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2020 Audi A6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
12%
4 of 33 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 A6. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 12% of relevant complaints.

Better than 96% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2020 Audi A6 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 4 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 35% and the 2021 scores 35%. 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
4
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
33
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
9
0 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23 · 70%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 18%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE6 · 18%
STRUCTURE4 · 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2 · 6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION2 · 6%

The years either side

2010
too few complaints
2011
too few complaints
2012
57%
28 of 59
2013
57%
20 of 52
2014
32%
11 of 41
2015
too few complaints
2016
59%
26 of 51
2017
too few complaints
2018
too few complaints
2019
35%
40 of 114
2020
12%
4 of 33
2021
35%
9 of 26
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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM02/17/2024
Audi issued a recall for our vehicle’s fuel level sender which reports the amount of fuel in the tank to our fuel gauge display in late 2022 or early 2023. The reason for the recall stems from a safety issue in which the car incorrectly can display that there is more fuel in the tank than what is actually there. Our l…
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE12/01/2022
Vehicle reports Electric Malfunction and then suddenly start getting all warnings like all controls (like steering etc) disabled and vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. Had to get it towed and taken to dealership. They do not have a fix for this problem and no estimates on how long it will take to fix the issue …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10/08/2023
Dashboard error messages, "Electrical System Malfunction! Please contact service" and "Vehicle Starting System: Malfunction! Please contact service". Dealer replied that it is a starter generator. Unsafe to drive, towed to dealer service. Part has been on order for more than three weeks.

Three of 4 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 A6 (9)

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…
AIR BAGS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The scor…
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…

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

Before you buy a 2020 Audi A6

Questions people ask about the 2020 Audi A6

Does the 2020 Audi A6 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 4 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (12%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Audi A6?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the 2020 Audi A6. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Audi A6 years are better?

The 2020 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Audi A6 years we track (12%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2020 Audi A6?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Audi A6 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.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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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 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.