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2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 A5 Cabriolet.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet is a passenger car from the 2010-2021 model run, powered by an engine requiring 4.8–5.0 liters of 5W-40 oil and paired with an Automatic (AM-S7) transmission to deliver EPA ratings of 24/34/27 mpg. Reliability data for the year is notably quiet, with zero recalls and only six total owner complaints, with the electrical system standing out as the top complaint area. Against the broader generation—where owner complaints peaked at 50 in 2010 and reached their lowest at seven in 2021—the 2018 tally falls below even that minimum, positioning it among the least complained-about years in the span.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8-5.0OEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-40OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy24/34/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 06M115441G. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP245/40R18H, P245/40R18Y, P255/35R19, P265/30R20OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06M115441G alt 06M198405F
Engine air filter	8K0133843
Spark plug	06M905606F
Battery	000915089AD alt 000915089BD
Front wiper blades	8W1998002 alt 8W7998002
Thermostat	06M121688 alt 06M121115N
Cabin air filter	8K0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	183.9 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	108.7 in
Curb weight	3990 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	24 / 34 / 27 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8-5.0 of 5W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Use Audi/VW part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	3.8-4.2
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Clutch Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	Use Audi coolant part number G13TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity	10.5
Engine Oil	5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4.8-5.0

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	14.75 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-3-6-2-5
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Audi
Spark Plug Torque	22 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Audi
Spark Plug Torque	22 ft-lbs

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	116.0 psi
Residual Pressure	43.5 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	116.0 psi
Residual Pressure	43.5 psi
Engine Compression	159-203 psi @ RPM / Maximum Variation 44 psi
Engine Compression	159-203 psi @ RPM / Maximum Variation 44 psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°

148 ft. lbs

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°

148 ft. lbs

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

1	72.0 inch lbs.	72 in
2	90 degrees; Diesel engines: NS	90 degrees

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

1	33.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees; Diesel engines	33 ft. lbs
1	22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90	22 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

1	36.0 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees; Diesel engines	90 degrees
1	25.0 ft. lbs.	25 ft. lbs
2	90

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

110 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees. Replace.

15 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts. · Long head bolts

1	Tighten all bolts finger tight.
2	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
3	44.3 ft. lbs.	44.3 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees; Short head bolts (located in rear of head)	90 degrees
1	6.0 ft. lbs.	6 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44.0 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	90

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	44.0 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	90

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	1.4 ft. lbs.	1.4 ft. lbs
2	6 ft. lbs.	6 ft. lbs
3	Turn 45

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Lower: Step 1: 3.6 ft. lbs.

2	6.6 ft. lbs.; Upper: Step 1: 6.6 ft. lbs.	6.6 ft. lbs
2	6.6 ft. lbs.	6.6 ft. lbs
3	6.6

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Gas engines · Cap bolts: Step 1: 48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees, Side bolts: Step 1: 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees · Diesel engines

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

1	33.0 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees; Diesel engines	90 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	36.0 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
3	180

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Convertible Top Latch (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Within the provided federal record, the 2018 model year presents a favorable profile with 0 complaints and 1 recall, significantly lower than the 2010-2012 range of 14 to 50 complaints. This reliability trend holds when compared to the 2021 model, which exhibits higher volatility with 7 complaints and 5 recalls. While the aggregate trend lists zero complaints, specific target year data identifies Electrical System and Engine categories among top areas, though crash and fire complaints remain at zero. The 2018 model also benefits from a reduced Technical Service Bulletin count of 786, compared to 994 to 1101 for the 2010-2012 years. This combination of low recall activity and reduced service bulletins suggests a matured platform with fewer systemic issues. Consequently, the 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet represents a good year to buy given its lower risk profile in this federal dataset.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

305

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’10 ’11 ’12’18’21

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Electrical System2

Engine2

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V547000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 24/07/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4… Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…

18V836000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/11/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 305 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_2074640_3	2026-06-26	Engine	This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_3	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_7	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082323_1	2026-06-10	Engine	This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
TSB_2052680_6	2026-06-04	Unknown Or Other	This Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A5 Cabriolet. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.8-5.0 Engine oil filter 06M115441G Engine air filter 8K0133843 Spark plug 06M905606F Battery 000915089AD

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 A5 Cabriolet take?

4.8-5.0 of 5W-40 Meeting Audi/VW specification 502 00 or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 A5 Cabriolet have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the A5 Cabriolet get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined mpg.