2020 AUDI A5 Electrical System Problems

Audi USA sent me a recall letter/service action for Infotainment System Software. The system reboots and shuts down unexpectedly while driving. Took the car to a local Audi dealership and they informed me that they cannot repair the recall because they now want to change my SOS module in order for both to work. They are asking me to pay them $1,500 for that. Meanwhile they informed me that my SOS system is not working either because of that, and I cannot use.

The Multi-Media Interface (MMI) randomly reboots and poses a safety hazard. Several times while reversing using my backup camera, the MMI has rebooted which causes the camera to go blank. This poses a risk to back up into an object or a person during this time. Also during this time, the Rear Cross Traffic Warning system is disabled until the system reboots. Also, while using navigation, the MMI has rebooted on me several times. It has occurred during critical times such as exiting freeways at high speeds. When this occurs it is terribly distracting and could cause an accident. The problem has been re-produced by my dealer. They said it needed a software upgrade and performed that. It worked better for a couple days but is now back to rebooting spontaneously. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating the fault will be occurring. It just reboots and the MMI goes totally blank for about 20 seconds while the system reboots. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when it will reboot. I can drive for 20 minutes and it may happen 4 times and then another time drive for an hour and never have it happen. Lately, it has gotten so bad I drive my son's car if it is available due to the safety concerns.

The MMI which controls back up and 360 cameras, parking sensors, collision avoidance system, navigation, bluetooth, radio, etc reboots randomly without warning. There is no predictability and I have not been able to identify a trigger. There is no warning indicator on the dash or MMI before it happens. When it reboots the screen goes black and all associated MMI functions become inoperable for seconds to minutes. It then restarts and often makes me log back in before I am able to use it again. It happens multiple times, sometimes over a dozen in a short drive and often happens just several minutes apart. It has rebooted while I am pulling into my garage, parking, or backing up and actively using the cameras which poses a serious safety issue. It also occurs often when using bluetooth which can be a distraction, pulling my eyes off the road to grab my phone. This seems to be a widespread problem with Audi MMI which has not been addressed and is a safety concern for all models affected. The dealerships know it is happening due to the amount of complaints, but will not update software and want me to pay a diagnostic fee + upgrade + labor.

Hello, I am writing today to inform you about the safety concerns I have over My Audis MMI issues. The MMI is the multi media infotainment which is operates my back up camera, proximity sensors and navigation. The MMI is stuck in a loop and reboots every 60 seconds. I was backing up and the MMI rebooted on me which abruptly stop streaming what was behind me, my neighbor was also backing up and thankfully I spotted them on my rear view mirror and stop in time before we collided.

The vehicle's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system is reportedly shutting down randomly while the vehicle is in operation. This issue occurs without warning and is intermittent, making it unpredictable. Observed Symptoms/Events: Complete Loss of MMI Functionality: The screen goes black, and all associated functions (navigation, radio, Bluetooth, vehicle settings, climate control interface, rearview camera, etc.) become inoperable. Random Occurrence: The shutdown can happen at any time, regardless of driving conditions (e.g., stationary, low speed, highway speed). There appears to be no consistent trigger. Duration of Outage: The MMI system typically remains off for a period ranging from a few seconds to several minutes before spontaneously restarting. In some cases, the system may not restart until the vehicle is turned off and on again. Impact on Other Systems: While the primary issue is with the MMI, the owner reports concern about potential impacts on critical vehicle functions that utilize the MMI display (e.g., rearview camera when backing up, warning messages displayed on MMI). No Warning Indicators: No specific warning lights or messages appear on the instrument cluster immediately preceding or during the MMI shutdown. Repeatability: The issue is not consistently repeatable on demand, but it has occurred multiple times since its initial manifestation. Potential Safety Risk: The random shutdown of the MMI system poses potential safety concerns due to: Distraction: Unexpected system failure can be distracting to the driver, potentially diverting attention from the road. Loss of Critical Information: The MMI displays crucial information such as navigation directions, rearview camera feed, and certain warning messages. A sudden loss of this information can compromise driver awareness, especially when maneuvering or in complex traffic situations.

Beginning in mid July 2025, the MMI system (screen in the center of the dashboard) reboots every 1-2 minutes. In addition to the large distraction this causes while driving, the constant rebooting disables the back-up camera, parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alerts, collision avoidance assist, navigation, as well as everything else that is controlled by the Audi MMI system.

