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2020 Audi S4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 S4.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2020 Audi S4 is a front‑wheel‑drive sedan built on Audi’s MQB platform, powered by a turbocharged engine that requires 7.7 quarts of 0W‑20 oil and delivers EPA‑rated 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Its standard Automatic (S8) transmission and refined powertrain give the car a balanced blend of performance and efficiency. In terms of reliability, the 2020 model registered only 16 owner complaints, the lowest in recent years, with the predominant issue relating to the electrical system and a total of three recalls—indicating a strong position within Audi’s historical complaint range, where the most troubled year was 2000 with 148 complaints and the best was 1995 with just one.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7.7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 06M115441G. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP245/40R18HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim8.5; Optional: NS, 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06M115441G alt 06M198405F
Engine air filter	8W0133843
Spark plug	06M905606F
Battery	000915089BD
Front wiper blades	8W1998002
Thermostat	06M121688 alt 06M121678H
Cabin air filter	4M0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	187.8 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	55.1 in
Wheelbase	111 in
Curb weight	3854 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 27 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	90 cu ft
Cargo volume	13 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the S4 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.20 sec — 2020 Prestige Quattro Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2020	Prestige Quattro Sedan 3.0L Turbo V6	4.20 sec	12.80 sec	349 hp	AWD
2020	Prestige Quattro Sedan 3.0L Turbo V6	4.20 sec	12.80 sec	349 hp	AWD
2021	Prestige Quattro Sedan 3.0L Turbo V6	4.30 sec	12.80 sec	349 hp	AWD
2018	Prestige Quattro Sedan (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.20 sec	12.80 sec	354 hp	AWD
2018	Premium Plus Quattro Sedan (S Sport) 3.0L Turbo V6	4.30 sec	12.80 sec	354 hp	AWD
2024	Prestige Quattro Sedan 3.0L Turbo V6	4.80 sec	13.30 sec	349 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	7.7 qt

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

89 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Replace bolts: Step 1: 15 ft. lbs.

90°

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 model year represents a notable spike in owner complaints within this generation, registering 16 complaints compared to just 2 in both 2019 and 2021, though its 3 recalls fall between the 1 and 4 recorded for those adjacent years. Federal data shows a consistent upward trend in technical service bulletins across this generation, climbing from 765 in 2018 to 927 in 2021, with 2020 sitting at 902, indicating increasing manufacturer awareness of potential issues. The 2020 complaints cluster primarily in electrical systems and back-over prevention categories, with the data specifying no crash or fire incidents; however, the root causes for these electrical complaints remain unspecified in the federal record. While 2020 carries the highest complaint volume of this generation, its recall count remains moderate and no safety-critical crash or fire investigations appear, suggesting the issues are largely annoyance-related rather than hazardous. For buyers prioritizing mechanical simplicity, the lower-complaint 2019 or 2021 model years may offer cleaner ownership profiles, though 2020 remains viable if electrical systems are thoroughly vetted during pre-purchase inspection.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

902

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’18 ’19’20’21

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System5

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Back Over Prevention3

Electrical System,Back Over Prevention3

Unknown Or Other1

Lane Departure,Back Over Prevention1

Electrical System,Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance1

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1

Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper,Back Over Prevention1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V034000TiresReported 26/01/2022

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… 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…

21V295000Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle AssemblyReported 26/04/2021

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 902 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_2076404_8	2026-06-29	Unknown Or Other	This bulletin provides a deployment overview for customer service packages MLB and MQB…
TSB_2074640_3	2026-06-26	Engine	This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_3	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_7	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2065960_6	2026-06-23	Electrical System	This bulletin provides information when the display of the Audi virtual cockpit is…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific S4. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 7.7 qt Engine oil filter 06M115441G Engine air filter 8W0133843 Spark plug 06M905606F Battery 000915089BD

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 S4 take?

7.7 qt of 0W-20 Long Life IV, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 S4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the S4 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.