Used Car Checklists

2020 Audi A4: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical and backup camera. The 7 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

Audi A42020
Owner complaints
122
Recalls
3
Crashes reported
1
Reliability
Good
65/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Run the VIN before you go

A history report shows accidents, title brands, odometer readings, and open recalls for this 2020 Audi A4. Ask the seller for the VIN; it is also on the dash at the base of the windshield.

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/7 checked

1

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3

2

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/2

3

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Which A4 is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Audi A4. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

VersionDriveEPA rating
2.0L 4-cylAWD, FWD27–30 mpg
  • Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A A4 that averages well under the EPA 27 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Audi A4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Electrical109No crashes

    The MMI infotainment screen goes black and reboots on its own, sometimes every 1 to 2 minutes, while driving or parked. Each reboot cuts out the backup camera, parking sensors, navigation, phone pairing, and audio, and owners report losing the camera while reversing. Many reports put the start in early 2025. Dealers often find no fault codes, and software updates frequently do not help. Quoted repairs, such as a new MMI unit, come with no guarantee of a fix. Some cars have had the MMI replaced more than once and still reboot.

  • Backup camera6No crashes

    Reboots of the MMI screen cut out the backup camera and parking alerts while the car is reversing or pulling into a space. The same restarts disable rear and side collision warnings, navigation, and driver assistance controls. Getting the system back can take touch-screen input while driving. In some cars it restarts about every 60 seconds, in others every 10 to 15 minutes. Several reports place the start in early 2025, and the problem tends to get worse over time. Every report here traces back to the MMI reboot fault, not to a separate camera failure.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints A4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Electrical
The infotainment screen (MMI) responsible for Rear camera, Cross traffic alert, Entertainment and controls some crucial vehicle functions tends to shut off by itself while driving. This issue occurs constantly and It's very sporadic. Nothing triggers this just the car decides to do it on it's own. This causes me to lose visuals of my surrounding, and sensor information and the ability to listen to Maps and music. Raises a major safety concern.

Filed with NHTSA, June 2025

Electrical
MMI (infotainment), and the dashboard screen will turn off randomly and reboot. This is a safety concern as it turns all sound off, and driving visuals like directions/backup camera, and freezes or reboots, not where you last had it but from a different check point. Audi dealership misdiagnosed the issue once, performed a software update, but the issue persists. Seems to be a widespread problem - NHTSA ID 11657000, among others.

Filed with NHTSA, May 2025

Backup camera
MMI system / touch screen on dash is "Blacking out" during reverse backing. Cannot utilize the backing camera. Very dangerous when backing. Took car to independent dealer, with no certain diagnosis. I depend on my back up camera pretty much all the time. The first time this appeared was about 6 weeks ago when the MMI lost connection. Attempted reboots. And the issue has gotten worst.

Filed with NHTSA, July 2025

Backup camera
My Audi MMI/Infotainment system restarts frequently while driving (every 10-15 minutes). This can happen at any point including while reversing. When the system restarts it shut off the backup camera, parking sensors and all other functionality on the screen. When the system restarts it disables navigation as well. This is extremely dangerous for the driver as well as a distraction.

Filed with NHTSA, May 2025

How the 2020 compares with other A4 years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2020 has the most owner complaints of the 5 A4 years we cover, about 8.4 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2020 Average of other years
  • Electrical1093
  • Backup camera60

Where the 2020 fits in the A4's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2020 is the fifth model year of the A4's fifth generation (2016–2023).

It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.

What changed for 2020

  • Redesigned headlights and taillights
  • Altered body panels
  • New touchscreen for infotainment

Recalls to confirm (3)

Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

  1. 22V034000Wheels and tiresJan 2022

    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.

    Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: 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.

  2. 21V874000SeatsNov 2021

    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.

    Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Fix: 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.

  3. 21V295000SuspensionApr 2021

    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.

    Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: 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.

Also looking at these instead of a A4?

Cars shoppers compare with the Audi A4, with their own 2020 checklists.

2020 owner complaints, side by side