Used car safety, rank #59 of 188
Audi Q5 4WD Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 Audi Q5 4WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 Audi Q5 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 24 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 17, which is 41% above the class average. That places it #59 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 66.8/100.
What the Audi Q5 death rate means
At 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Audi Q5 4WD is 41% worse than the midsize luxury SUVs average of 17. The 95% confidence interval is 4 to 44, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 43 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Audi Q5. Its 95% confidence interval is 16β69. It is higher than the Audi Q5's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Audi Q5 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD | 2020-23 | 0 (0 to 25) | 95.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Porsche Macan 4WD | 2020-23 | 4 (0 to 11) | 93.0 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 11) | 92.6 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 2WD | 2020-23 | 6 (0 to 17) | 91.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 22) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 17) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X3 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 23) | 85.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4WD | 2020-23 | 13 (0 to 25) | 81.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Audi Q5 4WD (this page) | 2021-23 | 24 (4 to 44) | 66.8 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Audi Q5
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Audi Q5 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Audi Q5 | TSP+ | 96.0 |
| 2026 | Audi Q5 Sportback | TSP+ | 96.0 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 66.8 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Audi Q5 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
5 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering engine, electrical system, air bags.
-
Engine
Risk: The screws can loosen, allowing oil to leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the screws as necessary, free of charge.
-
Electrical system: propulsion system, traction battery
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehicles in which online data is unavailable, owners are advised not to charge their batteries until the final remedy becomes available. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This will be a Phased recall. Phase 1 will include Interim letters 2022-2023 model year vehicles. Phase 2 will include Owner letters 2021-2024 model year vehicles, and Phase 3 will include Interim letters 2022-2023 model year vehicles. Interim
-
Electrical system: propulsion system, traction battery
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software as the final remedy, anticipated to be available in the second quarter of 2025. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehicles in which online data is unavailable, owners are advised not to charge their batteries until the final remedy becomes available. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
-
Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge.
-
Electrical system: propulsion system, charging, cable/cord, onboard
Risk: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Audi Q5 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Audi Q5 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 24 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 Audi Q5 4WD, 41% above the class average (17 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 66.8 out of 100 and rank #59 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Audi Q5 4WD driver death rate?
24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 4 to 44. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Audi Q5 died at a rate of 43 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the Audi Q5 4WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 17 driver deaths per million; the Audi Q5 4WD sits at 24. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD with a death rate of 0.