OBD diagnostics · purchase protection

2020 Audi S5
Common Problems & Inspection Guide

Verify baseline vehicle system stability data. Learn what to check on the physical vehicle computer before signing a bill of sale.

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Platform Heritage

The Audi S5 is one of two high-performance variants of Audi's A5. The B8 and B9 generations were marketed as the coupé, cabriolet, and five-door fastback sedan versions of the B8 and B9 Audi S4 saloon and estate models, while the B10 S5 is the direct replacement of the B9 S4 models. Like all Audi "S" cars, they are only available with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive (4WD) system, here in S5 using a Torsen-based centre diff system. Most versions of the S5 are manufactured at Audi's plant in Ingolstadt, Germany; they are available as a coupé, cabriolet, and five-door sportback, which was previously not available in North America until the 2018 model year, which was released in the United States in mid 2017. The cabriolets are built at Audi's factory in Neckarsulm, Germany.

Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jul 24, 2026

Key facts for this model year

25NHTSA owner complaints
4Safety recalls on file
6Top issue reports · Electrical System
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you

0 average monthly buyer searches in the US (google ads data · as of Jul 24, 2026). Run a MotoMetrics scan for your VIN to see live repair exposure.

Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jul 24, 2026

System Defect Summaries & Field Data

Active safety recalls on file: 4 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jul 24, 2026)

Top NHTSA complaint categories

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 6 reports (source: NHTSA Complaints API · as of Jul 24, 2026)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 6 reports (source: NHTSA Complaints API · as of Jul 24, 2026)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION — 3 reports (source: NHTSA Complaints API · as of Jul 24, 2026)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 2 reports (source: NHTSA Complaints API · as of Jul 24, 2026)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 2 reports (source: NHTSA Complaints API · as of Jul 24, 2026)

Recent recall summaries

Campaign 22V034000 · TIRES · API record

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.

Campaign 21V295000 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY · API record

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.

Campaign 21V874000 · SEATS · API record

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.

Campaign 20V737000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS · API record

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.

YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.

On-Site Audi S5 Pre-Purchase Checklist

  1. Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
  2. Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
  3. Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
  4. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  5. Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  6. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  7. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  8. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  9. Confirm recall remedy completed for TIRES (campaign 22V034000).
  10. Confirm recall remedy completed for SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY (campaign 21V295000).
  11. Confirm recall remedy completed for SEATS (campaign 21V874000).
  12. Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Audi S5 before signing the bill of sale.

Audi OBD-II trouble code quick reference

  • P0420 — Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — top long-tail code across most makes
  • P0171 — Fuel system too lean — vacuum leaks and fuel trim diagnostics
  • P0300 — Engine misfire detected — inspect coils, plugs, and compression

Generic diagnostic context only — confirm stored, pending, and permanent codes with a full-protocol scan before purchase.

Alternative Inferences & Cross-Shopping Matrix

Adjacent model years for this nameplate and equivalent footprints shoppers compare across brands.

Generational cohorts

2019 Audi S5 2021 Audi S5 2018 Audi S5 2017 Audi S5

Class competitors

No cross-shop peers indexed in this segment yet.

Vehicle health varies wildly by individual history. Aggregate recall and complaint data cannot tell you whether the specific car on the lot had its monitors cleared or its odometer rolled back. Verify the physical or digital scan before you sign a bill of sale.

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