Owners have filed 230 complaints
about the 2020 Audi A4 with NHTSA between 2022 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 28 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 88
Against the median year of the Audi A4. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 2
0.4% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Warnings
3649.3%
Rearview System Braking
2128.8%
Warnings
68.2%
Blind Spot Detection
56.8%
Automatic Emergency Braking
22.7%
Manufacturer Telematics
11.4%
Warning
11.4%
Adaptive Cruise Control
11.4%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
125.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
125.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
250.0%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2020 Audi A4 4 DR AWD
9.9% risk
2020 Audi A4 4 DR FWD
9.9% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2022peak 114Aug 2026
Recalls on the 2020 Audi A4
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
22V034000
TIRES
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, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
21V874000
SEATS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
21V295000
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20220224,361 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear wheel alignment was not checked during recall 42L1 (Transport Canada Recall 2021-249). As a result, the steering could pull to one side or another and the tires could wear unevenly. If you continue to drive the vehicle in this condition, there may be reduced traction. Eventually, a tire could fail and lose air pressure. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect and adjust the rear wheel alignment, as necessary. Additionally, the dealer will inspect the rear tires for premature and uneven wear due to this issue, and replace them if necessary.
Recall 202168835,107 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Additional note: For the 2020 model year A5 model, only the A5 Sportback is affected by this recall. Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the front passenger seat. Depending on the seat type, the dealer will either replace the seat heating mat including the connecting cable or the entire seat cover.
Recall 20212495,396 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, the lock nuts for the rear trailing arm bolts may be defective. If a nut breaks, there could be sudden changes in rear wheel alignment. This can cause a loss of vehicle stability. Safety Risk: Reduced vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the rear trailing arm lock nuts. If necessary, the associated bolt(s) will be replaced as well.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 12,000 milesTrabuco Canyon, CACrash
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking space, there was big rock next to the bumper on the front passenger's side of the vehicle and there was a scallop area with stones next to the passenger's side of the vehicle as well. The contact stated that she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the scallop area and the vehicle was stuck between the scallop area and the big rock. There was no further information provided. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustained any injuries and did not seek medical assistance. The contact was able to release the vehicle with the assistance of road side assistance. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light, the low oil warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle for approximately 1 mile; however the warning message "Do Not Drive" illuminated. The contact notified the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the oil pan was fractured and needed to be replaced. The dealer repaired the oil pan and towed the vehicle to the collision shop, where it was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295000 (SUSPENSION), which she associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11456332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
San Antonio, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2020 Audi A4 has an open safety recall campaign. Audi Corporate and my local dealership are formally refusing to perform the recall remedy unless I pay over $2,000 out-of-pocket to replace a broken J949 SOS Telematics Module. The manufacturer claims the module is separate from the recall, but its total failure physically blocks their diagnostic tools from applying the mandatory safety update. Conditioning a federal safety recall on a customer-paid repair violates recall compliance regulations, and has left my automatic emergency crash reporting and vehicle communication systems completely disabled.
NHTSA complaint #11756511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesPort Huron, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message SOS module no longer connected was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle failed to shut off. The contact believed that the failure was a safety issue due to the loss of communication, including the hands-free features, mobile phone connectivity, and the regular safety features failing to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the communication module failure was the same as the SOS module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesPort Huron, MI
COMMUNICATION
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message SOS module no longer connected was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle failed to shut off. The contact believed that the failure was a safety issue due to the loss of communication, including the hands-free features, mobile phone connectivity, and the regular safety features failing to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the communication module failure was the same as the SOS module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesTotowa, NJ
COMMUNICATION:MANUFACTURER TELEMATICS
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that the emergency-call/communication system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under TSB: 91-20-29; however, the software update was unsuccessful due to the module. The dealer informed the contact that the module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure prior to the vehicle being taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11755871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwood, NJ
SEATS
A metal bracket on the back left side of the driver seat snapped suddenly while driving straight and at a constant speed. Since this part is broken the seat is no longer connected to the track in that corner. The car is drivable for me because I am tall and sit with the seat at its lowest height setting. When turning or breaking quickly the seat moves, and it would obviously be a safety issue if I get into an accident. If the seat is adjusted higher it is not supported in that corner and it leans back. Yesterday I dropped it off at the dealer service center and they said it is the seat frame. I have not heard back from them yet. I am the first owner of this car, and it has not been in any serious accidents (I hit a deer once roughly 2 years ago). I am not unusually heavy.