2020 Audi A5 started randomly rebooting (MMI software) around mid April 2025, It happens I’d say every 5-20 minutes and it repeats all the time. The fact that Audi/VW won't cover the cost to update their buggy software is very frustrating. I have notified Audi USA about the issue and am awaiting a response if they will cover the labor cost @ Prestige Audi in Denver, CO

The computer of the car (the MMI) is constantly rebooting. Once I turn on the vehicle it’ll start up normally and after about 1 minute or two it’ll go black and everything will restart.

MMI constantly shuts off, often in the process of moving into or out of a parking spot. This suddenly and unexpectedly disables the parking collision warning system, the rear cross traffic warning system, and frontal collision warnings. Very frustrating and unsafe. No solution currently exists. No symptoms prior to this happening; it is widely reported at online forums. No users have been able to have this corrected even at the dealer.

About 3 weeks ago, the MMI screen began restarting over and over again and at times would reset when backing up and using the rear view camera. I have attempted restarting the MMI multiple times to no fix. I have also reset the MMI to its original settings and still the system keeps restarting. Sadly, this seems to be an issue occurring to multiple 2020 models according to multiple complaints online. Audi seems to be aware of the issue and there is a mixed response from Audi dealers on a fix. Some seem to suggest expensive options while others “fix” the issue only for it to continue to happen.

Vehicle's MMI and screen shuts off and on randomly even if the car system is off. Cannot use backup camera, or steering wheel controls while driving due to the system shutting down. Yes. Audi of Springfield MO Yes. Audi of Springfield MO No. Happened after the dealership did an update on the vehicle.

The MMI system in the car constantly reboots and does not work for more than 30 seconds

Infotainment system restarts every 2 minutes. The entire system is unusable. This affects my safety because the radio static would come on every time it reboots at a loud volume. It is very distracting as it happens at every reboot revery 2 minutes. The screen keeps turning on and off is also very distracting. This has not been inspected by anyone but me. I see this problem surfacing online everywhere: [XXX] No warning message. First appear in March, restarting every few hours, but last few days it restarts every couple minutes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MMI system frequently shuts down and reboots. This is a safety concern as the screen has shut down and gone dark in the middle of backing up, while using the backup camera and navigation is lost when driving on the highway causing a dangerous distraction. Within a minute of turning on car, the system shuts down, reboots and continues to shut down and reboot repeatedly throughout the duration of the drive. They system only stays operational for a few seconds to a few minutes at a time. This has been happening ever since I purchased the vehicle in 2022, however it used to be sporadic, occurring only once a month or so. Recently is has been occurring daily and the MMI system is now completely unusable.

The car has a very loud sequence of high pitched beeps accompanying a “SOS EMERGENCY CALL FUNCTION MALFUNCTION” warning light that comes on and stays on. It is a major driving distraction when the warning beeps suddenly come on (up to six sustained times in a row). The diagnosis of this was that the antennae needs replacing due to water ingress with an estimate from dealership of $2500. Additionally, the MMI randomly powers off and then reboots every couple of minutes. This again causes major safely issues as navigation is suddenly gone when the screen turns black, and then loud music starts playing on the radio (which was not playing previously) when it automatically reboots. I have to try and turn off blaring music and readjust navigation in the midst of driving. There are also a number of screens I have to navigate answering after the reboot which again causes driving distraction. The dealership said there were no fault codes so I would have to invest in a software update with an estimate of $700 which may or may not fix the problem. If the problem is not fixed, the entire MMI would have to be replaced with an estimate of $7000. All of these lights and warnings and screen changes and screen prompts essentially makes the car not drivable due to the extreme distractions implicating safely and focus

MMI turns off about every 2-mins and restarts on its own. Everything(Radio+navigation+Airplay+Sound) restarts and its extremely distracting while driving(missing turns+Disconnect hans off calls etc).This has been going on for approximately 4 days.

Everytime I am driving around my MMI system keeps rebooting. It disconnects my navigation and back up camera and it takes 10-30 seconds to restart. It does this about once every 2 minutes.

My media display will randomly turn off while driving, idling and parking. It will happen with Apple CarPlay connection and without anything connected, ie just listening to radio. It requires the whole system to reboot an attempt to login, which also often fails. This is a safety concern for both driver and pedestrians as it affects parking visibility when the systems reboots while parking. Also, when shifting into reverse I've noticed a sluggish rear camera activation. The camera output on the display fades up much slower.

