AI Damage2020 Audi A6: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Audi A6 filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 1,280 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 1,280
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 69% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 19% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 5 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 18 complaints (69% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 412.
- Forward collision avoidance: 5 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Structure: 3 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 110.
- Steering: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 66.
- Backover prevention: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 18 | 0 | 412 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 0 | 11 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 110 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 66 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 52 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 41 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 315 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 76 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 67 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 42 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Every few starts when I back out of a parking space/garage, the side mirror cameras show a black or camera with a cancel sign on the screen. The issue will not stop until the car is parked/off. for at least an hour.
There are times when you go open the passenger side doors (both front and rear) and the doors will not open as there is either an electrical, software, or device specific issue. It requires 2-3 pulls of the door latch to open the front and rear passenger doors.
* Passenger front Seat wiring harness corrosion and failure due to water ingress due to leaking web plate in the longitudinal member on passenger side. Water ingress in passenger compartment caused electrical failure and black mold to grow in the interior carpet and seat rails as well as in an electrical well in the…
I was traveling at ~65mph on the freeway when the sunroof spontaneously exploded. It was louder than a gunshot—I nearly lost control of the vehicle. The explosion occurred in the outward direction. There was no evidence of impact of preexisting damage. Internet research suggests this is not an uncommon occurrence.
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.
The Audi presense system works intermittently. While under warranty I told the dealer the system wasn't working and they claimed that I must have hit something and would have to pay approximately $4,000 to realign the system. I refused to pay to realign/adjust the system since it was under warranty.
They just told me that they saw a lane assist problem occur but did not give me details. - The vehicle is currently at the dealer for the 3rd time and they are talking with the manufacturer - Yes, plenty of warnings coming up and have started Jun 2021 at 1400 miles I have kept track of when my car has given erroneous…
Multiple warning messages have appeared in the dash board. This is blamed by my dealer on a software update that recently occurred. He states that he has multiple other similar complaints. He has only suggested that I turn these safety features off and has had not solution to repair them.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,141 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 46% least complained about).
On average one model year of the A6 has 19 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 26, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off
- This bulletin provides information when there is a warning message in the instrument cluster about…
- This bulletin provides information when there is an abnormal knocking noise from the engine compartment;…
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This bulletin provides general information about SOS Emergency Assist
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
- This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking…
This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking sensor loose, rear parking sensor fault message.
- This bulletin provides informaiton when DTC B200FF0 is stored
- This bulletin provides information when DTC C12BFF0 is stored in the lane change modeul or the radar…
This bulletin provides information when DTC C12BFF0 is stored in the lane change modeul or the radar sensor; intersection assist/lane change assist are inoperable.
NHTSA lists 1,280 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Audi A6?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, forward collision avoidance, structure. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), door locks, latches, handles (12%), windows, sunroof (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Audi A6?
NHTSA lists 1,280 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Audi A6 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.