NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 Audi S5 Recalls & Complaints

The 2020 Audi S5 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 25 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 S5. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2020 Audi S5 owner complaints

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi S5, describing incidents dated May 13, 2022 to July 26, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 14 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 12 complaints
  • Back Over Prevention 11 complaints
  • Forward Collision Avoidance 6 complaints
  • Lane Departure 2 complaints

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11677943 · Filed

    MMI - Multi Media Interface constantly reboots about every 90 seconds. This is a safety issue since if I am backing up and the MMI reboots I lose the backup camera and when the MMI reboots I also lose collision/parking/proximity sensors. This issue started happening with my Audi on 7/26/25 and can…

  • ODI #11677363 · Filed

    THE RADIO (MMI SYSTEM) IS REBOOTING WHILE DRIVING EVERY 5-10 MIN. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX AND IS AFFECTING SAFETY SYTEMS LIKE FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS/SENSORS.

  • ODI #11676791 · Filed

    I am writing to report a critical and recurring safety defect concerning the Multi Media Interface (MMI) system in my Audi S5. The MMI system consistently restarts itself approximately every 90 seconds, regardless of whether the vehicle is stationary (parking) or in motion (driving). This issue…

Read all 25 complaints

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.

Rear Light Wiring Harness Missing Scuff Protection

NHTSA #20V737000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported November 25, 2020 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 5,426 vehicles

Repair completion: 98.45% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 97EU · Owners notified January 21, 2021

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

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 S5 model years

Check your 2020 Audi S5 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi S5 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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