NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet, describing incidents dated January 3, 2018 to May 29, 2019.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 3 complaints
  • Air Bags 2 complaints
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
  • Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11218424 · Filed

    I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF A 2011 AUDI S5 CABRIOLET. CHIEF COMPLAINTS: ENGINE PROBLEM,.WARNING LIGHT SHUT DOWN ENGINE,GEARBOX MALFUNCTION,TPMS MALFUNCTION,. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE,TAKATA AIRBAG NOT CHANGED BY KEYES AUDI COMPLAINT FOR LEMON LAW WITH AUDI CORP…

  • ODI #11165984 · Filed

    OCCASIONAL LACK OF PROPULSION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, LOSS OF GEAR WHILE MOVING SLOWLY (FROM A STOP). IN EITHER CASE, THE CAR MAY BE STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OR OTHERWISE ACT UNPREDICTABLY TO OTHER TRAFFIC. REMEDY IS TO EITHER TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO RE-ENGAGE MULTIPLE TIMES, OR…

  • ODI #11150038 · Filed

    MY WIFE AND I WENT ON A DRIVE, TO GET LUNCH, AFTER LEAVING LUNCH , WE HEADED HOME, I PULLED OUT ON TO THE HWY, AND THE AUDI,"CHECK ENGINE" "NO REVERSE" LIGHT LIT UP, AND THEN THE TPMS LIT UP, THE WARNING STATED I HAD LOST REVERSE, AND I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. HOME WAS OVER 10 MILES AWAY, SO I…

Read all 5 complaints

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #18V082000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 30, 2018 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 162,782 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69R6 · Owners notified February 23, 2018 · Vehicles built June 8, 2009 – March 1, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V078000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 10, 2016 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 659,493 vehicles

Repair completion: 58.54% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 10, 2017 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Audi S5 Cabriolet model years

Check your 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi S5 Cabriolet at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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