2020 Audi A4 Problems
Compared with other Audi A4 years
More complaints than typical for this model
84/100 2.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 2.2× that of a typical Audi A4 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 2 of its 128 complaints were filed by the end of 2022.
- Most reported problem: MMI screen shuts down and reboots while driving (112 complaints).
- 3 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2017
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 128filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 26,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 30 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 35 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Audi A4 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owner complaints for this model year center almost entirely on the infotainment system (MMI), which many owners say shuts down and restarts on its own while driving, sometimes several times per trip, taking navigation, the backup camera and driver-assist displays offline until it reloads. A smaller group of complaints describes the emergency-call/SOS telematics module going offline, often around the same time. Beyond that, the sample contains only scattered, unrelated reports, so the picture is dominated by one recurring electronics complaint rather than a broad range of mechanical problems.
- Electrical system
MMI screen shuts down and reboots while driving
- 112 complaints (88%)
- typically at 5.6 yrs old
- owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
- filed 2023–2025
Owners describe the central MMI screen going black without warning and restarting, sometimes every few minutes and sometimes only once or twice on a drive. During a reboot they lose navigation, audio, phone pairing and on-screen settings, and several say the system asks them to log in as a user or re-enter a PIN before it works again. Several complaints say a dealer software update or factory reset did not stop the reboots, and a few mention being charged for the update. Mostly reported in 2025 on vehicles a few years old, with many owners dating the start to early 2025; mileage is often not recorded in the complaints.
What to check: During a test drive, watch whether the screen stays on for the full drive and ask the seller for the current MMI software version and whether any infotainment updates were applied. Ask if the dealer has documented the rebooting in service records.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“1) About two months ago, my 2020 Audi A4's MMI began crashing and rebooting randomly while driving. Most of the time, I had connected my phone via Bluetooth to the MMI, and was playing music from my phone. 2) Once it crashes and reboots, most of the time it would pick up my phone's Bluetooth signal again, and show the music file that is still playing, but there would be no sound from the car's sound system. …”
NHTSA complaint #11669913, filed 2025-06“Audi MMI display constantly shuts off and turns back on with a message about this user not being used despite using it everyday. This happens all the time and has been on going for months. It is dangerous when I’m relying on it for navigation. I have not had this issue looked at at an Audi dealership but have read this issue seems to be widespread with 2020 models. The issue is ongoing and only seems to be getting worse.”
NHTSA complaint #11671365, filed 2025-07 - Back-over prevention (rear camera)
Backup camera and rear sensors lost during MMI restart
- 112 complaints (88%)
- typically at 5.6 yrs old
- owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
- filed 2023–2025
A large share of these complaints describe the rear camera, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and obstacle detection going dark when the MMI reboots, sometimes while the car is actively reversing. Owners say the screen goes blank or shows a message that the backup camera is inoperable, and several describe having to reverse without the camera or sensors until the system reloads. Parking-assist and collision warnings are also reported to drop out at the same time. Reported across many different mileages and mostly in 2025 complaints; several owners note it happens more often over time.
What to check: Try reversing several times during a test drive and confirm the camera and parking sensors come up promptly and stay on. Ask whether the rear parking sensor bulletin has been addressed if a fault message or loose sensor has been reported.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“MMI system / touch screen on dash is Blacking out during reverse backing. Cannot utilize the backing camera. Very dangerous when backing. Took car to independent dealer, with no certain diagnosis. I depend on my back up camera pretty much all the time. The first time this appeared was about 6 weeks ago when the MMI lost connection. Attempted reboots. And the issue has gotten worst.”
NHTSA complaint #11674430, filed 2025-07“The infotainment screen (MMI) responsible for Rear camera, Cross traffic alert, Entertainment and controls some crucial vehicle functions tends to shut off by itself while driving. This issue occurs constantly and It's very sporadic. Nothing triggers this just the car decides to do it on it's own. This causes me to lose visuals of my surrounding, and sensor information and the ability to listen to Maps and music. Raises a major safety concern.”
