Audi A5
EA888 Gen3B with 150 kW and 48V mild hybrid. Belt starter-generator assists during launch and enables coasting. Technology is mature.
Solid everyday engine — does its job
204 hp 2.0L for everyday use. Reliable and unfussy.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Recall 27H2 (2020): BSG absorbs moisture, causing short circuits and fire risk. Affects A4, A5, A6, A7, Q5 with 48V mild hybrid, production years 2017–2020. Have replacement generator installed by dealer.
Symptoms: Electrical fault messages, vehicle breakdown, in extreme cases fire
Integrated water pump/thermostat housing made of plastic cracks from ageing. Coolant loss and overtemperature possible from ~60,000–100,000 km. Standard issue on all Gen3B engines.
Symptoms: Coolant loss, overtemperature warning, coolant smell, poor heater performance
Timing chain stretches from ~100,000 km. Gen3B with revised tensioner. Less thermal load on the 150 hp variant, but fundamentally the same chain system weakness.
Symptoms: Rattling on cold start, P0016/P0017 fault codes
Variable oil pump delivers insufficient oil pressure at idle. At 150 hp less critical than at 252 hp, but fundamentally the same Gen3B design weakness.
Symptoms: Ticking after cold start, camshaft phaser fault codes, oil pressure warning
Direct injection without port injection deposits carbon on intake valves. Especially rapid on vehicles with predominantly short-trip profiles. Walnut blasting every 50,000–60,000 km recommended.
Symptoms: Power loss, rough cold start, P2015 tumble flap code
PCV membrane valve tears. Intake air leak under boost pressure — typical wear item on all EA888 Gen3 engines.
Symptoms: Whistling noise, P2279, rough idle
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Around 1.16 million vehicles with 2.0 TFSI (model years 2012–2017) were recalled. The electric auxiliary water pump can overheat, cause a short circuit and in extreme cases start a fire.
The S tronic dual-clutch gearbox tends to shudder and judder at low speeds. Clutch disc wear in city traffic is severe. A full rebuild is often necessary.
Early starter battery weakness and associated infotainment faults. MMI shows frozen screens or crashes when the on-board voltage drops.
On some A5 F5 Sportback and Coupe models water enters the boot. The cause is an inadequate seal in the area of the tailgate aperture.
Some A5 F5 models show steering wheel vibrations between 80 and 120 km/h. Audi addresses this as a goodwill gesture by replacing the control arms with hydraulic mounts.
Starter battery fails on early F5 models, particularly with short-trip use. Cold-start problems in winter are frequent.
Well-known fault code with the automatic headlight level adjustment. The issue occurs across all build years and has never been fully resolved by software update.