2020 AUDI S5

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
โ„น๏ธAverage Safety Profile

This 2020 model shows average reliability, primarily driven by 4 recalls affecting the tires system.

Key Factor:tires recalls

๐Ÿ“‹Why This Matters

Understanding recall history helps predict future ownership costs. Each unaddressed issue represents potential repair expenses.

Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.

Focus Area:general reliability
๐Ÿ“Š

Expert Analysis

The 2020 S5 analysis highlights key safety metrics.

Safety & Reliability Score

62/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-32
Complaint Impact-1.25
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2020 AUDI S5

Model Year2020
MakeAUDI
ModelS5
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more โ†’
Jan20
NEWProduction
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Oct21
RECALLRecall Issued
May22
ISSUEFirst Report
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened

Consumer Complaint Analysis

โš ๏ธ

Most Reported Issue

6 complaints (24% of total)
โžก๏ธ

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
โœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 25 consumer complaints by severity level.

๐ŸŸกMedium
5(20%)
๐ŸŸขLow
20(80%)
โœ…Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

TIRESSUSPENSIONSEATSEXTERIOR LIGHTING

Official Safety Recalls (4)

Campaign: 22V034000

TIRES

Summary

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.

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Campaign: 21V295000

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

Summary

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.

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Campaign: 21V874000

SEATS

Summary

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.

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Campaign: 20V737000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge. The recall began January 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EU.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2020 S5.

INV-2020-1000๐ŸŸข Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding S5 performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 24,684

Consumer Complaints

25 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2020 S5.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning24%
Blank12%
Display8%
Electrical๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

MMI - Multi Media Interface constantly reboots about every 90 seconds. This is a safety issue since if I am backing up and the MMI reboots I lose the backup camera and when the MMI reboots I also lose collision/parking/proximity sensors. This issue started happening with my Audi on 7/26/25 and can be reproduced every time the ignition is on or car is running. From doing a quick search on the internet this is a very common problem that just started happening within the last few months with a number of 2020 model Audi's.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

THE RADIO (MMI SYSTEM) IS REBOOTING WHILE DRIVING EVERY 5-10 MIN. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX AND IS AFFECTING SAFETY SYTEMS LIKE FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS/SENSORS.

Safety Systems๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

I am writing to report a critical and recurring safety defect concerning the Multi Media Interface (MMI) system in my Audi S5. The MMI system consistently restarts itself approximately every 90 seconds, regardless of whether the vehicle is stationary (parking) or in motion (driving). This issue presents a significant safety hazard because critical sensor information and vehicle status displays, which are shown on the infotainment screen, become unavailable during each restart cycle. During the 5-10 second period of the system restarting, the screen goes blank, and all related functions and visual aids, including parking sensor readouts, camera views (if active), and other driver assistance information, are completely inaccessible. The intermittent loss of these visual aids creates a hazardous situation, especially when maneuvering at low speeds, parking, or when relying on sensor alerts for proximity to other vehicles or obstacles. Even during normal driving, the sudden loss of the display is a distraction and removes vital information that a driver might rely on. This is particularly concerning as it affects features directly related to situational awareness and collision avoidance. The problem is persistent and has been occurring since July 2025. I have attemptedrestarting the car, checking for software updates. The issue remains unresolved and consistently compromises my ability to safely operate the vehicle.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Audi MMI reboots constantly while the car is one. There is about 30 seconds between each reboot. This causes certain safety features like the backup camera to stop working when in use. I am not sure what the cause is but this seems to be a more common issue with the 2020 Audi's.

Safety Systems๐Ÿ”ต Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Sudden reboot of the vehicle's infotainment system, which then repeats every 60-90 seconds consistently. The reboot has happened while reversing the vehicle, which results in losing view of the backup camera and parking sensors / rear cross traffic detection. This issue was originally sparse, but after 7/14 manifests 100% of the time when using the vehicle. This represents a safety issue due to the loss of rear backup camera for 30+ seconds while the infotainment reboots. No warning lights appear, no inspections have been performed by the dealer or any others.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

MMI system is failing, parking assist is malfunctioning, back up camera doesnโ€™t activate, CarPlay turns off mid drive and reboots, navigation not working, car wants to brake at highway speeds as computer system malfunctions, Bluetooth phone connection drops mid call, overall the computer infotainment system has failed.