NHTSA complaint #11666231, filed 2025-06 - Forward collision avoidance
Driver-assist warnings dropping out with the display
Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints
Several complaints tie the rebooting screen to temporary loss of forward-collision warnings, lane-departure alerts and other driver-assist messages that are shown on the center display. Owners describe warnings disappearing while the system reloads and returning afterward, and some say they cannot tell whether the assist systems themselves or only their displays are affected. Reported in the same 2025 complaints as the rebooting issue, typically on vehicles with no mileage recorded.
What to check: Check that collision-warning and lane-assist settings stay enabled after a restart, and ask the seller whether any assist-system fault codes have been stored.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The MMI spontaneously reboots numerous times while driving. When the reboots happen, the screen goes black and key systems such as the backup camera, rear obstacle detection, and navigation, become unavailable until the reboot completes and the systems reload. Restoring functionality requires user input to get through the loading screens. …”
NHTSA complaint #11659638, filed 2025-05“MMI system is restarting on a near constant basis, both while parked and driving. Aside from being inconvenient, as you can not use media/navigation/etc while it’s rebooting, it also causes many safety features like drive assist/collision/obstacle detection to malfunction and not work, and is therefore simply outright dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #11673851, filed 2025-07 - Electrical system
Emergency call (SOS) module offline or not connecting
- 8 complaints (6%)
- median 40,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- filed 2022–2026
Some owners report an SOS or emergency-call warning on the instrument panel and say the telematics module no longer connects, which also affects hands-free calling and phone connectivity. Complaints describe dealers being unable to clear the fault, and in at least one case a software update could not be installed because the module itself needed replacement. Another owner reports being asked to pay for the module before a recall remedy could be completed. Reported at a wide range of mileages, including examples in the 26,000 to 54,000 mile range.
What to check: On a test drive, start the car and look for any SOS or emergency-call warning, and confirm the call system and Bluetooth pairing work. Ask whether the telematics module has been diagnosed or replaced and whether any open recall work is complete.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11756511, filed 2026-08“The SOS Emergency Call system error warning appears every time I start the car. This system no longer functions in the car. An independent mechanic ran the diagnostic and said it could not be cleared. If I were to be in an accident, I would not be able to use this essential safety feature. Additionally, the MMI system that is used for making hands-free calls, mapping directions, and reading texts aloud randomly shuts off every 3-5 minutes. It says it is initializing, and you must hit three buttons to have it come back on. …”
NHTSA complaint #11668304, filed 2025-06
Buying note. The recurring theme here is electronics rather than mechanical wear, so it is worth confirming the infotainment software state and testing the screen, camera and driver-assist displays over a longer drive. Ask for service records showing whether software updates were applied and whether any telematics or infotainment hardware has been replaced.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 128 consumer complaints for the 2020 Audi A4. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 26,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 1,073 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 6 Audi A4 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 84 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system91 71%
- Other or unknown60 47%
- Lane departure6 4.7%
- Suspension2 1.6%
- Brakes1 0.8%
- Exterior lighting1 0.8%
- Seat belts1 0.8%
- Seats1 0.8%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “This safety issue concerns the MMI system. In my state of MA we cannot use a cell phone while driving. The car's MMI system does not connect to the MMI and hands free calling cannot be done. The dealership and Audi have indicated there is no fix for this. The MMI does not currently have any functionality inclusive of various car warnings.”
NHTSA complaint #11501850, filed 2023-01Other or unknown: “MMI/infotainment system randomly shuts down every 30 seconds or even less. The entire screen goes black, it even happened when i was backing up the car while looking through the backup camera, which was extremely dangerous. I have tried all kinds of methods to fix but it doesn’t seem to be working, and it getting worse as we speak with more frequent shutdowns”
NHTSA complaint #11673821, filed 2025-07Back-over prevention (rear camera): “over the last 2 weeks, the entire MMI system stops working, the screen goes black, and the system reboots. It happened once when i was backing out of a parking spot and the alerts stopped working. a second time when i was pulling into a spot and the screen went black as well. this is a MAJOR safety-related flaw!”
