VehicleVerdict

2020 Audi S5 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 50 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 7.7 times the median S5 year — the 2020 model ranks #1 of 16 S5 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: driver assistance issues account for 48% of all reports (24 of 50), far ahead of electrical system at 14.

50

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2020 compare to other S5 years?

S5 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2020 highlighted50 complaints2008: 3 complaints2010: 26 complaints2011: 9 complaints2012: 10 complaints2013: 20 complaints2014: 7 complaints2015: 4 complaints2016: 3 complaints2018: 40 complaints2019: 6 complaints2020: 50 complaints2021: 1 complaints2022: 2 complaints2023: 3 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 22 complaints
S5 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2020 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all S5 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2020 Audi S5 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance2448%
Electrical System1428%
Other1224%

Does the 2020 Audi S5 have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

22V034000Tires & WheelsJanuary 26, 2022 · 31,058 units

Defect

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.

21V874000AirbagsNovember 10, 2021 · 208,332 units

Defect

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.

21V295000SuspensionApril 26, 2021 · 40,993 units

Defect

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.

20V737000LightingNovember 25, 2020 · 5,426 units

Defect

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

Regularly my MMI will restart, screen goes blank, comes back and says I'm not the registered user. Then bluetooth won't work and I get park aid errors and no rear cross traffic or anything. Happens at least 2 times each way to and from work ( 45min ). I usually have to hard reset it twice to get…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · June 5, 2025

Regularly my MMI will restart, screen goes blank, comes back and says I'm not the registered user. Then bluetooth won't work and I get park aid errors and no rear cross traffic or anything. Happens at least 2 times each way to and from work ( 45min ). I usually have to hard reset it twice to get…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 5, 2025

Audi completed an over the air update and now the mmi screen reboots randomly, making it very dangerous when reversing using the backup camera and relying on parking sensors. Following navigation and it rebooting and having to utilize my cell phone making it difficult to also pay attention to the…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 20, 2025

2020 Audi S5 — common questions

Is the 2020 Audi S5 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 50 complaints put the 2020 model at #1 of 16 S5 years. It is one of the S5 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2020 S5 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (24 complaints), electrical system (14 complaints), other (12 complaints).

Does the 2020 Audi S5 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2020 Audi S5. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Audi S5 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the S5 years to avoid are 2020, 2018. The cleanest record among S5 years belongs to 2021.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.