S5 Air Suspension Failure Causes Severe Vehicle Lean

Had the exact same issue on my 2013 Audi S4. The symptoms matched perfectly, uneven ride height, suspension warning lights, and headlight misalignment issues. The main problem was air leaks in the suspension components, specifically around the air struts. After inspection, the malfunction was traced to corroded electrical connectors at the suspension pump. The pump itself was fine, but moisture had damaged the wiring harness connecting to it. The suspension system was unable to maintain proper pressure due to these faulty connections. This turned out to be a serious issue requiring complete replacement of the wiring harness and seals around the suspension components. The repair process involved testing all air lines, replacing damaged connectors, and recalibrating the system. The suspension pump malfunction symptoms can be misleading, while it may seem like a pump failure, often the underlying cause is electrical. Would strongly recommend getting this checked soon, as continuing to drive with compromised air suspension can damage other components. Worth noting that once fixed, no recurring issues appeared in the following years. Just ensure all suspension components are thoroughly inspected when getting the repair done.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My compressor failure happened last month and the symptoms matched yours perfectly. The load leveling system completely stopped working and my S5 was stuck at its lowest ride height setting. Good to hear yours was fixed without major issues. Did you remember roughly how much the repair cost? Also curious if you had any other air strut problems since the fix? My mechanic mentioned potential issues with the air suspension lines down the road, so trying to budget for future maintenance.

Thanks for asking about the follow-up experience. After seeing the mechanic, the air suspension compressor failure turned out to be much simpler than expected. The malfunction was traced to a faulty cable connection near the compressor unit, which cost 95 Euro to repair. Since fixing that connection issue, the air suspension system has worked flawlessly. The load leveling function and ride height adjustment are back to normal, with no signs of air strut problems or pressure loss. Your mechanic is right to mention checking the air suspension lines periodically, it is good preventive maintenance. However, in my case, proper repair of the electrical connection resolved the compressor issues completely. The key was catching the problem early before it could affect other suspension components. Regular system checks have helped avoid any recurring issues with the air struts or compressor operation over the past years.

Thanks for the input. Finally got my S5 back from the shop last week. The air suspension malfunction was indeed caused by damaged wiring, similar to what others mentioned. The mechanic found corroded connectors near the compressor that were preventing proper load leveling operation. Total repair came to 680 Euro including labor. They replaced the wiring harness and several seals around the air struts while the system was apart. The suspension system is working perfectly now, no more warning lights or uneven ride height issues. The shop also pressure tested all the air suspension lines and found them in good condition. They recommended annual inspections to catch any potential issues early. Really glad I got this fixed quickly before it could cause more extensive damage. Best part is the car handles like new again with proper suspension operation restored. The headlight alignment is back to normal too. Definitely worth getting it properly diagnosed and repaired rather than trying quick fixes.