NHTSA complaint #11733679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Rosa, CA
WHEELS
Since I purchase my vehicle I have had to continuously replace my tires on the front. Going through my carfax acct I came across some recalls that showed up that I had no idea of the car may had which was prior to purchase from the dealers. I would think that these issues were fixed prior to reselling. I recently had to pull over on the freeway due to the tire making noises then realized that the tire wear was uneven again but this time shredded apart. I could feel metal poking out which the tires hadn’t been on for long. The loss pressure warning light went off. I later found the missing tire that has came off wrapped around the rotor which the tire shop near me hadn’t seen while replacing with new tires again. The wear on the brake pads were off as well as the rotors which I also ended up having to replace just recently. I’ve made an appointment with a dealer which is out of my way to hopefully have this resolved but needed to make a report of this safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11728966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Rosa, CA
SUSPENSION
Since I purchase my vehicle I have had to continuously replace my tires on the front. Going through my carfax acct I came across some recalls that showed up that I had no idea of the car may had which was prior to purchase from the dealers. I would think that these issues were fixed prior to reselling. I recently had to pull over on the freeway due to the tire making noises then realized that the tire wear was uneven again but this time shredded apart. I could feel metal poking out which the tires hadn’t been on for long. The loss pressure warning light went off. I later found the missing tire that has came off wrapped around the rotor which the tire shop near me hadn’t seen while replacing with new tires again. The wear on the brake pads were off as well as the rotors which I also ended up having to replace just recently. I’ve made an appointment with a dealer which is out of my way to hopefully have this resolved but needed to make a report of this safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11728966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Rosa, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
Since I purchase my vehicle I have had to continuously replace my tires on the front. Going through my carfax acct I came across some recalls that showed up that I had no idea of the car may had which was prior to purchase from the dealers. I would think that these issues were fixed prior to reselling. I recently had to pull over on the freeway due to the tire making noises then realized that the tire wear was uneven again but this time shredded apart. I could feel metal poking out which the tires hadn’t been on for long. The loss pressure warning light went off. I later found the missing tire that has came off wrapped around the rotor which the tire shop near me hadn’t seen while replacing with new tires again. The wear on the brake pads were off as well as the rotors which I also ended up having to replace just recently. I’ve made an appointment with a dealer which is out of my way to hopefully have this resolved but needed to make a report of this safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11728966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brea, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MMI module keeps resetting. This causes sudden lost of navigation display and sudden lost of backup camera when reset happens while backing up. Release version: MHI3_US_AUG45S_P3243 Software version: 3243
NHTSA complaint #11679554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mocksville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Many times while driving the Audi MMI system which controls all radio/navigation/controls screen will completely shut off and reboot, leaving the screen blank and functionality gone. When researching online many others have reported the same issue, with Audi unable to provide a definitive cause or a fix for the issue. This is a safety issue as it could cause distraction while driving
NHTSA complaint #11678974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livermore, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Audi MMI system randomly goes dark and reboots during driving - this turns off the rear camera and any GPS system being used to navigate along with the sound system, etc.
NHTSA complaint #11678028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Farmington Hills, MI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2020 Audi A4 infotainment MMI keeps rebooting and takes over a minute or so to load back. This has been happening recently and i have rebooted the system and followed the Audi/reddit forums to seek any help but no resolution. It seems most of the 2020 Audis are facing similar issues. This issue is concerning and needs immediate attention since I have had instances where i lost backup camera while backing. Losing Navigation Capabilities or backup camera feature while backing up or driving has jeopardized me couple of times since i had to fumble and hit brakes as i was almost handicap momentarily. Audi is aware of this issue and have had issued TSB in 2020 which is attached here, but no recall was ever conducted which they should as this now an industry wide problem. Also, i got to know that S they have issued a 2021 MMI recall affecting over 44k Cars but not 2020, which is very surprising. Based on forums and other users it seems the Firmware version 3243 need an overhaul or even MMI module replacement if firmware update doesn't fix the issue. Request the authority to investigate this known issue for 2020 car line with similar intensity as this a widespread safety hazard. MMIs usually incorporate other modules as well so there is risk for ADAS failures or parking aids. Below is link to some on-going issues Audi 2020 users are facing [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11676623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Farmington Hills, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2020 Audi A4 infotainment MMI keeps rebooting and takes over a minute or so to load back. This has been happening recently and i have rebooted the system and followed the Audi/reddit forums to seek any help but no resolution. It seems most of the 2020 Audis are facing similar issues. This issue is concerning and needs immediate attention since I have had instances where i lost backup camera while backing. Losing Navigation Capabilities or backup camera feature while backing up or driving has jeopardized me couple of times since i had to fumble and hit brakes as i was almost handicap momentarily. Audi is aware of this issue and have had issued TSB in 2020 which is attached here, but no recall was ever conducted which they should as this now an industry wide problem. Also, i got to know that S they have issued a 2021 MMI recall affecting over 44k Cars but not 2020, which is very surprising. Based on forums and other users it seems the Firmware version 3243 need an overhaul or even MMI module replacement if firmware update doesn't fix the issue. Request the authority to investigate this known issue for 2020 car line with similar intensity as this a widespread safety hazard. MMIs usually incorporate other modules as well so there is risk for ADAS failures or parking aids. Below is link to some on-going issues Audi 2020 users are facing [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11676623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The entertainment system goes black every 5-10 minutes while driving
NHTSA complaint #11676818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suwanee, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The MMI system, which is the display in the car, keeps rebooting every few minutes. It is extremely distracting while driving. Also during parking or back up the parking assistance and backup camera would suddenly disappear because the system reboots. The rear cross traffic warning stops working during reboot as well.
