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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.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2020 Audi A6
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Steering | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Power Train | |
| Engine | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Suspension | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
Problems with the Electrical System
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.”
Problems with Forward Collision Avoidance
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.
Problems with the Powertrain
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.
Problems with the Structure
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.
Your Lemon Law Legal Rights
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Complaint Data
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | Lamp: electrical system malfunction: safely stop vehicle. I have read that they car would have next shut down and loss of control while driving. |
| Category | Electrical System, Fuel/propulsion System, Power Train |
| Date | Feb 19, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | While driving on the interstate, I received a warning about an electrical system malfunction. As I neared my home, I received warnings about transmission failure, suspension malfunction, steering malfunction, sensor failure, and more. After a tow to the dealership I was told it is a generator/alternator (?) failure and the part is on national backorder and may be 3 months or more. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Feb 12, 2023 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Receiving multiple electrical warnings including low battery charge, vehicle starting system, parking brake malfunction, stabilization control (esc/abs), parking aid malfunction, and all-wheel drive malfunction. Issue appears to be due to a common failing 48v battery alternator. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Feb 03, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | I purchased the car new around june 2020 and it currently has just under 26,000 miles on it. Earlier this week while driving the car, an electrical malfunction warning appeared on the dashboard display. The first dealership I contacted did not deem it serious and set me up for an appointment over a month away. The second dealership I called had me tow the car in right away as the thought was my alternator had failed. A call back later that afternoon confirmed the alternator did in fact fail. That dealer also indicated that the wait time for a replacement was several months away. This seems to indicate much larger problems with this part as alternators are fairly common and very necessary components. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Jan 31, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | While driving to work, received notification of "electrical system malfunction, contact service immediately". I contacted audi. They advised me to either bring the vehicle in or have it towed. I drove to audi that afternoon. While driving to the service facility, the warning changed and told me to pull over immediately. As I was close to the dealership, I continue to drive and was able to make it to the dealership. I was informed by the service manager that the car could have shut down at any time and I would have lost complete control of steering and brakes. This is apparently a well-known problem with the 48 v generator. It will be a 2-month wait until I can have the generator replaced. Given that the electrical systems could have shut down at any time, this is a safety issue. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Jan 24, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | My electrical system failed and the car died on the freeway. This is now recognized as a chronic problem- a software bug in the 48 volt mild hybrid system- with several audi models, including this a6 allroad. The bug apparently damages the vehicles alternator, which must then be replaced. There is a several month backorder on this part, so hundreds if not thousands audis remain unrepaired on the lots. They are dying on roads across the usa on a daily basis. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Steering |
| Date | Dec 01, 2022 |
| State | KS |
| Description | 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 and get the car back. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 15, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 audi a6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The brake, transmission, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the windows inadvertently rolled up and down while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's and passenger's side rear seats sustained water damage, which caused an unknown electrical system component to malfunction. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer declined the replacement part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. |
| Category | Electrical System, Service Brakes, Steering |
| Date | Jul 21, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Gateway unit that is located under the rear seat has an inadequate insulation and is susceptible to liquid exposure and electrical failure. A liquid penetrated the rear seat and short-circuit the gateway while vehicle was moving resulting in a near-accident by shutting down power steering, brakes, and many of the car's systems. Failure messages began appearing and vehicle was unresponsive to driver actions. Emergency blinkers were not working at the tail lights which is a critical safety hazard for a disabled vehicle on the road. Dealer confirmed gateway unit failure due to the water exposure and recommended the replacement of the unit. Vehicle had no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Mar 04, 2022 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | On more that 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. |
| Category | Suspension |
| Date | Feb 02, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact's wife owns a 2020 audi a6. The vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 21v295000 (suspension), however after a few months the contact had an issue with the vehicle's rear tires. The vehicle was taken to a tire center where they were unable to replace the rear tires due to severe damage to the undercarriage and rear axle on the vehicle. The local dealer who performed the recall repair was called but told over the phone that the dealer does not have any record in their system showing they performed that recall repair on the vehicle despite the contact having the work order detailing the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was mileage was approximately 9,027. |
| Category | Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
| Date | Nov 12, 2021 |
| State | WY |
| Description | 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. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Oct 26, 2021 |
| State | WY |
| Description | - multiple computer/modules/safety features. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection - the emergency assist with driver not available came on and slowed my car down to the point I almost got rear ended by the truck that came up from behind - the problems randomly occur and are intermittent, but I have accurate documentation of when they have occurred. The dealer has my audi a6 now for the 3rd time with the same issues. 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 or real issues over the last few weeks. When I bring the vehicle in today, 19 oct 2021, it is the third time you will have it in for the same issues. The car is scaring me because the safety issues are not safe and it seems as if the sensors are not working properly and seeing things that are not there and activating without any concerns to do so. One of these times, the emergency assist came on when I was driving highway speeds and had both hands on the wheel going straight on a dry road and sunny skies (13 oct), beeped at me 4-5 times with the message continuing to show on dash, the car jerked with the automatic brakes being pumped and no driver intervention as the seat belt was tightening on me, kept the emergency assist on to slow me down to the point that I almost got rear ended by the truck that was following me. I was driving normally/straight on a straight road within the lines with both hands on the wheel and there was no reason for the emergency assist to come on. This is only one example of the car having a mind of it's own when it is not warranted. I am afraid that the vehicle will cause me to have an accident instead of protecting me from one. I have word doc of dates/times of incidents, too numerous to list. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Jul 19, 2021 |
| State | UT |
| Description | I have multiple safety features that are suddenly malfunctioning. The care suddenly braked when traveling at 80mph in the hov lane. The pre sense function suddenly braked the car while another was passing in the opposite direction. The emergency assist tried to steer me into a car in the lane adjacent to mine. 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. I feel like my vehicle is an accident waiting to happen. The date below is when these things began to happen |
| Category | Structure:body, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 17, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | 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 type of noises when the car is practically brand new. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Feb 27, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The automated emergency braking randomly kicks in.. This has happened two times in the past 3 months. Nothing was around to cause the aeb to activate. This could have caused a serious accident if someone was driving behind me at the time. It jolted passengers in the car. The car came to a complete stop and nothing in the vicinity, no oncoming traffic, no pedestrians, no animals.... |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 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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