The MMI/ radio shuts off and reboots at least 4-5 times within a 30 minute drive. When it comes back up, I get the error “user hasn’t been detected for some time” or "A technical error has occurred. The user could not be loaded". I have had it go out while in reverse which is a safety concern. Every time it shuts off it is 30 seconds to a minute where nothing in my MMI is accessible. This began around April of 2025. No warning lights or error codes have been found. I have not taken it in for diagnosis, as it seems to be software related. It seems a lot of people are experiencing the same issue and how it may be related to software updates. It is very frustrating, and provides potential safety concerns as access to any GPS services, backup cameras, and any feature tied to the MMI go completely blank while driving or reversing.

Communication system: The telephone microphone works intermittently and fails while the seat belt is fastened. The car is equipped with telephone microphones in the driver's seatbelt and on the roof, under the rearview mirror. The microphone system works when the seatbelt is NOT fastened. If the belt is buckled correctly and the mobile phone answers a call, the driver must manually disconnect the Bluetooth to answer the call (or unbuckle the seatbelt). The dealer said it was an iPhone issue; however, this issue has been known since 2020. The driver's belt is not damaged in any way. The dealer says I am responsible for replacing the safety belt to remedy the issue, but it is not assured that it will fix the problem. I purchased this vehicle in 2023, and the telephone issue has been a persistent problem. NC is a hands-free state, and this issue causes me to disconnect my telephone and navigation maps or to handle my phone while driving to disconnect the Bluetooth. MMI Reboots While Driving: The MMI system turns off and restarts while driving. The screen goes black, and the system requires the driver to select User and sometimes enter a code. This issue will also cause a mobile device to disconnect. Particularly dangerous while using a CarPlay map application while driving. The dealer says I am responsible for paying for the software update. On Tuesday, [XXX] I was driving in Greensboro, NC, when the MMI system went black. My phone was connected using Maps, but I unplugged it from the car, and my maps would not load on my phone. It was dark, and I was in an unfamiliar neighborhood. This experience was frightening and very unsafe. Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletins on both problems without issuing a recall. Many owners of the 2020 model are experiencing these two issues. These are serious issues and should warrant recalls without any cost to the consumer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The MMI/ radio shuts off and reboots at least every 5-6 minutes. When it comes back up, I get the error “user hasn’t been detected for some time”. Every time it shuts off it is 30 seconds to a minute where nothing in my MMI is accessible. This began around late June of 2025. No warning lights or error codes have been found. I have not taken it in for diagnosis, as it seems to be software related.I know a lot of people that are experiencing the same issue and how it may be related to software updates, as the current software I have matches what the others have. This is very dangerous as access to any GPS services, backup cameras, and any feature tied to the MMI go completely blank while driving.

The MMI/ radio shuts off and reboots at least 4-5 times within a 30 minute drive. When it comes back up, I get the error “user hasn’t been detected for some time”. I have had it go out while in reverse which is a safety concern. Every time it shuts off it is 30 seconds to a minute where nothing in my MMI is accessible. This began around April of 2025. No warning lights or error codes have been found. I have not taken it in for diagnosis, as it seems to be software related. [XXX] This link shows a lot of people that are experiencing the same issue and how it may be related to software updates, as the current software I have matches what is in the link and is incredibly outdated and old. Never once has it been addressed by the company. It is incredibly frustrating, and provides potential safety concerns as access to any GPS services, backup cameras, and any feature tied to the MMI go completely blank while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The MMI which is the visual interface for screen controls including GPS continually resets and when it does the car loses all connection to these functions. Resets and comes back and then sometimes within minutes does it again over and over. Have communicated with other Audi owners who are having same issue and have had no resolution through Audi.

MMI spontaneously reboots numerous times while driving. When the reboots happen, the screen goes black and key systems such as the backup camera, rear obstacle detection, and navigation, become unavailable until the reboot completes and the systems reload. Restoring functionality requires user input to get through the loading screens. The issue started in February/March 2025 and I requested my the Audi dealer to investigate while performing a 50,000 mile service in May 2025. This appears to be a widespread issue based on the numerous reports found on user forums online, affecting the same model year vehicles (for multiple examples, refer to [XXX] ). This should be considered a safety issue, as the reboots can happen in the middle of a reverse parking maneuver, and they render the backup camera and obstacle detection sensors completely inoperative until the system reloads. They also impact safety on the highway, as the reboots completely disable the navigation screens, and require multiple user input to restore, while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My MMI system is routinely shutting down. I cant use my garage opener, rear backup, warning collision effects and have to routinely reset while driving.

