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2020 Audi A5

Gas
Subcompact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA60
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Audi A5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A5 Sportback quattro, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 60 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A5 Sportback quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,850
A5 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,850
A5 Cabriolet quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233126$3,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42363, 42358, 42359.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Audi A5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Suspension

42L5
31,058 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskRear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 22V034000reported Jan 26, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Seats

74E3
208,332 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskA disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 21V874000reported Nov 10, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Suspension

42L1
40,993 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskA broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V295000reported Apr 26, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Electrical System

97EU
5,426 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskWithout 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.FixAudi 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V737000reported Nov 25, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
60complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 51

Most-cited components

Electrical System41
Unspecified25
Back Over Prevention23
Lane Departure4
Seat Belts2
Air Bags1

What owners describe

“The MMI unit randomly reboots and disconnects anything connected for navigation. It does this very often, every single time I drive. In a 30 min drive, it could reboot at least 3 times and make you sign in as a user to access it.”Jun 24, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“The vehicles MMI multimedia infotainment system will randomly shut off, go blank and reboot. This happens at random intervals and there doesn’t seem to be a pattern to the cause. It also happens at times when trying to back in, this is dangerous as it cuts out the reverse camera and the parking sensors while it reboo…”Jun 21, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“MMI randomly reboots involuntarily at any point during the drive. Reboots as often as once every few minutes and reboots about 5-8 times per drive. Cannot pin point the cause since it is not obvious. Also a safety concern because the MMI can reboot while backup camera is active or while car sensors are in use. Multiple…”Jun 20, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Other A5 model years

A

2027 Audi A5

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Audi A5

0 recalls · 1 complaints

B

2025 Audi A5

2 recalls · 9 complaints

A

2024 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

A

2023 Audi A5

0 recalls · 8 complaints

B

2022 Audi A5

2 recalls · 7 complaints

D

2021 Audi A5

5 recalls · 7 complaints

C

2019 Audi A5

3 recalls · 12 complaints

F

2018 Audi A5

6 recalls · 37 complaints

D

2017 Audi A5

3 recalls · 2 complaints

F

2016 Audi A5

3 recalls · 7 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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