Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Audi A6 Allroad problems

Owners filed 8 complaints about the 2020 Audi A6 Allroad with NHTSA between Feb 2022 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (6).

Complaints
8
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system6
  2. Power train2
  3. Structure1
  4. Forward collision avoidance1
  5. Lane departure1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Suspension1
  8. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20221
20236
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

6 reports1 related recall
“While driving I received two messages to contract service first that the “electrical system malfunction” and then a “starting malfunction” which was fallowed by a battery light and a check engine light. I contacted my local dealer they advised I have it towed in immediately. The car was towed in and it’s a “starter generator” and is back ordered with no eta. The car is not drivable and is at the dealer for an unknown amount of time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2023Electrical systemODI 11559037

Power train

2 reports
“Dashboard error messages, "Electrical System Malfunction! Please contact service" and "Vehicle Starting System: Malfunction! Please contact service". Dealer replied that it is a starter generator. Unsafe to drive, towed to dealer service. Part has been on order for more than three weeks.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2023Power train, Electrical systemODI 11548864

Structure

1 report
“This vehicle has an automatic opening/closure feature for the rear trunk/hatchback door. It's activated by putting one's foot under a sensor under the rear fender. This is fine for opening the door but it also closes the hatchback door with considerable force. The feature can be activated inadvertently e.g. when loading the car (and one's foot is under the rear fender) or when sitting on the edge of the luggage area and changing shoes. Both type of events have happened to me. I'm an bald and have had the door close on my head (which broke my scalp's skin) and have had it close when changing shoes many times. If this closed on a small child, I fear that a limb could be broken (or worse). One cannot disable this feature (ideally just to prevent it from closing) or just to simply disable it completely. I have taken the car to Audi dealerships to have the feature disabled on several occasions - but they are unable to do so. It is a safety hazard in my professional opinion - I'm a physician but not an engineer.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2024Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11563718

Forward collision avoidance

1 report
“I have a 2020 All Road. Received message driving close to my home to contact service due to electrical malfunction and made it to my driveway. This was on a Sunday and no service center was available. Car lost its HVAC and auto stop mechanism on the way home and parked it in the driveway away to be towed. This morning able to start vehicle but received numerous warnings as above to also include low battery due to no charging and finally a message (while placing it on a flat bed tow truck) to stop immediately and not drive the vehicle. I have read about disasters with this issue in regards to innumerable complaints from new Audi owners that this occurred very quickly while driving on an interstate in which their vehicle shut down within a minute and those affected experienced total loss of steering and braking with inability to even turn on their flashers for safety purposes. This is not a benign issue as beyond the inconvenience of waiting hours to be towed, one puts their life at risk when traveling on an interstate and within seconds having such a shut down of the vehicle occur. I am glad that I did not drive the vehicle in for servicing as I'd likely be on…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2023Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11526617

Lane departure

1 report

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11508031
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.