Audi›S5›2021›Overview/audi/s5/2021/base/

2021 Audi S5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 S5.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2021 Audi S5, a performance-oriented model that uses a 7.7‑quart oil capacity with 0W‑20 viscosity and is paired with an automatic S8 transmission, achieves EPA‑rated fuel economy of 20 city, 28 highway and 23 combined miles per gallon. Despite five recorded recalls, it logged only a single owner complaint, the lowest figure in a complaint history that peaked at 26 complaints in 2018. This minimal complaint count signals a mature reliability stage for the model, positioning the 2021 S5 as a comparatively stable entry in its lineage.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage. battery, 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.

Battery groupBCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage.OEM · verified

Tire size245/40R18/XL 97HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06M115441G alt 06M198405F
Engine air filter	8W0133843
Spark plug	06M905606F
Battery	000915089BF alt 000915089BD
Front wiper blades	8W1998002 alt 8W7998002
Thermostat	06M121688 alt 06M121678H
Cabin air filter	4M0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	185.8 in
Overall width	73.2 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	109.1 in
Curb weight	3990 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 28 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the S5 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.9–4.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.90 sec — 2025 Prestige Quattro Sedan-Liftback (edition one)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2018	Prestige Quattro Coupe (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.30 sec	12.90 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Sportback (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.30 sec	12.90 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Sportback (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.30 sec	13.00 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Sportback (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.50 sec	13.10 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Sportback (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.60 sec	13.10 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Cabriolet (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.80 sec	13.50 sec	354 hp	AWD
2025	Prestige Quattro Sedan-Liftback (edition one) 3.0L Turbo V6	3.90 sec	12.50 sec	349 hp	AWD
2025	Prestige Quattro Sedan-Liftback (edition one) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.40 sec	12.90 sec	349 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Clutch Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	Audi Coolant G13-TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity	10.5 qt
Engine Oil	0W-20 · Synthetic
Engine Oil Capacity	7.7 qt

Engine torques

Cylinder Head Instructions

Only use new bolts.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-4-3-6-2-5

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity	1.12-1.18 lbs
Oil Capacity	3.50-4.10 oz

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	116.0 psi
Residual Pressure	43.45 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 1LA
ABS Sensor Torque	6.4
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.079" in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: 1LA; Rear: 1KD

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

Completely install all bolts by hand. Step 2

22 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0

11 ft. lbs

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 Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Convertible Top Latch (lubricate) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
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.

Federal data positions the 2021 model year at a distinct inflection point: owner complaints plummeted to just one—down from 25 the prior year and 26 in 2018—while recalls reached their generational peak at five and technical service bulletins hit a maximum of 965. This pattern suggests the 2021 model followed a turbulent 2018-2020 period that saw elevated complaint volumes (25-26 annually) and multiple recalls, with 2021 representing a year of heightened manufacturer corrective action rather than emerging defects. Notably, the single reported complaint involved suspension, with zero crash or fire incidents recorded, though the data does not specify whether the five recalls addressed issues underlying the earlier complaint spikes. Compared to subsequent years showing three complaints (2023) and nine (2025), 2021 demonstrates the lowest owner-reported friction in the dataset despite carrying the highest recall count. This makes the 2021 S5 a compelling candidate for a used purchase, provided buyers verify all five recalls have been completed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

965

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’08 ’10 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20’21’23 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V606000Seat Belts:Rear/Other:RetractorReported 05/08/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback… 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…

22V034000TiresReported 26/01/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 965 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_2076404_8	2026-06-29	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin provides a deployment overview for customer service packages MLB and MQB…
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_2065960_6	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides information when the display of the Audi virtual cockpit is…

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 S5. 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.

Group R battery Vehicles taking 7.7 qt Engine oil filter 06M115441G Engine air filter 8W0133843 Spark plug 06M905606F Battery 000915089BF

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 2021 S5 take?

7.7 qt of 0W-20 Synthetic, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 S5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the S5 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.