NHTSA complaint #11676330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Multimedia Infotainment system spontaneously reboots causing loss of cameras andcollision avoidance features and requires the driver to re-enter log-in information such as PIN #'s. This is a known software fault that should likely be elevated to recall status.
NHTSA complaint #11676397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The MMI system crashes and reboots after about 90 seconds. This affects all parking and collision sensors.
NHTSA complaint #11676422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lehi, UT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MMI (infotainment), and the dashboard screen will turn off randomly and reboot every 2 minutes. This is incredibly dangerous as it turns all sound off, and driving visuals like directions, and freezes or reboots, not where you last had it but from a different check point. It has happened while I have been backing up and backup camera has rebooted during backup. Parking Collision has also malfunctioned multiple times - but primary issue is the MMI rebooting even while driving on the freeway.
NHTSA complaint #11676376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The MMI system crashes and reboots after about 90 seconds. This affects all parking and collision sensors.
NHTSA complaint #11676422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suwanee, GA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The MMI system, which is the display in the car, keeps rebooting every few minutes. It is extremely distracting while driving. Also during parking or back up the parking assistance and backup camera would suddenly disappear because the system reboots. The rear cross traffic warning stops working during reboot as well.
NHTSA complaint #11676330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lehi, UT
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
MMI (infotainment), and the dashboard screen will turn off randomly and reboot every 2 minutes. This is incredibly dangerous as it turns all sound off, and driving visuals like directions, and freezes or reboots, not where you last had it but from a different check point. It has happened while I have been backing up and backup camera has rebooted during backup. Parking Collision has also malfunctioned multiple times - but primary issue is the MMI rebooting even while driving on the freeway.
NHTSA complaint #11676376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suwanee, GA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The MMI system, which is the display in the car, keeps rebooting every few minutes. It is extremely distracting while driving. Also during parking or back up the parking assistance and backup camera would suddenly disappear because the system reboots. The rear cross traffic warning stops working during reboot as well.
NHTSA complaint #11676330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The MMI system crashes and reboots after about 90 seconds. This affects all parking and collision sensors.
NHTSA complaint #11676422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Astoria, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MMI Constant Rebooting - Follow up My 2020 Audi A4 Quattro's MMI system constantly reboots (~60 seconds), causing the screen to go black/blank. Component Failed: MIB3 infotainment software. This persistent issue leads to reboots and loss of digital display. System available for inspection. Safety Risk: Significant, recurring hazard. Critical safety features are inoperative for ~1 min during reboots, including: Rearview camera (backing/parking safety) Navigation Communication No manual bypass exists; driver loses vital visual information Problem Confirmation: Consistently reproducible. Dealer proposed costly hardware replacement with no guarantee, contradicting manufacturer guidelines for known software issues. Symptoms: continuous black screen, Audi splash, then re-initialization. Problem worsened over weeks. Manufacturer's Knowledge: Extensive owner research (AudiWorld, Reddit) confirms this as a widespread, documented MIB3 software defect for 2020 Audi A4/A5 models. Audi's own Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) address this: TSB 2069112 (MIB3 improvements) TSB 2067021 (MIB3 malfunctions) These TSBs outline a specific, sequential software update process (e.g., older versions need TSB 2067021 first for TSB 2069112). Other owners successfully resolved rebooting with these updates. This malfunction is analogous to other Audi MIB3 software instabilities, as evidenced by NHTSA Recall Number 22V742 (Audi Campaign Code 91DZ). This recall for 2021-2022 Audi models addresses similar digital display/infotainment failures (e.g., rearview camera loss) via a no-cost software update. This demonstrates Audi's awareness of systemic MIB3 software issues impairing safety. I urge NHTSA to investigate this widespread 2020 Audi A4 issue and compel Audi to issue a recall for a no-cost software update (per TSBs) to all affected owners. More detailed documentation, including dealer records and owner videos, is available upon request as there is limited space to detail here.
NHTSA complaint #11676085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have started experiencing issues with the MMI (infotainment system) system rebooting every few minutes. It was very sporadic at first, but now it is at the point where I frequently don't have time to get into the system before it starts the reboot cycle again. When this happens, the screen will go blank for several seconds. Then a message will show for several seconds saying that the system is loading. The system will then try to guide me through several prompts to try to log back into the car's MMI system. Even if I choose "Guest User" I am shown multiple prompts before I get into the system and can use the functions located in the MMI. This can and does happen while driving, while parked, and while backing up. This reboot sequence makes all of the safety features, including collision avoidance and the backup camera inaccessible during this time. Sometimes, the system reboots before I have time to even back out of my driveway. Frequently, I don't have time to sign in or work through the prompts to get to the working system before it starts rebooting again. This issue started in February, 2025, but it was infrequent then. Over the past month, the issue has been persistent with the system rebooting every 5 minutes or less. This is very distracting while trying to drive and takes the driver's attention away from driving. As stated before, it also makes the safety features of the vehicle inaccessible - such as collision avoidance and backup camera.
NHTSA complaint #11676124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