NHTSA complaint #11668746, filed 2025-06Forward collision avoidance: “MMI continously shuts off then back on automatically for the duration of my drives. since it is random, it has occured while on the highway where my collision warning does not intervene because the MMI is off. it puts me and others at risk since without warning it shuts off and takes 20-30sec to come back on but only for a few mins until it happens again. I have called the Audi experience who told me to go to the dealer; others i know with the same system have done so to no resolve. I do not want to spend $ on an update that will not resolve the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11673908, filed 2025-07Mileage when problems were reported
67% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 12,000 and 54,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Audi A4. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 · sedan AWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 · 9.9% risk |
| A4 · sedan FWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 · 9.9% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.
Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2020 Audi A4 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,750 |
| A4 quattro AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 24 | 32 | 27 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 22V034000Jan 26, 2022TiresCovers: Audi A4 2020–2021, A5 2019–2021, S5 2019–2021 +20 more
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…
- 21V874000Nov 10, 2021Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passengerCovers: Audi A4 2017–2020, A5 2018–2020, S4 2018–2020 +2 more
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…
- 21V295000Apr 26, 2021Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assemblyCovers: Audi A4 2020–2021, A5 2019–2021, S5 2019–2021 +16 more
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…
Recall details for the 2020 Audi A4 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,073 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038130Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- 11038129Sep 25, 2026Engine. This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off.
- 11038027Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
- 11038042Sep 22, 2026Steering. This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
- 11038031Sep 22, 2026Steering. This bulletin provides informaiton when DTC B200FF0 is stored.
- 11038024Sep 22, 2026Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
- 11038056Sep 18, 2026Body and structure. This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
- 11038032Sep 18, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking sensor loose, rear parking sensor fault message.
- 11038025Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
- 11038033Sep 8, 2026Body and structure. This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Other model years of the Audi A4
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 | 30,000 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 6 | 32,400 | 3 | — | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 11 | 2,674 | 4 | 5 | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 128 | 26,000 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 84 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 10 | 50,000 | 1 | 5 | 30 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 45 | 12,000 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 44 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 56 | 28,000 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 11 | 45,000 | 0 | 5 | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 19 | 44,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | — | Falling |
| 2014 | 32 | 80,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 24 | 101,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | — | Falling |
| 2012 | 19 | 109,000 | 0 | 4 | 25 | — | Falling |
| 2011 | 11 | 105,500 | 0 | 4 | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 2010 | 64 | 83,750 | 0 | — | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 120 | 65,000 | 2 | — | 25 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2008 | 175 | 62,000 | 4 | — | 24 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 196 | 74,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 295 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 219 | 58,400 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 189 | 59,560 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 210 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 181 | 30,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 131 | 61,028 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 96 | 62,900 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 190 | 75,000 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 258 | 80,650 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 98 | 92,457 | 6 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 89 | 66,821 | 4 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Audi A4 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Audi A4?
Owner complaints for this model year center almost entirely on the infotainment system (MMI), which many owners say shuts down and restarts on its own while driving, sometimes several times per trip, taking navigation, the backup camera and driver-assist displays offline until it reloads. The issues reported most often: MMI screen shuts down and reboots while driving; Backup camera and rear sensors lost during MMI restart; Driver-assist warnings dropping out with the display.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA recorded 128 consumer complaints for the 2020 Audi A4 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2020 Audi A4 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 91 complaints (71% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 60.
Has the 2020 Audi A4 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2020 Audi A4 do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Audi A4 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Audi A4 get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Audi A4 (A4, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 27 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Audi A4 reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 26,000 miles and the middle half falls between 12,000 and 54,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.