Audi Q5 Air Suspension Failure Symptoms and Fixes

I faced a similar problem with my 2006 Audi Q7 last year. Having some experience with air suspension systems, I recognized the symptoms immediately, but still needed professional help. The air spring was indeed the culprit, specifically a faulty valve that was causing air leaks in the pneumatic suspension. The symptoms matched yours exactly, uneven ride height, error messages, and that characteristic lean to one side. My repair involved: Complete diagnosis of the suspension system, Replacement of the defective air spring valve, System pressure test, Recalibration of the suspension sensors Total cost came to 590 Euro, including parts and labor. The repair took about 4 hours. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, could you provide: Current mileage on your Q5, How long has the issue been present, Any unusual noises when driving, Whether the problem is worse in cold weather, If you notice the vehicle height changing after being parked overnight This information would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced with my Q7 or if there might be additional factors to consider in the shock absorber system.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Q5 has 15659 KM and had its last service 3 months ago. The air suspension started acting up about 2 weeks ago. There is a faint hissing sound when parked, especially near the left rear wheel. The ride height does drop significantly overnight, and the suspension system seems to struggle more during cold mornings. No unusual noises while driving, just the extremely bumpy ride. The symptoms you described with your Q7 sound identical to what I am experiencing. A 590 Euro repair would actually be more reasonable than I expected. Did you notice any early warning signs before the complete failure? Wondering if I should drive it to the shop or have it towed to prevent further damage to the pneumatic suspension components.

Your situation sounds nearly identical to what I experienced with my Q7. That hissing noise near the left rear wheel is a telltale sign of an air leak, likely from a failing bellows valve, exactly what happened in my case. The overnight drop in ride height combined with cold weather struggles strongly suggests air loss through the faulty valve. While my repair cost was 590 Euro, prices can vary based on the specific components needed. The good news is you caught it relatively early at just 2 weeks of symptoms. I did ignore some early warning signs: Occasional suspension error messages that would clear themselves, Slight leaning after sitting for several hours, Inconsistent ride height adjustment Given the active air leak you described, I would strongly recommend against driving it further. I made that mistake and ended up causing additional wear to the shock absorber and other suspension components. Having it towed is the safest option to prevent potentially more expensive damage to the pneumatic suspension system. When you take it in, make sure they perform a complete pressure test of the entire system. Sometimes a faulty valve can mask other developing issues in the air suspension.

Appreciate the detailed response about the Q7 suspension repair. Your advice about towing makes sense, I definitely don't want to risk causing more damage to other suspension components. The hissing sound has actually gotten slightly louder over the past few days, so I will arrange for a tow truck tomorrow. The early warning signs you mentioned are interesting, looking back, I did notice the car would sometimes sit slightly uneven after being parked at work all day, but I didn't think much of it at the time. At least the air suspension issue was caught before it led to complete suspension failure. 590 Euro for the repair does sound reasonable. The air leak symptoms match exactly what you experienced, so I'm hopeful it will be a straightforward fix of the bellows valve. I will make sure to request a full pressure test of the suspension system when I take it in, just to rule out any other potential issues. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it has been really helpful in understanding what I'm dealing with. I will update once I get the final diagnosis from the shop.