Owners have filed 102 complaints
about the 2020 Audi A5 with NHTSA between 2021 and 2025.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 13 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 — 100
Against the median year of the Audi A5. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 30
5.9% 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
1446.7%
Rearview System Braking
930.0%
Blind Spot Detection
26.7%
Warning
13.3%
Bluetooth/Wifi
13.3%
Assist
13.3%
Warnings
13.3%
Power Window Devices AND Controls
13.3%
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.
Sep 2021peak 45Oct 2025
Recalls on the 2020 Audi A5
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.
20V737000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
Risk: Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Recall 20205751,409 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: On certain vehicles, a layer of protective tape may not have been installed around a wiring harness in the spare tire area. As a result, the wiring harness could become damaged in a rear crash. If this happens, it may not be possible to open the doors from the outside and/or the hazard lights may not work. Safety Risk: Doors that cannot be opened from the outside could increase the risk of injury after a crash. Hazard lights that do not work could make the vehicle less visible 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 apply protective tape to the wiring harness for the rear lights.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Kent, WACrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS
My brother lost control from the tires being worn unevenly wich caused him to lose traction. The airbags in the car on the passenger side where the steel pole made contact, failed to deploy. The seatbelt was defective because he was seatbelted and the belt broke.
NHTSA complaint #11604631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kent, WACrash1 killed
AIR BAGS
My brother lost control from the tires being worn unevenly wich caused him to lose traction. The airbags in the car on the passenger side where the steel pole made contact, failed to deploy. The seatbelt was defective because he was seatbelted and the belt broke.
NHTSA complaint #11604631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kent, WACrash1 killed
WHEELS
My brother lost control from the tires being worn unevenly wich caused him to lose traction. The airbags in the car on the passenger side where the steel pole made contact, failed to deploy. The seatbelt was defective because he was seatbelted and the belt broke.
NHTSA complaint #11604631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Ocoee, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Audi USA sent me a recall letter/service action for Infotainment System Software. The system reboots and shuts down unexpectedly while driving. Took the car to a local Audi dealership and they informed me that they cannot repair the recall because they now want to change my SOS module in order for both to work. They are asking me to pay them $1,500 for that. Meanwhile they informed me that my SOS system is not working either because of that, and I cannot use.
NHTSA complaint #11694280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indian Harbour Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Multi-Media Interface (MMI) randomly reboots and poses a safety hazard. Several times while reversing using my backup camera, the MMI has rebooted which causes the camera to go blank. This poses a risk to back up into an object or a person during this time. Also during this time, the Rear Cross Traffic Warning system is disabled until the system reboots. Also, while using navigation, the MMI has rebooted on me several times. It has occurred during critical times such as exiting freeways at high speeds. When this occurs it is terribly distracting and could cause an accident. The problem has been re-produced by my dealer. They said it needed a software upgrade and performed that. It worked better for a couple days but is now back to rebooting spontaneously. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating the fault will be occurring. It just reboots and the MMI goes totally blank for about 20 seconds while the system reboots. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when it will reboot. I can drive for 20 minutes and it may happen 4 times and then another time drive for an hour and never have it happen. Lately, it has gotten so bad I drive my son's car if it is available due to the safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11678628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indian Harbour Beach, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The Multi-Media Interface (MMI) randomly reboots and poses a safety hazard. Several times while reversing using my backup camera, the MMI has rebooted which causes the camera to go blank. This poses a risk to back up into an object or a person during this time. Also during this time, the Rear Cross Traffic Warning system is disabled until the system reboots. Also, while using navigation, the MMI has rebooted on me several times. It has occurred during critical times such as exiting freeways at high speeds. When this occurs it is terribly distracting and could cause an accident. The problem has been re-produced by my dealer. They said it needed a software upgrade and performed that. It worked better for a couple days but is now back to rebooting spontaneously. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating the fault will be occurring. It just reboots and the MMI goes totally blank for about 20 seconds while the system reboots. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when it will reboot. I can drive for 20 minutes and it may happen 4 times and then another time drive for an hour and never have it happen. Lately, it has gotten so bad I drive my son's car if it is available due to the safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11678628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indian Harbour Beach, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The Multi-Media Interface (MMI) randomly reboots and poses a safety hazard. Several times while reversing using my backup camera, the MMI has rebooted which causes the camera to go blank. This poses a risk to back up into an object or a person during this time. Also during this time, the Rear Cross Traffic Warning system is disabled until the system reboots. Also, while using navigation, the MMI has rebooted on me several times. It has occurred during critical times such as exiting freeways at high speeds. When this occurs it is terribly distracting and could cause an accident. The problem has been re-produced by my dealer. They said it needed a software upgrade and performed that. It worked better for a couple days but is now back to rebooting spontaneously. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating the fault will be occurring. It just reboots and the MMI goes totally blank for about 20 seconds while the system reboots. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when it will reboot. I can drive for 20 minutes and it may happen 4 times and then another time drive for an hour and never have it happen. Lately, it has gotten so bad I drive my son's car if it is available due to the safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11678628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crestview, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The MMI which controls back up and 360 cameras, parking sensors, collision avoidance system, navigation, bluetooth, radio, etc reboots randomly without warning. There is no predictability and I have not been able to identify a trigger. There is no warning indicator on the dash or MMI before it happens. When it reboots the screen goes black and all associated MMI functions become inoperable for seconds to minutes. It then restarts and often makes me log back in before I am able to use it again. It happens multiple times, sometimes over a dozen in a short drive and often happens just several minutes apart. It has rebooted while I am pulling into my garage, parking, or backing up and actively using the cameras which poses a serious safety issue. It also occurs often when using bluetooth which can be a distraction, pulling my eyes off the road to grab my phone. This seems to be a widespread problem with Audi MMI which has not been addressed and is a safety concern for all models affected. The dealerships know it is happening due to the amount of complaints, but will not update software and want me to pay a diagnostic fee + upgrade + labor.
