My instrument cluster and its replacements have malfunctioned multiple times. The original instrument cluster/virtual cockpit failed to boot and had a black/blank screen on 4/19/2024 at 29,687 miles and was replaced on 5/15/2024 at 29,923 mi (11/13/23 production). That replacement one worked fine for a while and then did the same thing on 7/15/2024 at 33,655 miles and on 1/10/2025 at 42,532 miles. The instrument cluster was then replaced again on 2/10/2025 at 43,841 miles (production date 9/18/23). That replacement unit took only a couple of days to act up again with the blank screen on startup on 2/13/2025 at 43,965 miles and once more on 8/1/2025 at 52,673 miles. 3rd replacement 9/9/25 (production date 9/18/23) and has had the same issue on 4/18/2026 at 66,528 miles and once again on 9/30/2026 75,069. The 3rd replacement failed before the 12 month, 12,000 miles warranty but then was out of warranty by the time anything could be done.
The worst 2020 Audi S4 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical15
- Driver assistance9
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2020 Audi S4
Recalls 3
Tires
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 22V034000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
- Risk
- A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V‑547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V‑547 will need to return for the new remedy.
Recall number 21V874000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly
- What is wrong
- 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 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
- Risk
- A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
Recall number 21V295000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Audi S4 951
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides informaiton on the use of the PICO-NVH tool (VAS 611 015).
- This bulletin provides information regarding the current top concerns being addressed by the Audi Digital...
- This bulletin proides service information when there is a prompt to take over the steering wheel (hands...
- This bulletin provides information when the starter battery is discharged or malfunctioning.
- This bulletin provides information when there is an Audi pre sense warning, warning jolt, or brake...
- This bulletin provides information to aid in diagnosing the vehicle locking system.
- This bulletin provides information when the engine is not runing smoothly; all gas engines.
- This bulletin provides information on VIN plates, Safety Certification labels, and ordering procedures.
- This bulletin provides infomraiton when the exterior lights have moisture accumulation.
- This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
2020 Audi S4 crash test ratings
Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi S4 4 DR AWD | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | 5 |
2020 Audi S4 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | AWD | 20 | 27 | 23 |
What 2020 Audi S4 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My instrument cluster and its replacements have malfunctioned multiple times. The original instrument cluster/virtual cockpit failed to boot and had a black/blank screen on 4/19/2024 at 29,687 miles and was replaced on 5/15/2024 at 29,923 mi. That replacement one worked fine for a while and then did the same thing on 7/15/2024 at 33,655 miles and on 1/10/2025 at 42,532 miles. The instrument cluster was then replaced again on 2/10/2025 at 43,841 miles. That replacement unit took only a couple of days to act up again with the blank screen on startup on 2/13/2025 at 43,965 miles and once more on 8/1/2025 at 52,673 miles. I'm currently waiting to hear back from the dealer to get the instrument cluster replaced once again.
The Audi MMI malfunctions and reboots randomly while driving. Possibly being a software issue. There is a TSB code that the dealer used to reference for me ( TSB 2078437/1), but I cannot find it on the federal safety agency website. The reboot issue shuts off all functions associated with it, including, but not limited to: navigation, rearview camera, and parking sensor use. This poses a risk since it can be distracting to pull back your navigation while driving or having your rearview camera cutoff mid mid-use. The issue does not appear as a warning lamp or any type of notification, and there are multiple reports of similar issues on online forums that have not been addressed.
