NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 Audi A8 Recalls & Complaints

The 2020 Audi A8 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2020 Audi A8. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2020 Audi A8 owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi A8, describing incidents dated August 23, 2021 to March 6, 2024.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11581726 · Filed April 8, 2024
Audi 2020 A8L Engine Fire 3/6/2024 Confirmed by Fire Department, American Family Insurance Unclear if it has been inspected by the Audi U.S. No indication has been received. Incident occurred March 6th, 2024 at approximately 3pm. Operated vehicle in early morning to meet friends for coffee at a…
ODI #11494953 · Filed November 26, 2022
Start system malfunction causes the car to randomly lose ALL power and roll back when at a stopped, causing the car to be disabled and unable to start again. Faults indicate a failure of the 48V belt driven starter generator. Parts to repair defect are severely back ordered, taking months to obtain.
ODI #11435705 · Filed October 6, 2021
8/23/2021-I was slowing down at a red light and getting ready to stop but the light turned green and so high pushed on the gas to go before I got to a full stop. The battery warning light came on so I turned around to go back home can you swap cars. My fiancé had to go to work that day and took the…

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2020 Audi A8, or a version of it filed under another name, in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023 · Filed for the A8 PHEV
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111

NHTSA #25V900000 · Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera · NHTSA notice

Reported December 19, 2025 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 356,894 vehicles

Repair completion: 69.01% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 90TV · Owners notified January 14, 2026 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Safety consequence

A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.

Power Outlet May Cause Charging Cable to Overheat

NHTSA #23V842000 · Electrical System — Propulsion System — Charging — Cable/Cord — Onboard · NHTSA notice

Reported December 13, 2023 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 93,196 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.54% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 93U6/93U8 · Owners notified March 28, 2024

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat.

Safety consequence

An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's numbers for this recall are 93U6 and 93U8.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Rear Axle May Be Misaligned

NHTSA #22V034000 · Tires · NHTSA notice

Reported January 26, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 31,058 vehicles

Repair completion: 98.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 42L5 · Owners notified March 3, 2022

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Rear Axle Lock Nuts May Break

NHTSA #21V295000 · Suspension — Rear — Axle — Non-Powered Axle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported April 26, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 40,993 vehicles

Repair completion: 98.66% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 42L1 · Owners notified June 4, 2021

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine Control Module Malfunction

NHTSA #21V111000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Engine Control Module (ECU/ECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported February 24, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 238 vehicles

Repair completion: 99.16% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 97EV · Owners notified March 12, 2021

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A8 and 2020-2021 Audi S8 vehicles. A missing sealing pin may allow moisture to enter the engine control module connector, possibly causing a control module malfunction.

Safety consequence

An engine control module malfunction may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine control module connector for a missing sealing pin, and install it, if necessary. The connector will also be inspected for corrosion, and replaced as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 12, 20121. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EV.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2020 Audi A8. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Audi A8.

Engine

ODI #11581726

Fire

Incident: March 6, 2024 · Filed: April 8, 2024

Audi 2020 A8L Engine Fire 3/6/2024 Confirmed by Fire Department, American Family Insurance Unclear if it has been inspected by the Audi U.S. No indication has been received. Incident occurred March 6th, 2024 at approximately 3pm. Operated vehicle in early morning to meet friends for coffee at a nearby coffee shop. Returned home, parked in home garage, turned engine off and went to my home office in lower floor. Wife came home after running errands, opened garage door and massive, thick black smoke escaped. Wife ran to front door and called for me to "come quickly." I grabbed the hose, connected it and sprayed front of car. By that time fire was arrived, fire from engine compartment was reaching four-feet high, as well as from passenger-side front wheel well and from rear of front hood at windshield area. CAR TOTALED. Significant fire damage to the Garage interior.

Electrical System

ODI #11494953

Incident: November 25, 2022 · Filed: November 26, 2022

Start system malfunction causes the car to randomly lose ALL power and roll back when at a stopped, causing the car to be disabled and unable to start again. Faults indicate a failure of the 48V belt driven starter generator. Parts to repair defect are severely back ordered, taking months to obtain.

Power Train; Electrical System; Unknown or Other

ODI #11435705

Incident: August 23, 2021 · Filed: October 6, 2021

8/23/2021-I was slowing down at a red light and getting ready to stop but the light turned green and so high pushed on the gas to go before I got to a full stop. The battery warning light came on so I turned around to go back home can you swap cars. My fiancé had to go to work that day and took the vehicle. On his way back going 60 mph on the highway, The power to the vehicle shut down and he was unable to do anything other than slow down and pull off to the side of the road. The vehicle was sent into the Audi dealership and they changed out the 48V battery in the trunk. They also ordered an alternator but did not install it because it start it back up. A couple weeks later (9/25/2021) the same thing happened at a stop sign as I was slowing down but not at a complete stop and hit the gas and the battery light came back on. That light means the battery is disconnected from the engine and once the power runs out, it will shut down again. So I took it straight to the dealership and left it there until they can take a look at it. It’s at the dealership now. There seems to be a flaw in the (stop/go)system of the vehicle when the engine wants to turn off at a stop and when to restart the engine to go. Causing a disconnect of the battery in the trunk to the engine.

Other Audi A8 model years

Check your 2020 Audi A8 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A8 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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