⌘K
Home›Audi›A4›2020
Audi · Compact car

2020 Audi A4

Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA157
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Audi A4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A4, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 157 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*
A4GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo273530$2,600
A4 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,850
A4 allroad 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: 42220, 42360, 42364.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Audi A4 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

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.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
157complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2025: 148 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Electrical System111
Back Over Prevention72
Unspecified68
Forward Collision Avoidance11
Lane Departure6
Suspension2

What owners describe

“Center console screen reboots at random intervals and as many as 10 times in 60 minutes. Complete reboot of the system renders backup camera and other surround view cameras inoperable.”Jul 9, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“The MMI Infotainment system on my car repeatedly turns off and restarts while driving. This system controls both the entertainment system and cameras and display that monitor collisions, creating a significant safety concern. In addition, rebooting it while driving requires interaction with the touch screen which is an…”Jul 3, 2025 · Back Over Prevention · NHTSA owner report
“Vehicle info system (MMI) unexpectedly and repeatedly reboots, affecting rear backup camera and parking assist radar functions at critical moments in addition to navigation and other vehicle functions. In addition to the safety issue with the rear camera and radar failing unexpectedly, the reboot creates distraction fo…”Jun 30, 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%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
SW AWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★not rated10%

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

Other A4 model years

A

2025 Audi A4

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2024 Audi A4

0 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2023 Audi A4

1 recalls · 11 complaints

C

2022 Audi A4

3 recalls · 6 complaints

C

2021 Audi A4

4 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2019 Audi A4

1 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2018 Audi A4

1 recalls · 44 complaints

F

2017 Audi A4

6 recalls · 85 complaints

A

2016 Audi A4

0 recalls · 11 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.

JSON for this page · API