2.0 TFSI gen 2 (CDN, CNC), mainly before the 2012 facelift	70,000-180,000 km	Mid four-figure EUR (KFZ Dietrich, year not stated)
Petrol oil consumption	2.0 TFSI gen 2 (CDN, CNC), mainly before the 2012 facelift	40,000-100,000 km	No confirmed price
V6 diesel soot, EGR and DPF	3.0 TDI V6	Mainly high mileage	No confirmed price
Brake booster from oil vapour	3.0 TDI V6, built March to December 2012	Not stated	No confirmed price
Panoramic roof water leaks	Panoramic roof, 2011 on	Not stated	No confirmed price
Front hub bearings and arms	All, hub bearings first	20,000-30,000 km before 2012, 70,000-90,000 km after	No confirmed price

Before you buy

Ask for the S tronic oil-change record, due every 50,000 to 60,000 km. On a test drive, jerks at low speed or a stall are a warning. A scanner can read fault codes P17BF and P189C; both point to a mechatronic fault. Needs a scanner.
Start the engine fully cold and listen for a metal rattle in the first seconds. A rattle means a stretched chain or a weak tensioner. A scanner can show the chain fault counter, and a count above 3 on cold starts is a warning. Needs a scanner.
Check the oil level on a cold engine and ask for the top-up history. Burning more than about 1 litre per 1,000 km is a warning. Ask for proof of the TPI 2 service action or a piston replacement.
Ask for DPF and EGR cleaning records. A car used only on short trips is at risk of a clogged filter and soot in the EGR.
Ask whether the brake booster recall was done on a 3.0 TDI built in 2012. Check the vacuum line for a check valve. A failed booster means no brake assist.
Look for water in the footwell and under the headliner, and check the roof drains. Water in the headliner can corrode the curtain airbag cylinder.
On a test drive, listen for a hum from the front wheels and feel for vague steering over bumps. A creaking front end can mean worn ball joints.
Check every recall by VIN before you buy. The UK recall list filters by model year, not by VIN.

Running costs

Operational	€234
Workshop	€133
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€178
Total per month	€545
New-car depreciation (not included)	€92

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings: 917
25th percentile: €8,000
Median price: €9,900
75th percentile: €11,950
Median mileage: 203,006 km
Median first registration: 2010
Dealer share: 50.8%
Price at 100,000 km: €16,653

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

S tronic gearbox faults

The S tronic DL501 is a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Its clutches wear, and the mechatronic (the gearbox control unit with its valves) fails. Symptoms are jerking at low speed, delayed or jerky shifts, and a stall. Owners and press report clutch failures from 30,000 to 60,000 km. Early cars, built before 2010, often failed in the actuator under warranty. Fault codes include P17BF, P189C and U0101.

A mechatronic replacement is about 300,000 RUB (Russia, 2023, kolesa.ru). KFZ Dietrich gives an upper four-figure band in euros, year not stated. Oil changes every 50,000 to 60,000 km help.

Sources: kolesa.ru (2023), KFZ Dietrich, zr.ru, auto.ru

Petrol timing chain stretch

The 2.0 TFSI gen 2 timing chain stretches. The hydraulic tensioner then lets the chain jump, and the valves can hit the pistons. A cold start rattle of 1 to 3 seconds is a sign. Fault codes P0016 and P0017 point to it. The chain can jump at 70,000 to 90,000 km, and may stretch or break at 150,000 to 180,000 km.

A chain set and piston work cost a mid four-figure amount in euros (KFZ Dietrich, year not stated). kolesa.ru gives up to 55,000 RUB for the chain job (Russia, 2023, older price).

Sources: KFZ Dietrich, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, zr.ru, auto.ru

Petrol oil consumption

The 2.0 TFSI gen 2 burns oil through thin piston rings. Rings can stick from 40,000 to 60,000 km (auto.ru). Affected engines burn about 1 litre per 1,000 km. Dealers call that normal, so a warranty claim is unlikely. Top up every 1,500 to 2,500 km. The fault can also harm the catalytic converter.

Audi's fix is a service action with new pistons and rings (action 33A1 or TPI 2). Ask the seller to show that it was done. The sources give no price for the piston work. The rings were reworked around the 2012 facelift.

Sources: KFZ Dietrich, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, kolesa.ru (2023), auto.ru

V6 diesel soot, EGR and DPF

The 3.0 TDI fails with soot in the injectors and the EGR valve, and its DPF clogs. Injectors, turbo and the dual-mass flywheel also wear. These faults come mostly at high mileage. gebrauchtwagenberater.de calls the repairs expensive. The DPF and EGR also dislike city driving. No price is given.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de, zr.ru

Brake booster from oil vapour

On 3.0 TDI cars built from March to December 2012, oil vapour from the engine damages the diaphragm of the brake booster. The booster can fail suddenly, and then the brake assist is lost. The UK recall is R/2014/098. Check the vacuum line for a check valve. No price is given.

Sources: DVSA recall list, CarWiki, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, AUTO ZEITUNG (A5, shared engine)

Panoramic roof water leaks

The panoramic roof drains block with resin and dirt, and water runs into the headliner and footwell. The roof then leaks, creaks and rattles, and is hard to adjust. Water in the headliner can corrode the curtain airbag cylinder, which is the UK recall R/2017/131. The glass on 2011 cars can break below -20 C, usually while parked. This is UK recall R/2012/083, and AUTO BILD and CarWiki say the glass is replaced in under an hour. No price is given.

Sources: DVSA recall list, KFZ Dietrich, zr.ru, tengrinews

Front hub bearings and arms

The front hub bearings are the weakest part of the suspension. They wear at 20,000 to 30,000 km on pre-facelift cars and at 70,000 to 90,000 km after. Ball joints, arm bushes and anti-roll bar links wear at 80,000 to 100,000 km. Worn ball joints make the front end creak and steering feel vague. Control arms and axle springs stand out in German TÜV data. No price is given.

Sources: auto.ru, tengrinews, Auto Express, AUTO BILD TÜV check

Recalls

Each campaign below is a UK, German or EU recall as read in the sources. Check every one by VIN. The UK list filters by model year only.

Country	Code	Years	What is done
UK (DVSA)	R/2012/083	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter)	Panoramic glass may break below -20 C; glass replaced (German press)
UK (DVSA)	R/2014/098	3.0 TDI built March to December 2012 (German press)	Engine oil in the brake servo; vacuum line checked and a check valve fitted
UK (DVSA)	R/2015/031	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter)	Fuel may leak from the injector rails; remedy not on the page
UK (DVSA)	R/2017/115	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter); in Germany 2.0 TFSI built spring 2011 to end 2016 (Gebrauchtwagenberater)	Auxiliary coolant pump can block and overheat; remedy not on the page
UK (DVSA)	R/2017/334, R/2018/051	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter); in Germany built from 15.03.2011 (Gebrauchtwagenberater)	Auxiliary heater connectors can overheat and smoulder; remedy not on the page
UK (DVSA)	R/2017/131	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter)	Water from the roof drain corrodes the curtain airbag cylinder; remedy not on the page
UK (DVSA)	R/2023/052	Model year 2012 (DVSA filter)	Takata airbag gas generator; remedy not on the page
Germany (press)	not given	Built December 2008 to May 2009	Head airbag trim clips replaced free; done cars carry "70D4" in the service book

Maintenance

S tronic oil: change every 50,000 to 60,000 km.
Petrol top-up: a 2.0 TFSI that burns oil needs its level checked at each fill. Top up every 1,500 to 2,500 km when it burns oil.
Roof drains: clear the four panoramic roof drain hoses of resin and dirt.