NHTSA complaint #11678080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clermont, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Hello, I am writing today to inform you about the safety concerns I have over My Audis MMI issues. The MMI is the multi media infotainment which is operates my back up camera, proximity sensors and navigation. The MMI is stuck in a loop and reboots every 60 seconds. I was backing up and the MMI rebooted on me which abruptly stop streaming what was behind me, my neighbor was also backing up and thankfully I spotted them on my rear view mirror and stop in time before we collided.
NHTSA complaint #11677655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clermont, FL
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Hello, I am writing today to inform you about the safety concerns I have over My Audis MMI issues. The MMI is the multi media infotainment which is operates my back up camera, proximity sensors and navigation. The MMI is stuck in a loop and reboots every 60 seconds. I was backing up and the MMI rebooted on me which abruptly stop streaming what was behind me, my neighbor was also backing up and thankfully I spotted them on my rear view mirror and stop in time before we collided.
NHTSA complaint #11677655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anthony, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system is reportedly shutting down randomly while the vehicle is in operation. This issue occurs without warning and is intermittent, making it unpredictable. Observed Symptoms/Events: Complete Loss of MMI Functionality: The screen goes black, and all associated functions (navigation, radio, Bluetooth, vehicle settings, climate control interface, rearview camera, etc.) become inoperable. Random Occurrence: The shutdown can happen at any time, regardless of driving conditions (e.g., stationary, low speed, highway speed). There appears to be no consistent trigger. Duration of Outage: The MMI system typically remains off for a period ranging from a few seconds to several minutes before spontaneously restarting. In some cases, the system may not restart until the vehicle is turned off and on again. Impact on Other Systems: While the primary issue is with the MMI, the owner reports concern about potential impacts on critical vehicle functions that utilize the MMI display (e.g., rearview camera when backing up, warning messages displayed on MMI). No Warning Indicators: No specific warning lights or messages appear on the instrument cluster immediately preceding or during the MMI shutdown. Repeatability: The issue is not consistently repeatable on demand, but it has occurred multiple times since its initial manifestation. Potential Safety Risk: The random shutdown of the MMI system poses potential safety concerns due to: Distraction: Unexpected system failure can be distracting to the driver, potentially diverting attention from the road. Loss of Critical Information: The MMI displays crucial information such as navigation directions, rearview camera feed, and certain warning messages. A sudden loss of this information can compromise driver awareness, especially when maneuvering or in complex traffic situations.
NHTSA complaint #11676677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Beginning in mid July 2025, the MMI system (screen in the center of the dashboard) reboots every 1-2 minutes. In addition to the large distraction this causes while driving, the constant rebooting disables the back-up camera, parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alerts, collision avoidance assist, navigation, as well as everything else that is controlled by the Audi MMI system.
NHTSA complaint #11676498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Beginning in mid July 2025, the MMI system (screen in the center of the dashboard) reboots every 1-2 minutes. In addition to the large distraction this causes while driving, the constant rebooting disables the back-up camera, parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alerts, collision avoidance assist, navigation, as well as everything else that is controlled by the Audi MMI system.
