The 2019 RS5 uses Audi's EA855 2.9L twin-turbo V6, a generally solid engine, but early examples have shown concerning piston ring and oil consumption issues that can escalate into catastrophic failures. Transmission and cooling systems are typically robust, but when the engine grenades, you're looking at a $15,000+ bill.
Piston Ring Failure / Excessive Oil Consumption
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on cold start or hard acceleration, Oil consumption exceeding 1 qt per 1,000 miles, Check engine light for misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Loss of power under boost
Fix: Requires engine removal and complete teardown. Replace pistons, rings, hone cylinders, resurface heads if needed. Often discover scored cylinder walls requiring oversize pistons or short block replacement. 35-50 labor hours depending on shop familiarity with B9 platform.
Estimated cost: $12,000-20,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under front of vehicle, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Harsh shifting when cold, Low transmission fluid warning on cluster
Fix: Oil cooler lines corrode at crimp points or cooler itself develops pin-hole leaks. Replace cooler assembly and flush transmission. Front bumper and undertray removal required. 6-8 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Rear Differential Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from rear on hard acceleration or deceleration, Vibration through floorpan at highway speeds, Wheel hop during aggressive launches, Visible rubber deterioration on mount inspection
Fix: Subframe-mounted rubber bushings tear from torque cycling, especially on tuned cars or aggressive drivers. Replace both transmission mount and rear differential mount as a pair—one fails, the other is close behind. 4-6 labor hours with subframe drop.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Metallic rattling sound at idle when engine is hot, Rattle disappears above 1,500 RPM, No performance loss or codes, More pronounced in cold weather
Fix: Wastegate actuator arm develops play in the linkage bushing—a known nuisance on EA855 engines but doesn't affect boost control. Audi has updated actuators available. Replace both turbos' actuators while you're in there. 8-10 labor hours for turbo removal and reinstall.
Estimated cost: $2,500-3,500
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle when warm, Hesitation or stumble during light acceleration, Reduced fuel economy, Misfires under load (codes P0300-P0306)
Fix: Direct injection means no fuel washing over valves—carbon accumulates. Walnut blast cleaning required, intake manifold removal. Do both banks at once. 6-8 labor hours. Not catastrophic but degrades drivability over time.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
48V Battery System Faults
Rare · medium severity
Symptoms: Check engine light with codes for hybrid system, Start-stop system disabled, Reduced power mode activated, Battery warning light on cluster
Fix: 48V mild-hybrid battery or DC-DC converter can fail, putting car in limp mode. Audi issued recall for battery software updates but hardware failures still occur. Battery replacement requires 3-4 labor hours, converter is 5-6 hours with cooling system drain.
Estimated cost: $2,000-4,500
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously—early piston ring issues show up as consumption first, catch it before cylinder scoring begins
Walnut blast intake valves every 50,000 miles as preventive maintenance—cheaper than chasing misfires later
Avoid aggressive launches until transmission is fully warmed—differential mounts last longer with heat in the fluid
Use only Audi-spec 5W-30 oil (VW 504/507)—these engines are picky about oil film strength under boost
Get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on oil consumption test and compression check—walk away if consumption exceeds 1 qt per 1,500 miles
A thrilling driver's car when healthy, but the piston ring roulette makes sub-60k-mile examples with full service history the only safe bet—budget $2,000/year for 'character-building' repairs after warranty expires.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · 20V760000
2020-12-09
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Coupe vehicles. An incorrect positive battery terminal cover was installed.
Consequence: In the event of a rear crash, the incorrect cover can cause the 12-volt power supply to be compromised, preventing the vehicle doors from being opened from the outside, or the hazard warning lights from functioning, increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive terminal cover, free of charge. The recall began January 19, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 27i6.
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