Audi S5 Suspension Warning Points to Faulty Dampers

As someone with some experience working on Audis, I dealt with a very similar suspension issue on my 2016 Audi S4. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, deteriorating ride quality and persistent suspension system warnings. After diagnosis, the problem turned out to be a faulty wiring connection to the electronic damping control unit. The workshop found that moisture had caused corrosion in one of the connectors, leading to intermittent communication failures in the suspension system. The fix was relatively straightforward, they cleaned the connection points and replaced the damaged wiring harness section. Total cost was 95 Euro including diagnostic time. Since the repair, the car handling returned to normal and the warning lights haven't returned. Before jumping to conclusions about failed shock absorbers, which would be much more expensive, I would recommend having the electrical connections checked first. These suspension system issues often stem from electrical problems rather than mechanical suspension failure. Could you share: Current mileage on your S5? When did the warning light first appear? Does the suspension feel particularly hard or soft? Any noticeable difference between comfort and sport modes? This information would help determine if your case matches what I experienced or points to a different underlying issue.

Thanks for the detailed response. My S5 just had its last service 2 months ago at 23670KM. The warning light started appearing right after that service actually. The suspension feels unusually hard in all modes now, and switching between comfort and sport makes no noticeable difference anymore, its just constantly stiff. The ride comfort is especially poor over small bumps, making me think the shock absorbers might have failed despite the low mileage. Will definitely have them check the wiring connections you mentioned before replacing any major components.

Actually, that makes me even more convinced it could be similar to what I experienced with my S4. The timing, right after a service, and the fact that all modes feel the same strongly suggests an electronic control issue rather than shock absorber failure. On my car, when the damping adjustment fault first occurred, the system defaulted to its firmest setting as a safety measure. This explains why yours feels constantly stiff, just like mine did. The inability to switch between modes is another classic symptom of the electronic damping control losing communication. Since it started right after the service, I would specifically ask them to check if any connections were accidentally disturbed during maintenance work. In my case, the workshop admitted they had moved some wiring while accessing other components, which may have aggravated an existing weak connection. The vehicle suspension behavior you describe, especially the poor reaction to small bumps, matches exactly how my car handled before the repair. Once they fixed the wiring issue, the adaptive suspension started working properly again, allowing proper damping adjustment across all modes. For reference, my repair cost was 95 Euro, but prices may vary. Still much better than replacing shock absorbers unnecessarily.

Thanks for the input. I just got back from the workshop and wanted to close this thread with the outcome. After checking the wiring connections as suggested, they found that a connector near the rear right shock absorber had indeed been dislodged during the last service. The suspension tuning is now working perfectly again after they properly secured and weatherproofed the connection. Total cost was 85 Euro for diagnostic and repair time. The ride comfort has returned to normal and the damping control is responding correctly to mode changes. The car handling feels exactly like it did when new. They also explained that the system defaulted to the firmest setting when it lost connection, which explains the overly stiff ride I was experiencing. Really glad I asked here before authorizing expensive shock absorber replacements.