BestCarRank
Audi

2020 Audi A6

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Audi A6 has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 28. The most common issue is electrical problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: 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 wh. There are 9 recalls issued for this model year.

39

Total Complaints

9

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints
44%
  • 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 wh
  • 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 DRI
  • 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,
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

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 wh

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (9)

TIRES26/01/2022

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 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2020 Audi A6

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,182
Per month
$182
Per mile
18.2¢
MPG
22
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,401/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,847/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2020 Audi A6

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,495
Full coverage / month
$125
Liability only / year
$571
vs US avg
-11%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (wagon)0.95x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating0.94x
× vehicle age1.00x
= Full coverage estimate$1495

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Audi A6 Service Intervals

Oil change
10K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
10K mi
Brake fluid
24 months
Transmission fluid
40K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
60K mi
Cabin air filter
20K mi
Engine air filter
40K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
40K mi

Long-interval service (LongLife) uses fully-synthetic oil. Some engines have timing belts (check owner's manual).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Audi New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
4 yr / 50K mi
Powertrain
4 yr / 50K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
12 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
4 yr / unlimited mi

Corrosion coverage is unlimited miles for 12 years

These are the terms for a new Audi. If you're buying a used 2020 A6, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Audi dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)
$500
SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ELECTRICAL: 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 wh

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • BODY/STRUCTURE: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Audi dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
39
Recalls
9
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
28

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2020 Audi A6