NHTSA vehicle safety data
2020 Audi S4 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2020 Audi S4 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 17 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 S4, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2020 Audi S4 owner complaints
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi S4, describing incidents dated April 16, 2024 to July 26, 2025.
Most-cited components
- Electrical System 15 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 9 complaints
- Unknown or Other 5 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 1 complaint
- Lane Departure 1 complaint
- Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint
Newest complaints
ODI #11772756 · Filed
My instrument cluster and its replacements have malfunctioned multiple times. The original instrument cluster/virtual cockpit failed to boot and had a black/blank screen on 4/19/2024 at 29,687 miles and was replaced on 5/15/2024 at 29,923 mi (11/13/23 production). That replacement one worked fine…
ODI #11679321 · Filed
My instrument cluster and its replacements have malfunctioned multiple times. The original instrument cluster/virtual cockpit failed to boot and had a black/blank screen on 4/19/2024 at 29,687 miles and was replaced on 5/15/2024 at 29,923 mi. That replacement one worked fine for a while and then did…
ODI #11676957 · Filed
The Audi MMI malfunctions and reboots randomly while driving. Possibly being a software issue. There is a TSB code that the dealer used to reference for me ( TSB 2078437/1), but I cannot find it on the NHTSA website. The reboot issue shuts off all functions associated with it, including, but not…
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.
Disabled Passenger Air Bag
NHTSA #21V874000 · Seats · NHTSA notice
Reported November 10, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Potentially affected: 208,332 vehicles
Repair completion: 83.85% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 74E3 · Owners notified January 7, 2022
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
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.
Other Audi S4 model years
Check your 2020 Audi S4 VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi S4 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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