2013 Audi Q5 (8R) · Known Issue
2013 Audi Q5 Timing Chain Tensioner Failure (2.0T): What It Really Costs to Fix
Quick answer: 2013 Audi Q5 timing chain tensioner failure (2.0t) typically costs $1,100 to $5,500 at an independent shop, depending on which component failed.
Applies to: 2.0L turbo gas only. Other versions of the 2013 Audi Q5 do not have this problem.
What the Issue Is
The Q5's 2.0T is an EA888, so it carries the same timing chain tensioner weakness as its VW and A4 relatives: the tensioner can let the chain go slack, rattle on a cold start and, at worst, jump a tooth, and on this interference engine that means bent valves. On the Q5 the chain drive sits at the crank-pulley end of the engine, behind the lower timing cover, and because the engine is mounted lengthwise that end faces the radiator. Getting to it means putting the front of the car in its service position, with the bumper and lock carrier removed, which is why the job costs more here than on a GTI.
Two settlements cover the Q5. VW's 2018 settlement (D.N.J. 16-cv-2765) listed 2011 and 2012 Q5s, and its coverage for them has run out. Opheim v. VWGoA (D.N.J. 2:20-cv-02483), known as Timing Chain II, put certain 2012 to 2015 A4, A5 and Q5 models with the second-generation EA888 in a settlement class; VWGoA denied the claims. That settlement stretches the new-vehicle warranty on the timing chain and tensioner to 10 years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date, effective May 13, 2024, and its claims for past repairs closed on August 31, 2024. Ten years from first sale has passed for nearly every 2012 to 2015 Q5 by late 2026, so check the in-service date before counting on it.
On a used Q5 the proof is paperwork: an invoice for the updated tensioner, or an Audi dealer's warranty history showing the work. Without it, assume the original part and price the job in, because a cold-start rattle that turns into a jumped chain costs several times more than prevention.
Symptoms to Watch For
- 1.Metallic rattle at cold start from the front of the engine, the crank-pulley end
- 2.Start-up rattle that lasts longer over the following weeks
- 3.Cam/crank correlation codes (P0016 family)
- 4.Rough running or misfires right after a rattle event
- 5.Cranks but will not start, with low compression after a jumped chain
Real Repair Costs
Independent-shop estimates. The front of the car comes apart for access, so labor runs above the transverse VW version of this job, which RepairPal puts at about $1,150 to $1,492 on a GTI. Settlement coverage has run out for nearly every Q5 in either class.
| Repair | Typical Cost (installed) |
|---|---|
| Updated tensioner, preventive installfront end in service position | $1,100-$2,000 |
| Tensioner with chain and guides | $1,600-$2,800 |
| Cylinder head and valve repair after a jumped chain | $3,500-$5,500 |
Major issue: budget for it. Ranges are US independent-shop estimates with quality parts. Use them as negotiation grounding, not a quote.
Mechanic's Tip: Spot It Before You Buy
Arrange to hear the Q5 start cold, with the hood already open and your hand on it first to confirm the engine has sat. Stand at the front of the engine bay, near the radiator, since that is where the chain drive lives on this engine; a metallic rattle for the first second or two is the tensioner's warning. Then ask for paper: an invoice for the updated tensioner, or an Audi dealer's printout of the VIN's warranty work, including any Timing Chain II repair. Have the inspection scan for P0016-family codes, and on an unproven car take $1,100 to $2,000 off for the preventive job.
The Bigger Ownership Picture
Beyond this specific issue, budget roughly $2,300-$3,500 per year for scheduled maintenance and likely out-of-warranty repairs on a 2013 Audi Q5. That is a typical US range from Avturo's ownership-cost table, an estimate rather than a quote, and it excludes insurance, fuel, and financing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Audi Q5 have the timing chain tensioner problem?▼
The 2.0T does. VW's 2018 settlement listed 2011 and 2012 Q5s, and the Timing Chain II settlement (Opheim v. VWGoA) put certain 2012 to 2015 Q5s with the second-generation EA888 in its class, though VWGoA denied the claims. Only the 2.0T is involved; for any one car, the question is whether the tensioner has been updated.
Is the Audi timing chain settlement still covering repairs?▼
Mostly not. Timing Chain II stretched the new-vehicle warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date, effective May 13, 2024, and its claims for past repairs closed on August 31, 2024. By late 2026 nearly every 2012 to 2015 Q5 is past ten years, so check the in-service date with an Audi dealer. Coverage from the 2018 settlement has run out.
Where is the timing chain on a Q5 2.0T?▼
At the front of the engine, the crank-pulley end, behind the lower timing cover. Because the engine sits lengthwise, that end faces the radiator, so the job starts with the bumper and lock carrier coming off. It also means a cold-start rattle is heard best standing at the front of the open engine bay.
What does the tensioner job cost on a Q5?▼
About $1,100 to $2,000 at an independent shop for the updated tensioner, $1,600 to $2,800 with chain and guides, and $3,500 to $5,500 for head and valve work if the chain has already jumped. The front-end teardown is why it costs more than the same job on a transverse VW, which RepairPal puts at about $1,150 to $1,492.
Sources
The facts on this page were last checked against these documents on October 10, 2026. Programs and their coverage end; check the car's VIN with a dealer for what still applies.
- Court or settlement record: Kessler Topaz: Volkswagen Timing Chain I settlement and its US class vehicles (ktmc.com)
- Court or settlement record: Timing Chain II settlement FAQs (Opheim v. VWGoA, D.N.J. 2:20-cv-02483) (timingchain-settlement.com)
- Court or settlement record: ClaimDepot: Audi and Volkswagen timing chain defects settlement summary (claimdepot.com)
- Reference: ECS Tuning: timing cover parts for the B8-platform 2.0T, at the front of the engine (ecstuning.com)
- Repair cost estimate: RepairPal: Volkswagen GTI timing chain tensioner replacement cost estimate (repairpal.com)
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What a 2013 Audi Q5 is asking right now
- 80,000 miles and up: most listings ask $8,544 to $10,495, middle $9,598, from 3 listings checked October 7, 2026.
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