The 2019 S5 with the 3.0T EA839 engine is generally solid, but carries significant risk of catastrophic engine failure due to piston ring land issues that plague this generation. When maintained well and driven gently, it's a strong performer, but the engine rebuild frequency is concerning for a vehicle this young.
Piston Ring Land Failure / Catastrophic Engine Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), White or blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or acceleration, Loss of power, misfires, check engine light with low compression codes, Metal shavings in oil, catastrophic knock if ringlands crack completely
Fix: Full engine rebuild or short block replacement required. Pistons, rings, honing cylinders, new bearings, head gasket set. 35-45 labor hours depending on shop speed and whether heads need machine work.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under vehicle, usually passenger side, Low transmission fluid warning light, Harsh shifting or delayed engagement if fluid level drops significantly, Visible fluid weeping around cooler lines at transmission
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and lines, flush/refill with proper ZF 8-speed fluid. Cooler is integrated with housing, requires partial transmission disassembly or removal depending on access. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Lurching sensation during aggressive acceleration, Visible torn rubber or separation on mount during inspection
Fix: Replace transmission mount (often the rear mount fails first). Requires supporting transmission and removing cross-member hardware. 1.5-2.5 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-700
High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, extended cranking especially when hot, Rough idle, stumbling, or cutting out under load, Check engine light with fuel pressure/mixture codes (P0087, P0088), Metallic ticking noise from engine valley area
Fix: Replace high-pressure fuel pump on engine (camshaft-driven unit in valley). Includes new cam follower, gaskets, fuel system depressurization. Filter replacement recommended simultaneously. 3-4 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Rear Subframe / Differential Bushing Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear end, Wandering or vague steering feel at highway speeds, Uneven or accelerated rear tire wear on inside edges, Visible cracking or tearing of subframe bushings during alignment
Fix: Replace rear subframe bushings and/or differential mount bushings. Subframe must be dropped or lowered significantly. Alignment required after. 6-8 labor hours for full subframe bushing set.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
Coolant Thermostat Housing Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant smell in cabin or visible steam from engine bay, Coolant level dropping with no external puddles, Small drips or residue on thermostat housing (front of engine), Overheating if leak progresses and coolant loss is significant
Fix: Replace thermostat housing assembly and gasket, refill/bleed cooling system. Housing is plastic and prone to cracking. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously—excessive consumption is your early warning for ring issues. Document it for warranty claims.
Use only VW/Audi 502.00/504.00 spec oil (0W-20 or 5W-30 depending on model year); off-brand oil accelerates ring coking.
Avoid extended full-throttle pulls until engine is fully warmed; heat cycling stress contributes to ringland cracking.
Inspect transmission cooler lines and pan for seepage during every oil change—early catch saves the transmission.
Budget $2,000/year for unexpected repairs after 60k miles; these are not cheap to maintain out of warranty.
Buy only with comprehensive warranty or detailed service records proving low oil consumption—engine rebuild risk makes this a gamble without coverage.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
SEATS · 21V874000
2021-11-10
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER · 19V114000
2019-02-20
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Q7, Q8, S5 Cabriolet, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The front shock absorber forks may develop cracks allowing the shock absorbers to loosen.
Consequence: Loose shock absorbers may impair vehicle steering, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the shock absorber forks, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 40O4.
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