2021 Audi S5 Electrical Recall (20V737)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 5,426 vehicles · Reported November 25, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 5,426 2021 Audi A5; 2021 Audi RS 5; 2021 Audi S5 vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well. Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V737 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V737000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 97EU |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 25, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Audi A5; 2021 Audi RS 5; 2021 Audi S5 |
| Units affected | 5,426 |
| Component | Electrical System |
| Safety risk | Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Audi S5 in recall 20V737?
The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 S5 with recall 20V737?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your S5 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the electrical system, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V737?
Recall 20V737 covers 5,426 vehicles: 2021 Audi A5; 2021 Audi RS 5; 2021 Audi S5.
NHTSA lists 5,426 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Audi | A5 |
| 2021 | Audi | RS 5 |
| 2021 | Audi | S5 |
What is the fix for the S5 electrical recall?
Yes. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge. The recall began January 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EU.
When was recall 20V737 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 20V737 to NHTSA on November 25, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 25, 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V737000. |
This recall was filed 71 months ago. If your S5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my S5 is part of recall 20V737?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V737 is open on your S5, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 20V737000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should S5 owners do about recall 20V737?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V737000 applies to your S5.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the electrical system happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are S5 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the electrical system.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 20V737 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 11 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Audi A5: 8 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi RS 5: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi S5: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, after shifting from reverse to drive the vehicle lost all power. The contact stated that various warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was unable to restart.
2021 Audi A5 owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11439892, filed November 9, 2021
Can recall 20V737 make my S5 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 20V737000 does not automatically make your S5 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021 Audi S5 back, and the problem shows up again.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Audi S5 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your S5 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi S5 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V737
Is the 20V737000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my S5 is part of recall 20V737000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V737000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Audi. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.