Safety Systems๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

Component or System that Failed or Malfunctioned: The infotainment system in my vehicle fails frequently and unpredictably. This includes both the built-in system and connected features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is available for inspection upon request. How Was Safety Put at Risk: The failure of the infotainment system creates multiple serious safety hazards. First, it disables navigation features, which forces drivers who rely on GPS directions to pull out their phones while drivingโ€”causing distraction and increasing the risk of accidents. More critically, when the infotainment system shuts down, it also disables parking cameras, blind-spot cameras, and collision warning alertsโ€”all of which rely on the infotainment screen to function properly. This loss of driver assistance features compromises visibility, awareness of surroundings, and response to potential collisions. Has the Problem Been Reproduced or Confirmed by a Dealer or Independent Service Center? Yes, the issue has been reproduced and acknowledged by the dealership. However, no long-term solution has been provided, and the failure continues to occur despite software updates and attempted resets. ? Additionally, there are hundreds if not thousands of individual following TSB's and discussing potential remedies as the dealerships have no solution. The infotainment failure has been reported to the dealership (manufacturer's authorized service center), but the issue has not been inspected by law enforcement or insurance representatives at this time. No warning lights or messages typically appear prior to the failure. The system often shuts down suddenly while the vehicle is in use, without any forewarning.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

"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. The reboots have affected other sensors/systems in the car like resetting my stored tire pressure values resulting in a TPMS malfunction warning and blocking use of the SOS call feature resulting in a SOS system malfunction warning. Restoring functionality after the reboots requires user input to get through the loading screens. Itโ€™s been happening since I purchased the car less than a week ago. Iโ€™m unsure of how long the previous owner dealt with this issue. Factory resets prescribed by the dealer do not resolve this issue. This appears to be a widespread issue based on the numerous reports found on user forums online, affecting the same model year vehicles (for multiple examples, refer to [XXX] ). It is also interesting that most of the users experiencing this issue, also report it starting around the same time (Jan/Feb 2025), and they all have similar software versions, and likely production dates. This should be considered a safety issue, as the reboots can happen in the middle of a reverse parking maneuver, and they render the backup camera and obstacle detection sensors completely inoperative until the system reloads. They also impact safety on the highway, as the reboots completely disable the navigation screens, and require multiple user input to restore, while driving. Relevant TSB numbers include: TSB 2067021, TSB 2076404, TSB 2069112. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Main computer, multi media interface, MMI constantly shuts off and disconnects from system. This renders all backup cameras, traffic sensors and impact avoidance sensors inoperative. It also stops speedometer

Other๐Ÿ”ต Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My vehicles MMI screen keeps rebooting every 90 seconds, this makes hands free calling, multimedia functions, cameras etc non functional while driving. I have an appt with the dealership next week, but I'm seeing a lot of negative experiences regarding Audi's acceptance of this flaw, leading to large expenses put on the owner. Safety concerns are low, but still exist, inability to use navigation, cameras and hands free calling is not ideal, but not overwhelmingly unsafe as other options exist. My car has not been inspected yet, appointment has been made with an Audi service center though. There were no warning lights or indicators of this failing, the multimedia interface screen simply blacks out and reboots every 90 seconds. (I timed them, it is precise)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recalls for the 2020 AUDI S5?

Yes, the 2020 AUDI S5 has 4 recorded recalls from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including TIRES, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY, SEATS.

Is the 2020 AUDI S5 safe to drive?

The 2020 AUDI S5 has 4 recalls. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.

Where can I check if my 2020 AUDI S5 has open recalls?

You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local AUDI dealer.

๐ŸŽฏRisk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Tires

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

โœ…

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm tires recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

๐Ÿ”

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all tires recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:22V034000
2

Suspension

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

โœ…

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm suspension recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

๐Ÿ”

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all suspension recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:21V295000
3

Seats

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

โœ…

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm seats recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

๐Ÿ”

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all seats recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:21V874000
๐Ÿ’กVisit NHTSA.gov or contact your AUDI dealer to verify recall completion status.

๐ŸงญWhat This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

๐Ÿ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Verify all 4 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your AUDI dealer.
  • If any recalls are open, schedule service immediatelyโ€”recall repairs are always free.
  • Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
๐Ÿ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Request documentation proving all recalls were addressed before finalizing purchase.
  • Factor potential recall-related service time into your ownership cost estimates.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: January 10, 2026.