The MMI unit randomly reboots and disconnects anything connected for navigation. It does this very often, every single time I drive. In a 30 min drive, it could reboot at least 3 times and make you sign in as a user to access it.

The vehicles MMI multimedia infotainment system will randomly shut off, go blank and reboot. This happens at random intervals and there doesn’t seem to be a pattern to the cause. It also happens at times when trying to back in, this is dangerous as it cuts out the reverse camera and the parking sensors while it reboots. It not only shuts off music it shuts off gps while it reboots. It does it with the regular gps as well as with Apple CarPlay on

MMI randomly reboots involuntarily at any point during the drive. Reboots as often as once every few minutes and reboots about 5-8 times per drive. Cannot pin point the cause since it is not obvious. Also a safety concern because the MMI can reboot while backup camera is active or while car sensors are in use. Multiple owners of the same year model are having this same issue for months now with no fix from Audi. I have been having this issue non stop the last few months now.

The entire infotainment screen spontaneously crashes leaving the screen completely black for 30 seconds to a minute while it resets. This happens randomly and quite frequently, on average every 5-10 minutes that the car is on. The whole infotainment system becomes unavailable including audio and, most dangerously, the backup camera. I have had incidents where I am reverse parking and I check my side mirrors and when I look back at my screen to see how close I am to the car behind me, the system is in the middle of rebooting and the screen is blank. I have taken the car to the dealer and have been told it’s a known issue but there is no fix and nothing could be done. There is no warning as to when the system decides to reboot. I have also had it happen during a very important phone call and the Bluetooth was disconnected entirely until the system finished rebooting. I could only imagine if that happened during an emergency call.

The Audi MMI system which is there in car infotainment and system management main frame. Has developed a habit of totally going blank, causing loss of phone connectivity, navigation continuity, as well as use of all of the manufacturer supplied safety systems. The system reboots itself, the driver must then struggle to regain navigation, phone connection etc generally at speed. The failures happen very sporadically, as much as 10x on a 7 mile drive and then not at all on the next drive. In an age where holding your phone while operating is illegal it is a very disturbing problem. The Audi fix is a software upgrade, at owners expense, ($458.00)that so far has eaten up 9 hours of my time and is still not done. I have had to upgrade systems like this in other vehicles I own and I am able to accomplish this on my own garage. How long before someone hurts someone critically while they are trying to get their system to reconnect and are not able to pay attention to their surroundings. I feel a system such as this should be better warranted when you consider the amount of components it controls.

The Audi MMI (Multi Media Interface) system plays a crucial role in enhancing safety features by providing a user-friendly interface for managing various driver assistance systems and safety-related functions. These include features like emergency calls, roadside assistance, and the integration of driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance assist.

The MMI (Multi Media Interface) System reboots, sometimes every 2 minutes while driving the vehicle. This incident has been widely reported across Audi customers driving 2020 vehicles. When the system temporarily shuts down and restarts, all systems go down. Meaning, all sensors, back-up cameras, navigation systems, emergency calls, roadside assistance, and the integration of driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance assist. The MMI plays a crucial role in enhancing safety features by providing a user-friendly interface for managing various driver assistance systems. When it goes down, as a driver, I am without these safety features and distracted.

The software that supports the radio and other functions keeps rebooting while driving. This I could happen three times in 15 minutes. I have been on highway and it shuts off which has made me swerve and almost get in an accidents. Dealer has charge me $350 and did not fix issue. They are talking with corporate but no one seems to care. Started in January or February of 2025.

Complaint Summary Component: Electrical System / Infotainment (MMI) Vehicle: 2020 Audi A5 Make/Model/Year: Audi A5, 2020 Frequency of Issue: Ongoing, multiple times per week Safety Concern: Yes Description of the Problem: I am experiencing ongoing and repeated spontaneous reboots of the MMI (Multi Media Interface) system in my 2020 Audi A5. This issue began occurring a few months ago and has since become increasingly frequent. The reboots can happen randomly — sometimes shortly after starting the car, sometimes mid-drive, and even when in reverse, which is particularly concerning as the rearview camera and parking sensors are disabled during the reboot, creating a serious safety risk. The screen goes black, audio cuts off, and navigation is lost for about 30–60 seconds. This can interrupt driver focus and make it harder to safely operate the vehicle. This issue is not isolated to my car. Many other owners of 2020 Audi vehicles with the MIB3 infotainment system are reporting the exact same symptoms, including on a thread with hundreds of replies here: [XXX] Despite numerous complaints, there has been no official recall or permanent fix from Audi USA. Many owners report getting temporary software updates from dealers, but the problem returns. Why This is a Safety Issue: Driver distraction during driving when the screen goes black or restarts. Loss of rearview camera and parking sensors when reversing. Loss of GPS navigation during driving in unfamiliar areas. Loss of hands-free calling functionality mid-call, increasing temptation to use a phone manually. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue with Audi and consider opening a recall or service campaign for affected vehicles. This is an increasingly widespread issue that affects safe operation of the vehicle's core systems, especially during driving and parking. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The MMI infotainment system randomly restarts approximately every 30 minutes. This causes Apple CarPlay to disconnect, interrupting navigation and music. It's especially unsafe to interrupt while driving on freeway because it leads to missed turns or distractions on the road.

