The 2021 RS5 with the EA855 2.9L twin-turbo V6 is a high-strung performance machine that's generally solid when maintained, but catastrophic engine failures from oil dilution and bearing wear hit early adopters hard. Transmission cooling and mount issues are frequent annoyances, while carbon buildup is a long-term maintenance reality.
Catastrophic Engine Failure – Oil Dilution and Bearing Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 15,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic ticking or knocking from engine bay, especially cold starts, High oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Fuel smell in oil on dipstick, Check engine light with misfire codes or low oil pressure warnings
Fix: EA855 engines suffer from direct-injection fuel washing past rings into crankcase, diluting oil and starving bearings. Some cases require full long-block replacement. Audi extended warranty coverage on some VINs, but aftermarket fixes involve piston/ring replacement and ECU tuning to prevent rewash. Expect 40-60 hours labor for full rebuild with machine work.
Estimated cost: $15,000-25,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under car near front-left or front-right area, Burnt smell or slipping shifts under hard acceleration, Low trans fluid warning on dash (if equipped)
Fix: ZF 8HP cooler lines and cooler itself develop leaks at crimp points and seals. Access requires removing undertray and sometimes bumper support. OE cooler replacement is 4-6 hours. Aftermarket upgraded coolers exist but most just replace OE unit.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive driveline vibration at idle or under hard launch, Visible tearing or separation in rubber mount bushings
Fix: RS5 torque overwhelms factory mount, especially with aggressive launches or tuning. Replacement is straightforward, 1.5-2 hours on lift. Upgraded polyurethane mounts last longer but increase NVH.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle, especially when cold, Hesitation or stumble during light throttle acceleration, Misfires under load (P0300-range codes), Reduced power and fuel economy
Fix: Direct-injection engines have no fuel wash over valves. Carbon accumulates until airflow is choked. Walnut blasting through intake manifold is standard fix, 4-6 hours including manifold removal and throttle body adaptation. Catch can installation helps prevention.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Pressure Side)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Long crank or no-start condition, especially after sitting, Loss of power under WOT or high boost, P0087 fuel pressure too low code, Rough running that improves after tank refill
Fix: High-pressure in-tank filter clogs from ethanol fuels and contaminants. Requires dropping fuel tank and pump module replacement. Factory interval is vague; many techs recommend proactive replacement at 50k. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Rear Axle Differential Bushing Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear end, Steering wheel off-center or rear-end feels loose in corners, Uneven rear tire wear (inside edge)
Fix: Rear subframe and differential mount bushings fatigue from performance driving. Alignment goes out and handling suffers. Subframe has to be dropped for bushing replacement, 6-8 hours. Some shops press in polyurethane upgrades to avoid repeat failures.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
Owner tips
Check build date and VIN against Audi TSBs for EA855 oil consumption recalls — warranty may cover engine work
Use only factory-spec 0W-40 or 5W-40 and keep intervals at 5,000 mi max; oil dilution accelerates with extended drains
Install catch can by 20k miles to slow carbon buildup and reduce crankcase pressure that pushes seals
Avoid repeated aggressive launches without trans cooler upgrade — ZF 8HP is strong but heat kills it
Budget $1,500/year for maintenance beyond consumables if you drive hard; RS5 rewards preventive care
Buy a 2021+ RS5 only if you can verify clean engine history and budget for expensive what-ifs — when they're healthy they're phenomenal, but early EA855 engines grenaded too often to ignore the risk.
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. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
TIRES · 22V034000
2022-01-26
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.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR · 21V606000
2021-08-05
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS · 20V737000
2020-11-25
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
Consequence: Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge. The recall began January 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EU.
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