Used Car Checklists

2020 Audi A5: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical and backup camera. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

Audi A52020
Owner complaints
60
Recalls
4
Crashes reported
1
Reliability
Good
70/100 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 A5. 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.

0/8 checked

1

Paperwork and questions

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

2

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

3

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4

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 A5 is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Audi A5. 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-cylAWD27 mpg
  • Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A A5 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 A5, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Electrical41No crashes

    The MMI screen goes black and reboots on its own, sometimes every 30 minutes, often every 1 to 2 minutes. While it restarts, the backup camera, parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, collision warnings, navigation and CarPlay all stop working. Several reports describe the camera cutting out mid-reverse, and one describes a near collision. Reboots often start out occasional and become daily. Dealer software updates often fail to stop them. Some dealers say the SOS module must also be replaced before the software fix will work, and one quote was $1,500.

  • Backup camera2No crashes

    The MMI reboots while the car is in reverse, which shuts off the cameras and takes away parking and collision warnings until the system comes back. Reboots happen at random, anywhere from every 3 to 4 minutes to once in 40 minutes. Software updates from two dealers and a factory reset did not fix the problem. Reports describe near crashes, and several say the reboots began suddenly in 2025 with no prior warning.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints A5 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Electrical
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 reboots. It not only shuts off music it shuts off gps while it reboots. It does it with the regular gps as well as with Apple CarPlay on

Filed with NHTSA, June 2025

Electrical
MMI constantly shuts off, often in the process of moving into or out of a parking spot. This suddenly and unexpectedly disables the parking collision warning system, the rear cross traffic warning system, and frontal collision warnings. Very frustrating and unsafe. No solution currently exists. No symptoms prior to this happening; it is widely reported at online forums. No users have been able to have this corrected even at the dealer.

Filed with NHTSA, July 2025

Backup camera
The MMI constantly reboots itself. I have had the car to two dealers and despite software updates, the problem continues. As a result of this, while I have been in reverse the cameras will automatically turn off,

Filed with NHTSA, July 2025

How the 2020 compares with other A5 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 6 A5 years we cover, about 9.7 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
  • Electrical411
  • Backup camera20

Where the 2020 fits in the A5's history

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

The 2020 is the third model year of the A5's second generation (2018–2024).

Audi updated the A5 for 2022, so a 2020 does not have those changes.

What changed for 2022 (not on a 2020)

  • Minor aesthetic updates.
  • New multimedia features.

Recalls to confirm (4)

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.

  4. 20V737000Exterior lightsNov 2020

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: 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.

Also looking at these instead of a A5?

Cars shoppers compare with the Audi A5, with their own 2020 checklists.

2020 owner complaints, side by side