2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Audi Q5 | 2018 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 197 | 490 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,067 | 400 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 26 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 24–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 17,750 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi Q5 | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 68 | 69 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 135 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 94 |
| Engine | 30 | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 30 |
| Suspension | 24 | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 13 |
| Structure | 20 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 0 |
| Stalling | 10 | 24 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 7 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 31 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 16 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 7 |
2018 Audi Q5
2018 Subaru Forester
Compare all Audi Q5 vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.