The MMI screen in my 2020 Audi A5 Sportback randomly reboots while driving, with no consistent pattern. These reboots occur regardless of whether a phone is connected—via USB-C, Bluetooth, or not connected at all. The issue is highly distracting and often occurs during critical moments, such as while reversing (disabling the rear-view camera), when cross-traffic alerts are active, or while moving forward (disabling the parking sensors). What’s particularly concerning is that the issue has become more frequent over time. Initially, it might happen once during a 30-minute commute. Now, it can occur 3–4 times in quick succession, making the system increasingly unreliable and disruptive. Each reboot interrupts essential, hands-free safety features such as Bluetooth phone connectivity and GPS navigation via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay—functions designed specifically to promote safe driving by reducing the need for manual interaction. In addition, the system frequently prompts for the key user to log in and continually checks remote access rights, adding even more distraction while driving. There should be a recall for this! It seems to be happening to a lot of 2020 A4 and A5 owners from my research on the internet. I have tried rebooting and restoring factory settings, but the issue still persist!

Audi MMI system randomly reboots during which time basic information is unavailable such as vehicle speed, fuel levels, etc. and requires user intervention to reactivate which distracts the driver from their primary functions. While this happens both screens available to the driver go blank.

Center display that shows backup camera continuously reboots (approximately every 5 minutes). The reboot is distracting to driver and when it occurs the backup camera and parking warning sensors are lost.

The blue tooth , gos, CarPlay and emergency sos not working. I looked online and there was a recall, but Audi is no longer honoring the recall to fix this issue.

Our 2020 Audi A5 experienced a module failure affecting SOS (Loud) audible alarm that sounds every 2-4 minutes when driving and also affects bluetooth connection for hands free phone. Told by Audi dealership there was a recall, then removed for this due to lack of available parts from Audi. This very loud alarm sounds every 2-4 minutes while driving and is variable so can easily scare driving/distract. Audi dealership said at least 5 other customers also have this present issue and have for months and they have no idea when Audi will send replacement modules. This is a driving hazard I would suspect impacting thousands of customers if 5 at one dealership is an indication. The first time this alarm sounded, my wife nearly drove off the road and then it is shockingly loud each subsequent time and still is startling.

Where I am currently living, speed is measured on the roads in km/h. My vehicle allows the speedometer digital display screen (Audi virtual cockpit) to be switched to display MPH or km/h. When working correctly, the speedometer should display the speed with digits and an analog simulation. The display works perfectly when in MPH, however when switching to km/h the analog simulation properly shows km/h, but the digital reading will switch to km/h for a split second but then immediately reverts back to MPH. This defect was confirmed by 2 Audi service technicians at my local Audi service center, but they said Audi doesn't have an update for this defect. I have tried to contact Audi customer service, but I am not getting any answers to my question. I think this is a safety issue because it can be confusing as I expect to see the speed in km/h in both digital and analog display, but it shows the digital in MPH. An image that clearly shows the problem is attached. As you can see the analog style reading is in km/h, but the digital reading is in MPH. I have tried to resolve this with Audi for 1 year. It is my opinion that my safety and others has been placed at risk because this problem often causes me to be confused about the speed I am traveling. For example, if I glance down and see 100 on the display in a 100 km/h zone, I think I am going the speed limit, but fact, I would actually be going 100 MPH or 160 km/h, which would obviously be dangerous. The vehicle has not been inspected by police, insurance, or any other vehicle inspection organization. The problem occurs consistently and can be inspected at any time. This problem was noticed shortly after taking delivery one year ago in September of 2020.