NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Audi S5 Safety Record
The 2021 Audi S5 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 5 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Audi S5 has not been subjected to federal crash testing, leaving it without a Safety Index score or star ratings. This absence of data means the vehicle cannot be assessed against tested models for crash safety. While the lack of testing provides no direct indication of safety, the record does reflect a light recall and complaint burden for this model year. Owners have filed a single unverified complaint, and five recall campaigns address components including the rear suspension, seat belts, tires, tail lights, and backup camera display function.
The 2021 Audi S5 was not crash-tested by NHTSA and carries five recall campaigns with a Light recall and complaint burden band, according to NHTSA federal safety data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Light |
| Recalls on file | 5 |
| Owner complaints | 1 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Audi S5?
The 2021 Audi S5 exhibits a recall profile notable for its breadth, with five distinct campaigns addressing critical safety systems. These include the integrity of occupant restraints, citing issues with seat-belt retractors. Visibility is a recurring concern, implicated in both a backup-camera display recall and a separate campaign for tail lights. Chassis integrity is called into question by a recall pertaining to the rear suspension. An additional recall for tires further underscores the multi-faceted nature of the safety concerns. The vehicle's complaint record is minimal, with only one unverified suspension complaint. While categorized in the Light burden band for its combined recall and complaint volume, this classification reflects volume alone and not crash-worthiness. There are no adjacent crash-test records from sibling years within the dataset to provide structural context for this model.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Audi S5 have any recalls?
The five recall campaigns for the 2021 Audi S5 address: a backup-camera display function that may fail, a tire concern spanning 2019-2021 A5 and S5 family vehicles, a rear seat-belt retractor defect shared across a broad Volkswagen Group lineup, a rear suspension axle assembly issue, and a tail-light failure on S5 Sportback and A5 Sportback models. NHTSA has not issued a park-outside or do-not-drive directive specific to this model year in the data provided, but shoppers should verify current remedy status for each campaign at nhtsa.gov.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION22V742000
Risk: 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.
Reported 2022-10-05
TIRES22V034000
Risk: 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.
Reported 2022-01-26
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR21V606000
Risk: 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).
Reported 2021-08-05
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY21V295000
Risk: 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.
Reported 2021-04-26
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS20V737000
Risk: 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.
Reported 2020-11-25
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Audi S5?
The 2021 Audi S5 has one owner complaint on file with NHTSA. That single unverified allegation names the suspension as the affected component. No crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths are reported in connection with this complaint. All complaint data represents unverified consumer allegations and has not been confirmed by NHTSA investigation.
1 owner complaint on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Audi S5?
The 2021 Audi S5 carries five open recalls, an important consideration for any prospective owner. These campaigns address various safety issues and, while remedies are performed at no cost, it is crucial to verify the service history of any individual unit via the free NHTSA recall lookup tool at nhtsa.gov. This step ensures that all necessary repairs have been completed.
- NHTSA did not crash-test the 2021 Audi S5, so no frontal, side, or rollover star ratings exist for this model year and none should be inferred.
- Five recall campaigns are on record for the 2021 S5, covering rear suspension, seat-belt retractors, tires, tail lights, and backup-camera display function, each of which addresses a distinct safety-critical system.
- Only one owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for this model year, an unverified allegation involving the suspension, with no associated crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
- Shoppers should use the NHTSA VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov to determine whether any of the five recalls remain open and unresolved on a specific 2021 S5 unit before purchase.
FAQ2021 Audi S5 safety questions
Was the 2021 Audi S5 crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 5 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Audi S5 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 5 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Audi S5. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Audi S5?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 1 owner complaint is on file for the 2021 Audi S5. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Audi S5 2021.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.