2020 Audi A4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2020 Audi A4 ranks 2nd worst of 20 model years, with a complaint index of 95 and 127 complaints, mostly electrical system issues (72%). NHTSA lists 3 recalls, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other A4 years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 95/100
- #2 of 20 A4 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 127
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 33.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2020 Audi A4 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System91 (72%)
- Other60 (47%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras47 (37%)
- Lane Departure6 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
- Brakes1 (1%)
- Structure & Body1 (1%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- MMI infotainment screen goes black and reboots repeatedly during drives, sometimes multiple times per day.
- Backup camera and parking sensors stop working whenever the MMI system reboots.
- Emergency Call SOS module becomes inoperative, disabling hands-free Bluetooth calling.
- MMI system fails to connect at all, leaving dashboard warnings and functions unavailable.
- Infotainment reboot can occur while the car is in reverse, cutting off camera and safety alerts mid-maneuver.
2020 Audi A4 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V034000Jan 26, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires31,058 vehicles
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
- NHTSA 21V874000Nov 10, 2021Airbags208,332 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
- NHTSA 21V295000Apr 26, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires40,993 vehicles
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
2020 Audi A4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other A4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Audi A4 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2020 A4 has a complaint index of 95, the second-highest among 20 model years of the A4, so it ranks Avoid relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Audi A4?
- Electrical system issues dominate, accounting for 72% of complaints (91 of 127), mostly tied to the MMI infotainment system randomly rebooting or losing connection.
- Does the 2020 Audi A4 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 A4, covering suspension/wheel lock nuts, airbag seat heating components, and rear axle alignment/tire wear.
- At what mileage do 2020 A4 owners report problems?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems for the 2020 A4 is 26,000 miles, with electrical system complaints specifically showing a median of 54,000 miles.
- How does the 2020 A4 compare to other A4 years?
- Only the 2006 A4 has a higher complaint index (100) than the 2020 model's 95; years like 2011, 2016, and 2022 rank as Best with much lower indexes.