IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2017 Audi A5 Mk2 (F5)

The launch year brought a sharper, more efficient A5 built on the MLB Evo platform. Early cars carry a higher risk of water pump leaks and MMI software glitches, though no catastrophic mechanical issues have emerged.

What changed for 2017

  • •Launch with 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI engines
  • •New MLB Evo platform with reduced weight
  • •Virtual Cockpit and updated MMI
  • •Improved aerodynamics and efficiency

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Water pump and thermostat housing leaks
  • !MMI screen freezes and reboots
  • !NOx sensor and AdBlue faults on diesels
4
Known Issues
1
Serious
2
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

DL382 S tronic Gear Selection / Mechatronic Faults

SeriousGearbox & Transmission

Control or clutch faults can interrupt gear selection. Identify the gearbox code first: this entry applies to the longitudinal DL382 family, not every automatic sold under the same model name.

Warning Signs:

Gearbox warning, Delayed engagement or missing gears

What to Inspect:
  • Test drive from cold and again when warm
  • Check gearbox-specific service invoices and obtain a diagnostic report
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Water Pump / Thermostat Housing Leak

ModerateCooling System

Like the B9 A4, the A5 uses plastic cooling components that can seep or fail, causing repeated low-coolant warnings without an obvious puddle.

Est. Repair Cost: £350–£750
Warning Signs:

Low coolant warning, Pink residue at the front of the engine, Sweet smell after shutdown

What to Inspect:
  • Inspect coolant level from cold and look around the pump and housing for staining
  • Check whether the car needs repeated top-ups
  • Look for specialist or dealer invoices rather than generic coolant additions
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

NOx Sensor / AdBlue Faults

ModerateExhaust & Emissions

Diesel SCR hardware can trigger AdBlue countdowns, engine-management lights, and expensive sensor or injector replacement once the car is out of warranty.

Est. Repair Cost: £250–£1,200
Warning Signs:

AdBlue warning or no-start countdown, Engine light with emissions faults, Repeated warnings soon after topping up AdBlue

What to Inspect:
  • Scan the car for stored NOx and SCR faults
  • Ask for evidence of recent sensor, injector, or software work
  • Avoid diesel cars used only for short commutes if the emissions history is patchy
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

MMI / Virtual Cockpit Glitches

MinorElectrics & Electronics

Screen freezes, camera dropouts, and Bluetooth instability are common enough on early cars to be worth a deliberate test during inspection.

Est. Repair Cost: £0–£800
Warning Signs:

Rebooting or blank centre screen, Camera unavailable message, Phone pairing or audio dropping out

What to Inspect:
  • Use navigation, media, phone, and camera functions together
  • Check software update history
  • Verify that the car remembers paired devices and does not reboot during the drive
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Buying Tips for 2017 Audi A5 Mk2 (F5)

  • ✓Check water-pump and thermostat-housing replacement history
  • ✓Test the MMI, Virtual Cockpit, and reversing camera thoroughly
  • ✓Diesel buyers should verify AdBlue and NOx-sensor history
20162018–2020
Check a 2017 Audi A5 Mk2 (F5) by Registration