Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2020 Audi A6 Allroad
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
642.9%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
214.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
214.3%
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Fuel & Propulsion
17.1%
Suspension
17.1%
Median failure at 9,027 miles
Body & Structure
17.1%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2020 Audi A6 allroad SW AWD
8.9% 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.
Feb 2022peak 3Jan 2024
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle has an automatic opening/closure feature for the rear trunk/hatchback door. It's activated by putting one's foot under a sensor under the rear fender. This is fine for opening the door but it also closes the hatchback door with considerable force. The feature can be activated inadvertently e.g. when loading the car (and one's foot is under the rear fender) or when sitting on the edge of the luggage area and changing shoes. Both type of events have happened to me. I'm an bald and have had the door close on my head (which broke my scalp's skin) and have had it close when changing shoes many times. If this closed on a small child, I fear that a limb could be broken (or worse). One cannot disable this feature (ideally just to prevent it from closing) or just to simply disable it completely. I have taken the car to Audi dealerships to have the feature disabled on several occasions - but they are unable to do so. It is a safety hazard in my professional opinion - I'm a physician but not an engineer.
NHTSA complaint #11563718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
This vehicle has an automatic opening/closure feature for the rear trunk/hatchback door. It's activated by putting one's foot under a sensor under the rear fender. This is fine for opening the door but it also closes the hatchback door with considerable force. The feature can be activated inadvertently e.g. when loading the car (and one's foot is under the rear fender) or when sitting on the edge of the luggage area and changing shoes. Both type of events have happened to me. I'm an bald and have had the door close on my head (which broke my scalp's skin) and have had it close when changing shoes many times. If this closed on a small child, I fear that a limb could be broken (or worse). One cannot disable this feature (ideally just to prevent it from closing) or just to simply disable it completely. I have taken the car to Audi dealerships to have the feature disabled on several occasions - but they are unable to do so. It is a safety hazard in my professional opinion - I'm a physician but not an engineer.
NHTSA complaint #11563718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle has an automatic opening/closure feature for the rear trunk/hatchback door. It's activated by putting one's foot under a sensor under the rear fender. This is fine for opening the door but it also closes the hatchback door with considerable force. The feature can be activated inadvertently e.g. when loading the car (and one's foot is under the rear fender) or when sitting on the edge of the luggage area and changing shoes. Both type of events have happened to me. I'm an bald and have had the door close on my head (which broke my scalp's skin) and have had it close when changing shoes many times. If this closed on a small child, I fear that a limb could be broken (or worse). One cannot disable this feature (ideally just to prevent it from closing) or just to simply disable it completely. I have taken the car to Audi dealerships to have the feature disabled on several occasions - but they are unable to do so. It is a safety hazard in my professional opinion - I'm a physician but not an engineer.
NHTSA complaint #11563718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
This vehicle has an automatic opening/closure feature for the rear trunk/hatchback door. It's activated by putting one's foot under a sensor under the rear fender. This is fine for opening the door but it also closes the hatchback door with considerable force. The feature can be activated inadvertently e.g. when loading the car (and one's foot is under the rear fender) or when sitting on the edge of the luggage area and changing shoes. Both type of events have happened to me. I'm an bald and have had the door close on my head (which broke my scalp's skin) and have had it close when changing shoes many times. If this closed on a small child, I fear that a limb could be broken (or worse). One cannot disable this feature (ideally just to prevent it from closing) or just to simply disable it completely. I have taken the car to Audi dealerships to have the feature disabled on several occasions - but they are unable to do so. It is a safety hazard in my professional opinion - I'm a physician but not an engineer.
NHTSA complaint #11563718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Basking Ridge, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving I received two messages to contract service first that the “electrical system malfunction” and then a “starting malfunction” which was fallowed by a battery light and a check engine light. I contacted my local dealer they advised I have it towed in immediately. The car was towed in and it’s a “starter generator” and is back ordered with no eta. The car is not drivable and is at the dealer for an unknown amount of time.
NHTSA complaint #11559037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annandale, VA
POWER TRAIN
Dashboard error messages, "Electrical System Malfunction! Please contact service" and "Vehicle Starting System: Malfunction! Please contact service". Dealer replied that it is a starter generator. Unsafe to drive, towed to dealer service. Part has been on order for more than three weeks.
NHTSA complaint #11548864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annandale, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dashboard error messages, "Electrical System Malfunction! Please contact service" and "Vehicle Starting System: Malfunction! Please contact service". Dealer replied that it is a starter generator. Unsafe to drive, towed to dealer service. Part has been on order for more than three weeks.
NHTSA complaint #11548864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Truckee, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I have a 2020 All Road. Received message driving close to my home to contact service due to electrical malfunction and made it to my driveway. This was on a Sunday and no service center was available. Car lost its HVAC and auto stop mechanism on the way home and parked it in the driveway away to be towed. This morning able to start vehicle but received numerous warnings as above to also include low battery due to no charging and finally a message (while placing it on a flat bed tow truck) to stop immediately and not drive the vehicle. I have read about disasters with this issue in regards to innumerable complaints from new Audi owners that this occurred very quickly while driving on an interstate in which their vehicle shut down within a minute and those affected experienced total loss of steering and braking with inability to even turn on their flashers for safety purposes. This is not a benign issue as beyond the inconvenience of waiting hours to be towed, one puts their life at risk when traveling on an interstate and within seconds having such a shut down of the vehicle occur. I am glad that I did not drive the vehicle in for servicing as I'd likely be on an interstate stranded at this time or perhaps even injured or dead due to inability to control the vehicle and a shut down occurring with only a few seconds notice. I am aware that several TSBs exist for this problem likely related to a faulty alternator as part of internal combustion machines using a "mild hybrid" system. Audi should do a recall of all such vehicles affected with this technology but instead utilizes an approach of reliance upon their dealerships. I have heard of weeks to months to replace alternators / 48 V battery as such parts come from Germany. This is a SERIOUS life threatening issue that puts one at risk of losing control at high speed or getting hit from behind on an interstate due to complete failure of the vehicle and inability to control it after achieving speed.
