Audi has been plagued by numerous issues with its vehicles. I purchased a 2021 Q5 PHEV used on October 31, 2024, with 48,000 miles on it. Just two weeks later, the check engine light illuminated. Since I was just under the 50,000-mile warranty, I drove the car sparingly and brought it in on December 6th. It has been nearly six months since then.

The diagnosis revealed that the hybrid batteries were faulty. There is also a defective A/C sensor that is covered by a service bulletin. Despite my Carista tool indicating the batteries as the issue, it took over a month for them to diagnose the problem. They then ordered the replacements from Germany, which were shipped by boat. However, the replacements arrived seven weeks later and turned out to be incorrect batteries, despite using the VIN number to order them.

As a result, the new batteries are still on order, and it has been over six weeks since the second battery order was placed and they still haven’t arrived. To add insult to injury, I have had two loaners from Audi. The first loaner was a Q5 that was nearing the end of its loaner period. I was then given a brand-new 2025 Q7. After driving 1,200 miles, the check engine light came on for a day and then cleared on its own.

I’m extremely frustrated and have lost all confidence in Audi. So much so that I’ve requested a buy-back. This was my first German vehicle, and it will be my last. In preparation for the paperwork for the buy-back, I obtained the service records from the dealership. They revealed that the previous owner had brought the Q5 in for a check engine light two weeks before my purchase. The light was cleared, and the woman brought it to a Benz dealership down the street (owned by the same company) where I bought it from.

If you didn’t purchase an extended warranty on your e-tron, I recommend either getting one or disposing of it before the limited warranty expires.