The MMI reboots continuously throughout my drive - whether it is 1 minute or an hour. It does this without a Bluetooth connection or wired connection. There is no ability to use hands free calling, listen to the radio, use Apple car play, Bluetooth, navigation, back up camera, parking assistance… It is startling to have your camera black out on your as your backing up (may back up camera works for about 45 seconds before stopping) I have done a hard reset. This is a problem that I am reading over and over and over again on forums I live nearly 2 hours from a dealer who takes weeks to get into and looking at a huge bill Hoping there is a fix soon
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a persistent and dangerous issue with the MMI (Multi Media Interface) system in my 2020 Audi S4. Since February 2025, the system has been spontaneously rebooting both while the vehicle is idling and in motion. When this occurs, the screen goes black and critical safety systems such as the rearview camera, parking sensors, and navigation become unavailable. The system requires driver interaction to restore functionality once it restarts, creating a major distraction. These reboots now occur every few minutes, severely affecting both usability and safe operation of the vehicle. Initially, this issue happened infrequently (about once every two weeks), but over time it has become constant. Based on extensive online reports from other owners—including threads such as this one on AudiWorld: [XXX] appears to be a widespread defect affecting other Audi A4/S4 vehicles of the same year. This malfunction compromises several driver assistance and safety features, and I believe it presents a serious hazard, especially if it occurs during parking, reversing, or navigating unfamiliar areas. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter and determine whether a recall or safety bulletin is appropriate. Thank you for your attention. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle software (known as Audi MMI) has been continuously rebooting every 30 seconds after the vehicle is started. This causes the entire dashboard (and entertainment screen) to repeatedly reboot which is very distracting while driving. While backing out of a parking spot, the MMI system rebooted which then disconnected my backup camera, blind spot warning, and rear collision warning systems which resulted in me almost hitting a car crossing behind me. There are zero messages anywhere in the car that an issue is present.
The main infotainment system is stuck restarting every 1-2 minutes. When the car is put into reverse, the rear back up camera will turn off while the vehicle is in motion and not resume.
The MMI (multimedia interface) screen goes dead and reboots frequently (every 2-5 minutes) while driving. It is extremely frustrating and distracting. In addition, when the screen blacks out while driving in reverse, the backup camera, back up sensors and cross traffic warning systems do not operate until the system reboots, which can take several minutes. This problem occurs constantly while driving and requires me to re-enter navigation destination while driving. Using CarPlay for navigation is also affected, as the system reboots whether or not I am using a secondary media source like CarPlay, and I have to re-enter the destination whenever the MMI reboots. Also the MMI needs me to re-enter user information on the screen with every failure in order to get the system running again, which is very distracting while driving. I am not even able to turn off the screen to avoid the distraction, as it will automatically fail and reboot while turned off. This will turn the screen back on in the start-up mode and cause the radio to turn on randomly. When this happens, the stereo volume will sometimes come back on, and other times it appears to be playing music and radio stations, but the volume control will not work. Then it will randomly come back on very loud. The distractions are unavoidable, as I would be happy to just leave the MMI system off, but it is not possible! Please require Audi to fix this problem!!! The dealer/manufacturer does not seem to be interested in fixing the issue, as is evidenced by the many complaints I have found on the federal safety agency website.
The Multimedia Interface (MMI) Touchscreen Radio will constantly reboot while driving regardless of variables. Diagnosis’ have proven problem to be undeterminable, this is a serious safety concern as I have lost back up camera and other safety features while driving, while I await the system to reboot. This reboot has been occurring non-stop since January. My research online and in other forums has led to a substantial group of vehicle owners suffering from the same issues across their vehicles. Audi has made no effort to rectify with the dealership simply stating they can charge to diagnose or replace. If it was an isolated incident I would be understanding as Maintenance problems will arise, but to have a substantial population discussing this issue ad nauseum seems to be more widespread with no solutions.
My Audi has been having an ongoing issue with the MMI rebooting while i am driving. It takes away my ability to see the maps and or hear the map telling me which direction to go. It has not been inspected yet however it is a common issue with the 2020 Audi cars that can be replicated however it is not predictable.
Compare the 2020 Audi S4
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Questions about the 2020 Audi S4
Is the 2020 Audi S4 reliable?
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2020 Audi S4, close to a typical S4 model year.
What is the 2020 Audi S4 year score?
The 2020 Audi S4 scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Audi S4: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Audi S4?
Electrical system, with 15 complaints. Next is driver assistance (9).
How many recalls does the 2020 Audi S4 have?
3 recalls, covering tires, air bags and suspension.
Is the 2020 Audi S4 safe in a crash?
The 2020 Audi S4 was crash tested, but no overall score was published. Partial scores: rollover 5 out of 5.
What year does the Audi S4 have the most electrical problems?
The Audi S4 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2000 (49 complaints), 2001 (47 complaints) and 2020 (15 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Audi S4 get?
Official estimates for the 2020 Audi S4 range from 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, AWD) gets 20 city and 27 highway.
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