Electrical system & powertrain issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2020 Audi A6 is a luxury car that has gained a lot of attention. The newest models claim to be the
“next bold step in a sedan.” Yet, customers of the 2020 models are complaining about the electrical system, forward collision avoidance system, the powertrain and the shoddy structure.
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As a luxury vehicle, the A6 is meant to provide every feature owners could want, but it’s been quite the disappointment.
One NHTSA complaint says, “On more than one occasion, after starting the car and putting the car in drive, the display continues to show that the car is in PARK. I can drive several hundred feet with the display showing PARK. Then the display will go totally dark and, after several seconds, it will show that the car is in DRIVE.”
There are also some electrical system recalls worth mentioning. First, NHTSA Campaign Number 22V155000 says that the fuel gauge in more than 45,000 vehicles could be reading wrong because the sender gets stuck. Without knowing how much fuel is in the car, drivers could find themselves stranded on the side of the road unexpectedly. Also, NHTSA Campaign Number 20V153000 points out that affected models are allowing moisture into the starter generator, which leads to a short circuit. With this short circuit occurring, there’s a higher chance of a car fire. It’s unlikely that customers are happy spending this much money on a luxury vehicle only to have it burn up in a fire. Although, it definitely fits in line with being “bold.”
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Power Train | |
| Steering | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | |
| Engine |
Today’s safety technology is designed to keep people protected, but that doesn’t seem to be happening with the 2020 A6.
Another NHTSA complaint reads, “Various components and system malfunctioned. Vehicle is in dealership for 3rd time on electrical/software/hardware troubles, SOS module. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. The car stopped me on a major highway thinking that I was not available “Emergency Assist, Driver take over the wheel” when I had both hands on the wheel, going straight and was fully in control of the vehicle. The car slowed down from 70 mph and the trailing truck behind me almost rear ended me. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by the dealer. The vehicle and components are being inspected/serviced at the Fort Collins Audi dealer. Yes, warning messages as well as the vehicle pumping on the break and jerking the seat belt. These started in Jun 2021 at 1400 miles and continued to the time I turned in the vehicle on 19 Oct 2021 at approx 13500 miles. I am attaching an 11 page documentation of dates, times and mileage of each incident that the vehicle’s computer systems are not functioning properly and the safety features are not reliable or make the driver feel safe with bogus warnings, or warnings that are erroneous.”
Again, there are multiple safety-related recalls that owners need to know about. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V159000 points out that affected models have a score line in the passenger air bag that wasn’t created correctly, causing it to not deploy when needed the most. It can also push out plastic debris into the passenger, leading to a higher chance of injury. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V274000 goes on to further explain the instances of plastic debris spewing out of the air bag. Owners should be wary who they put in the passenger seat with this in mind. Maybe it’s time to skip the HOV lane and drive alone.
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The powertrain affects how the car drives and what it feels like. When it comes to luxury travel, there should be no complaints, but there are plenty with the 2020 A6.
A review left on Edmunds states, “I have a 2020 A6 V6 with 600 miles. When it comes to a stop, about 60% of the time it makes a loud clunking noise. Dealer says it’s the clutch and it’s normal. It’s very distracting and shouldn’t be happening on a car of this caliber.”
Additionally, there have been major problems with the start-stop system, with Audi facing class-action lawsuits. It turns out Audi vehicles have a defect that causes the system to fail, leaving drivers in a lot of danger, especially at lights and stop signs when they need to accelerate to take off. The only thing “bold” about what’s going on with this model is the language that can commonly be heard in the cabin by frustrated drivers.
As a luxury vehicle, every curve and seam should be properly placed with perfect engineering, but it seems Audi has slacked on building this car.
A final NHTSA complaint says, “This issue has been happening since I got the car and is getting worse by the day. The car only has about 11,000 miles and I bought it when it had almost 10,000 miles. Something in the dashboard and behind the instrument panels (A/C Controls and User Screens) makes a lot of Vibration Noises/Sounds as the car is slowly accelerated or as we drive over some uneven road. It seems like there is something loose. And this is getting worse by the day. When you pay a top price for a luxury car like Audi you expect that the care is built solid and not with cheap parts… it is very disappointing to see that a luxury car like Audi A6 will make these types of noises when the car is practically brand new.”
Again, there are some serious recalls worth looking at. NHTSA Campaign Number 22V034000 says that more than 31,000 vehicles might not have a rear axle alignment that’s correct. This factory defect could cause uneven tire wear and premature failure. Additionally, NHTSA Campaign Number 21V295000 illustrates that nearly 41,000 affected vehicles could be equipped with a lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle that could easily break because of the stress corrosion caused by the misalignment. If this happens, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and crash. However, the A6 crashed and burned a long time ago.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Audi pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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