NHTSA complaint #11676498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Beginning in mid July 2025, the MMI system (screen in the center of the dashboard) reboots every 1-2 minutes. In addition to the large distraction this causes while driving, the constant rebooting disables the back-up camera, parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alerts, collision avoidance assist, navigation, as well as everything else that is controlled by the Audi MMI system.
NHTSA complaint #11676498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly Hills, MI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The MMI resets every 3-5 minutes. This problem started approximately 9 months ago and has continued to happen more frequently. Navigation, car play and the radio are affected. It is startling when the radio turns on when it was previously turned off. It is not possible to use the navigation system. The concern is that the MMI controls other important functions and it's unclear if they will continue to work. Additionally, a linked phone restarts the Audi ap so using its navigation system (not in car play) is affected. I have to turn Bluetooth off so the car won't recognize the phone. I have reset the MMI multiple times, reentered my email and password and/or PIN. Nothing works even with assistance from Audi software service. The car is virtually undrivable and incredibly disappointing that Audi is doing nothing about solving the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11676251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2020 Audi A5 started randomly rebooting (MMI software) around mid April 2025, It happens I’d say every 5-20 minutes and it repeats all the time. The fact that Audi/VW won't cover the cost to update their buggy software is very frustrating. I have notified Audi USA about the issue and am awaiting a response if they will cover the labor cost @ Prestige Audi in Denver, CO
NHTSA complaint #11675609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, NJ
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The MMI constantly reboots itself. I have had the car to two dealers and despite software updates, the problem continues. As a result of this, while I have been in reverse the cameras will automatically turn off,
NHTSA complaint #11675336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, NJ
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The MMI constantly reboots itself. I have had the car to two dealers and despite software updates, the problem continues. As a result of this, while I have been in reverse the cameras will automatically turn off,
NHTSA complaint #11675336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chula Vista, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The computer of the car (the MMI) is constantly rebooting. Once I turn on the vehicle it’ll start up normally and after about 1 minute or two it’ll go black and everything will restart.
NHTSA complaint #11674684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux City, IA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MMI constantly shuts off, often in the process of moving into or out of a parking spot. This suddenly and unexpectedly disables the parking collision warning system, the rear cross traffic warning system, and frontal collision warnings. Very frustrating and unsafe. No solution currently exists. No symptoms prior to this happening; it is widely reported at online forums. No users have been able to have this corrected even at the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11674776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyvale, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
About 3 weeks ago, the MMI screen began restarting over and over again and at times would reset when backing up and using the rear view camera. I have attempted restarting the MMI multiple times to no fix. I have also reset the MMI to its original settings and still the system keeps restarting. Sadly, this seems to be an issue occurring to multiple 2020 models according to multiple complaints online. Audi seems to be aware of the issue and there is a mixed response from Audi dealers on a fix. Some seem to suggest expensive options while others “fix” the issue only for it to continue to happen.
NHTSA complaint #11674797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux City, IA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
MMI constantly shuts off, often in the process of moving into or out of a parking spot. This suddenly and unexpectedly disables the parking collision warning system, the rear cross traffic warning system, and frontal collision warnings. Very frustrating and unsafe. No solution currently exists. No symptoms prior to this happening; it is widely reported at online forums. No users have been able to have this corrected even at the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11674776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux City, IA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
MMI constantly shuts off, often in the process of moving into or out of a parking spot. This suddenly and unexpectedly disables the parking collision warning system, the rear cross traffic warning system, and frontal collision warnings. Very frustrating and unsafe. No solution currently exists. No symptoms prior to this happening; it is widely reported at online forums. No users have been able to have this corrected even at the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11674776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abita Springs, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) keeps restarting every 1 to 2 minutes everyday while driving the carThe MMI runs my navigation (not through my phone) and music by connecting to my phone with Bluetooth. It also shows me my backup camera and diagnostics with the car. Safety is affected by distractions, not knowing where to go, irritation. No dealership has inspected or been able to reproduce the issue. No other issues came before the MMI began restarting.
NHTSA complaint #11674472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pocasset, MA, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The MMI system in the car constantly reboots and does not work for more than 30 seconds
NHTSA complaint #11674570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeland, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The MMI system keeps rebooting. Once when I was backing up, the screen started resetting compromising the backup camera display and any cross traffic warning that may of been there.
NHTSA complaint #11674649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buffalo, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle's MMI and screen shuts off and on randomly even if the car system is off. Cannot use backup camera, or steering wheel controls while driving due to the system shutting down. Yes. Audi of Springfield MO Yes. Audi of Springfield MO No. Happened after the dealership did an update on the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11674562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pocasset, MA, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The MMI system in the car constantly reboots and does not work for more than 30 seconds
NHTSA complaint #11674570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.