2020 Audi A5 Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 19, 2026

Caution

Ranks 16th of 16 A5 years we score.

Owner complaints: 85; 1 is a recall notice
Per 10,000 cars: 114.4; 7,345 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 3.6×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 14; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 4
NHTSA crash rating: 5★; overall, out of 5

← 2019 A5 2021 A5 →

Should You Buy the 2020 Audi A5?

Only after careful checks. Our reliability score for the 2020 Audi A5 is 64 out of 100, which rates Caution. Owners reported about 3.6 times as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 16th of the 16 A5 years we score.

The most reported problem is the screen and audio, mostly works on and off (72 of 85 complaints). Owners also complain about phone and navigation features. 14 of the 85 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 4 recalls. Audi also offers three warranty extensions that may still apply, for problems with the air conditioning, fuel system and driver assistance systems. NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. For comparison, the 2019 scores 83 and the 2021 scores 81.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done, ask an Audi dealer about warranty extension AWA-21-01 and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Recent complaints at or below average
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls
5-star NHTSA overall crash rating
3 Audi warranty extensions may cover repairs

Cons

About 3.6 times the problems of the average car its age
Screen and audio: works on and off72 complaints
Phone and navigation failure10 complaints

How the 2020 A5 Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems	2.0×	−15
Everyday problems	7.2×	−9
Problems in the last two years	0.47×	−6
Recalls	0.94×	−6
Score		64

What Owners Report

We read all 85 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Audi A5, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first. A complaint that describes more than one problem is counted under each, so the counts add up to more than 85.

Screen and audio: works on and off
72 complaints (85%)
Problems that come and go and a failure. 4 of these 72 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of visibility. In 14 complaints, the dealer could not find or fix the problem, and in 5 it came back after a repair.
Phone and navigation failure
10 complaints (12%)
A failure, a feature that stopped working and problems that come and go. 1 of these 10 complaints describes a serious outcome.

Reported Once (7)

Show the 7 problems reported once

Uneven tire wear: early wear
Automatic emergency braking: the system acting on its own
Instrument cluster: digital speed reverts to mph
Power windows or regulator failure
Rearview camera: stopped working
Seat belts: parts breaking or coming apart
Side or curtain airbags: no deployment in a crash

How the 2020 Audi A5 Compares With Other Years

The other A5 years of the 2nd generation, 2018 to 2025, and the years just before and after it.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2026	Too new	–	–	16.7	0	–
2025	Not scored	–	–	22.5	2	Driver-assist camera and radar: works on and off
2024	Good	79	0.58×	3.7	0	A/C: stopped working
2023	Excellent	83	0.38×	2.8	1	Tires: parts breaking or coming apart
2022	Excellent	80	0.44×	5.1	3	Tires: parts breaking or coming apart
2021	Excellent	81	0.36×	4.8	5	Transmission: failure or loss of drive
2020 This year	Caution	64	3.6×	114.4	4	Screen and audio: works on and off
2019	Excellent	83	0.29×	6.6	6	Automatic emergency braking: hard braking with nothing ahead
2018	Good	75	0.56×	13.9	8	Sunroof glass (shattered): shattering or cracking
2017	Not scored	–	–	6.2	3	–

See every A5 year

2020 Audi A5 Recalls

Four recalls cover the 2020 Audi A5. The most recent was issued in January 2022: “Rear Axle May Be Misaligned.” A VIN check at NHTSA shows which are still open on a given car.

Rear Axle May Be Misaligned
Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 22V034000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 26, 2022. By the fourth quarter of 2023, 97% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Disabled Passenger Air Bag
A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
NHTSA 21V874000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Nov 10, 2021. By the fourth quarter of 2023, 77% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Rear Axle Lock Nuts May Break
A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 21V295000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 26, 2021. By the first quarter of 2023, 96% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Rear Light Wiring Harness Missing Scuff Protection
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.
NHTSA 20V737000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Nov 25, 2020. By the fourth quarter of 2022, 96% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

2020 Audi A5 Warranty Extensions and Programs

Audi has three warranty extensions for the 2020 Audi A5, separate from its recalls. They are for problems with the air conditioning, fuel system and driver assistance systems. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which an Audi dealer can check.

Warranty extensionAudi AWA-21-01
Air conditioning evaporator failure
The problem:
The air conditioning evaporator can fail. The bulletin does not describe the symptoms.
The fix:
An Audi dealer repairs or replaces a failed A/C evaporator, with any parts and labor needed.
Who qualifies:
Certain A4, S4 and Q7 from model year 2017 and A5, S5 and Q5 from 2018. The bulletin gives no last model year. Cars already repaired still qualify, but totaled cars do not.
Coverage:
10 years or 100,000 miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first.
Audi's bulletin (PDF)
Warranty extensionAudi AWA-22-05
Faulty electric fuel pump
The problem:
The electric fuel pump can be faulty. The bulletin does not describe the symptoms.
The fix:
An Audi dealer repairs or replaces a faulty electric fuel pump, with any parts and labor needed.
Who qualifies:
Certain 2018 to 2021 S4, S5 and SQ5, 2019 to 2021 Q8 and A8, and 2020 and 2021 Q7. Cars already repaired still qualify, but totaled cars do not.
Coverage:
15 years or 150,000 miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first.
Audi's bulletin (PDF)
Warranty extensionAudi AWA-24-04
Automatic emergency braking system faults
The problem:
The automatic emergency braking, or AEB, system can malfunction when its control unit, a camera, the LIDAR or a sensor fails.
The fix:
An Audi dealer repairs the AEB fault and Audi pays 75 percent of the cost. Damage from crashes, impacts, moved sensors or weather is not covered.
Who qualifies:
Certain Audis covered by the settlement, with a confirmed fault in the AEB control unit, cameras, LIDAR or sensors. If the new car warranty's time ran out by May 16, 2024, the extension's time limit was November 16, 2024.
Coverage:
Up to 12 months or 12,000 miles after the new car warranty ends. Ask an Audi dealer for the exact terms.
Audi's bulletin (PDF)

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2020 A5 ratings on NHTSA.gov.

Sportback 4-door AWD

Overall5/5

Frontal crash4/5

Side crash5/5

Rollover5/5

S5 Sportback 4-door AWD

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

Rollover5/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2020 A5, from its four recalls, three Audi warranty extensions that may still apply and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Rear Axle May Be Misaligned NHTSA 22V034000
Disabled Passenger Air Bag NHTSA 21V874000
Rear Axle Lock Nuts May Break NHTSA 21V295000
Rear Light Wiring Harness Missing Scuff Protection NHTSA 20V737000

Ask an Audi Dealer

Ask whether each of these warranty extensions applies to this VIN, and whether the work was done.

AWA-21-01: air conditioning evaporator failure
AWA-22-05: faulty electric fuel pump
AWA-24-04: automatic emergency braking system faults

On the Test Drive

Test the screen, audio and phone connection for freezing or rebooting.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Screen and audio
Phone and navigation features
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All A5 Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Audi may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.