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2020 Audi A4 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
1%
1 of 157 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Audi A4. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 1% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2020 Audi A4 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 1 of 157 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi A4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (1%). This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
1
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
157
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
1 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111 · 71%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER68 · 43%
BACK OVER PREVENTION55 · 35%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE11 · 7%
LANE DEPARTURE7 · 4%
COMMUNICATION2 · 1%

The years either side

2010
87%
53 of 64
2011
82%
31 of 42
2012
80%
35 of 45
2013
31%
32 of 111
2014
51%
36 of 76
2015
70%
26 of 44
2016
57%
13 of 26
2017
50%
27 of 82
2018
30%
13 of 51
2019
too few complaints
2020
1%
1 of 157
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANC09/23/2025
The cars MMI system will loose connection while in Motion making the car systems none functioning /. This can happen while at highway speeds or while backing up .

Three of 1 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2020 Audi A4 (3)

TIRES
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 Cabr…
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
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…
SEATS
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, A…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2020 Audi A4

Questions people ask about the 2020 Audi A4

Does the 2020 Audi A4 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 1 of 157 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi A4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (1%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Audi A4?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Audi A4. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Audi A4 years are better?

The 2020 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Audi A4 years we track (1%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2020 Audi A4?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Audi A4 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.