MotorDeets

2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet: 2 recalls, 5 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.

2vehicle recalls
5owner complaints
0mention a crash
20best combined mpg
2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet
Photo: order_242 from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Airbags Vehicle recall #16V078000 · 2016 · 659,493 vehicles

What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 golf, 2007-2010 passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 passat sedan and eos, 2009-2014 cc, 2009-2012 Audi q5, 2010-2012 s5 cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi a5 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to rupture.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are…

Airbags Vehicle recall #18V082000 · 2018 · 162,782 vehicles

What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi a3, 2007-2009 a4 cabriolet and s4 cabriolet, 2008 rs4 cabriolet, 2009-2012 q5, and 2010-2012 Audi a5 cabriolet and s5 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to explode.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Transmission & drivetrain3
Airbags2
Stability control1
Engine1

What owners describe

The 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet has 5 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 11 S5 Cabriolet model years for complaints (3.4× the average S5 Cabriolet year). Complaints peaked in 2018 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 67,750 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (8 complaints, 2 recalls), 2012 (0 complaints, 2 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
3.0 L 6-cylAutomatic (S7)All-Wheel Drive172620Premium

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet manual

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FAQ

Does the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet problems?

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (3), airbags (2), stability control (1).

What gas mileage does the 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet get?

EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S7)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other S5 Cabriolet years

20102011201220132017201820192020202120222023