The 2022 Audi A5 with the 2.0T EA888 Gen3 engine is relatively new but shares DNA with a platform known for specific weaknesses—early oil consumption issues have mostly been resolved by this generation, but transmission cooling, PCV system failures, and timing system wear remain concerns as mileage accumulates.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or harsh shifting, Limp mode activation, Coolant or ATF leaks at cooler lines, Transmission overheating warnings on dash
Fix: Replace oil cooler assembly and lines, flush transmission fluid. Requires dropping subframe for access on some variants. 4-6 hours labor depending on drivetrain configuration.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
PCV Valve and Breather System Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and misfires, Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or more), Whistling or hissing from engine bay, Oil leaks at valve cover or intake manifold, Check engine light with lean/rich codes
Fix: Replace PCV valve integrated into valve cover, breather hoses, and intake manifold cleaning. Valve cover is one-piece assembly. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Timing Chain Tensioner and Guide Wear
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-3 seconds, Metallic rattling from front of engine under acceleration, Check engine light with camshaft correlation codes, Loss of power or rough running
Fix: Replace timing chain, tensioner, upper and lower guides. Engine-out job on many cases due to access constraints. 12-18 hours labor if done properly with subframe drop.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle when cold, Hesitation or stumble during acceleration, Misfires under load, Reduced fuel economy
Fix: Walnut-blast intake manifold and valves. Preventive service, not catastrophic but affects driveability. 4-5 hours labor for proper media blasting.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Engine and Transmission Mounts
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Clunking on acceleration or deceleration, Drivetrain movement visible during throttle blips
Fix: Replace upper engine mount and transmission mount. Upper mount is hydraulic and fails internally. 2-3 hours labor for both.
Estimated cost: $700-1,200
Infotainment MMI Touch Screen Freezing/Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Screen freezes or goes black intermittently, No response to touch inputs, Backup camera not displaying (recall-related), Climate controls unresponsive
Fix: Software update or MMI control unit replacement. Covered under recall for backup camera issues, but general failures may require unit swap. 1-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $200-1,500
Owner tips
Use full-synthetic 0W-20 or 5W-30 (per spec) and change every 5,000-6,000 miles to minimize PCV and timing chain issues
Walnut-blast intake valves every 50,000-60,000 miles as preventive maintenance—direct injection engines always carbon up
Check transmission fluid level and condition at 40,000 miles; factory fill-for-life claims don't hold up in real-world driving
Listen for cold-start rattles after 60,000 miles—early warning sign of timing chain tensioner wear before catastrophic failure
A solid daily driver if maintained properly, but budget for PCV system and carbon cleaning before 80k miles; timing chain and transmission cooler are the real money risks on higher-mileage examples.
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.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required for start-stop system; located under rear cargo floor
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Every control module on the 2017-2026 Audi A5 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Memory seats and massage functions. Calibration required.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 21V825000
2021-10-20
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
Performance
Horsepower
261hp
Torque
273lb-ft
0–60 mph
5.6sec
Quarter mile
14.1sec
Top speed
130mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
24mpg
Highway
31mpg
Combined
27mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
3,825lb
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Wiper blades
2022 A5 Coupe (B9 generation). No rear wiper on coupe body style.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2022 Audi A5 2.0L Turbo I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.