NHTSA complaint #11526617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Truckee, CA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I have a 2020 All Road. Received message driving close to my home to contact service due to electrical malfunction and made it to my driveway. This was on a Sunday and no service center was available. Car lost its HVAC and auto stop mechanism on the way home and parked it in the driveway away to be towed. This morning able to start vehicle but received numerous warnings as above to also include low battery due to no charging and finally a message (while placing it on a flat bed tow truck) to stop immediately and not drive the vehicle. I have read about disasters with this issue in regards to innumerable complaints from new Audi owners that this occurred very quickly while driving on an interstate in which their vehicle shut down within a minute and those affected experienced total loss of steering and braking with inability to even turn on their flashers for safety purposes. This is not a benign issue as beyond the inconvenience of waiting hours to be towed, one puts their life at risk when traveling on an interstate and within seconds having such a shut down of the vehicle occur. I am glad that I did not drive the vehicle in for servicing as I'd likely be on an interstate stranded at this time or perhaps even injured or dead due to inability to control the vehicle and a shut down occurring with only a few seconds notice. I am aware that several TSBs exist for this problem likely related to a faulty alternator as part of internal combustion machines using a "mild hybrid" system. Audi should do a recall of all such vehicles affected with this technology but instead utilizes an approach of reliance upon their dealerships. I have heard of weeks to months to replace alternators / 48 V battery as such parts come from Germany. This is a SERIOUS life threatening issue that puts one at risk of losing control at high speed or getting hit from behind on an interstate due to complete failure of the vehicle and inability to control it after achieving speed.
NHTSA complaint #11526617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Truckee, CA
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I have a 2020 All Road. Received message driving close to my home to contact service due to electrical malfunction and made it to my driveway. This was on a Sunday and no service center was available. Car lost its HVAC and auto stop mechanism on the way home and parked it in the driveway away to be towed. This morning able to start vehicle but received numerous warnings as above to also include low battery due to no charging and finally a message (while placing it on a flat bed tow truck) to stop immediately and not drive the vehicle. I have read about disasters with this issue in regards to innumerable complaints from new Audi owners that this occurred very quickly while driving on an interstate in which their vehicle shut down within a minute and those affected experienced total loss of steering and braking with inability to even turn on their flashers for safety purposes. This is not a benign issue as beyond the inconvenience of waiting hours to be towed, one puts their life at risk when traveling on an interstate and within seconds having such a shut down of the vehicle occur. I am glad that I did not drive the vehicle in for servicing as I'd likely be on an interstate stranded at this time or perhaps even injured or dead due to inability to control the vehicle and a shut down occurring with only a few seconds notice. I am aware that several TSBs exist for this problem likely related to a faulty alternator as part of internal combustion machines using a "mild hybrid" system. Audi should do a recall of all such vehicles affected with this technology but instead utilizes an approach of reliance upon their dealerships. I have heard of weeks to months to replace alternators / 48 V battery as such parts come from Germany. This is a SERIOUS life threatening issue that puts one at risk of losing control at high speed or getting hit from behind on an interstate due to complete failure of the vehicle and inability to control it after achieving speed.
NHTSA complaint #11526617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irving, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Lamp: Electrical system malfunction: safely stop vehicle. I have read that they car would have next shut down and loss of control while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11511811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
POWER TRAIN
While driving on the interstate, I received a warning about an electrical system malfunction. As I neared my home, I received warnings about transmission failure, suspension malfunction, steering malfunction, sensor failure, and more. After a tow to the dealership I was told it is a generator/alternator (?) failure and the part is on national backorder and may be 3 months or more.
NHTSA complaint #11508031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving on the interstate, I received a warning about an electrical system malfunction. As I neared my home, I received warnings about transmission failure, suspension malfunction, steering malfunction, sensor failure, and more. After a tow to the dealership I was told it is a generator/alternator (?) failure and the part is on national backorder and may be 3 months or more.
NHTSA complaint #11508031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving on the interstate, I received a warning about an electrical system malfunction. As I neared my home, I received warnings about transmission failure, suspension malfunction, steering malfunction, sensor failure, and more. After a tow to the dealership I was told it is a generator/alternator (?) failure and the part is on national backorder and may be 3 months or more.
NHTSA complaint #11508031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My electrical system failed and the car died on the freeway. This is now recognized as a chronic problem- a software bug in the 48 volt mild hybrid system- with several Audi models, including this A6 Allroad. The bug apparently damages the vehicles alternator, which must then be replaced. There is a several month backorder on this part, so hundreds if not thousands Audis remain unrepaired on the lots. They are dying on roads across the USA on a daily basis.
NHTSA complaint #11503455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,027 milesDeer Park, CA
SUSPENSION
The contact's wife owns a 2020 Audi A6. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295000 (suspension), however after a few months the contact had an issue with the vehicle's rear tires. The vehicle was taken to a tire center where they were unable to replace the rear tires due to severe damage to the undercarriage and rear axle on the vehicle. The local dealer who performed the recall repair was called but told over the phone that the dealer does not have any record in their system showing they performed that recall repair on the vehicle despite the contact having the work order detailing the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was mileage was approximately 9,027.
NHTSA complaint #11449959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.