2020 Audi A5: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2020 Audi A5 has 60 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,030 manufacturer service bulletins, and 4 recall campaigns on federal record, led by electrical system and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Audi A5 model years with federal records, it ranks 1st by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
60
NHTSA complaints
1,030
Service bulletins
4
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2020 Audi A5
Electrical System — 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Back Over Prevention — 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2020 compares to adjacent years
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Audi A5 years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2020 Audi A5 — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2020 Audi A5 reliable?
The 2020 Audi A5 has 60 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,030 manufacturer service bulletins, and 4 recall campaigns on federal record, led by electrical system and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Audi A5 model years with federal records, it ranks 1st by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Audi A5?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2020 Audi A5 in NHTSA owner complaints are electrical system, unknown or other, back over prevention. Service bulletins (1,030 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2020 Audi A5 have recalls?
Yes — 4 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020 Audi A5. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2020 Audi A5 a good year to buy?
The 2020 is one of the Audi A5 years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2025 and 2017 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2020 Audi A5 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.