2020 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 15 A4 years
The 2020 Audi A4 ranks worst of 15 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 127 complaints, mostly electrical system failures. It carries 3 recalls and an Avoid verdict relative to other A4 years.
- Complaints
- 127
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2020 Audi A4 problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- The MMI infotainment screen randomly goes black and reboots multiple times per drive, sometimes taking several minutes to restart.
- During MMI reboots, the backup camera, parking sensors, and other safety warning displays stop working, including while the car is in reverse.
- The SOS emergency call module and Bluetooth hands-free calling stop functioning, with owners reporting long waits for backordered replacement parts.
- The MMI fails to connect to hands-free calling at all, with dealers reportedly unable to offer a fix.
- Navigation, Apple CarPlay, phone, radio, and garage door opener functions drop out along with the MMI system during these resets.
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?
- Among the 15 A4 model years tracked, 2020 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst, with 127 complaints and an Avoid verdict relative to other A4 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Audi A4?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 91 of 127 complaints (72%), mostly involving the MMI infotainment system rebooting or losing connectivity.
- Does the 2020 Audi A4 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 A4, covering suspension/wheel lock nuts, an airbag heating mat/seat cover issue, and a rear axle alignment/tire wear inspection.
- At what mileage do 2020 Audi A4 problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 26,000 miles overall, with Electrical System complaints specifically showing a median of 54,000 miles.
- How does the 2020 Audi A4 compare to other years?
- The 2020 A4's Complaint Index of 100 is higher than every other tracked year, including 2017 (86) and 2018 (79), which are also rated Avoid.