Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A6 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI A6 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
AUDI A6 vs FORD F 150: The Audi A6 has 194 complaints over 10 years (19.4/yr) while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 (1,131.1/yr). Audi owners report electrical failures from water ingress, while Ford owners face transmission hard shifts and power loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A6
The Audi A6, with 194 complaints over 10 years, presents a relatively low complaint rate, but the issues reported are serious and often electrical. Owners describe water ingress leading to wiring corrosion, mold, and electrical failures, as well as engine overheating and seizing. These problems suggest that while the A6 may not have frequent issues, when they occur, they can be costly and potentially dangerous.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, with 11,311 complaints over 10 years, shows a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is transmission problems, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, and sudden power loss. Electrical issues and exterior lighting problems also appear frequently. This pattern indicates that the F-150, while popular, has significant reliability concerns, particularly with its powertrain.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 194 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 41 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 19.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
AUDI A6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM121
- 02ENGINE40
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE25
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER23
- 05POWER TRAIN21
Owners report water ingress into the passenger compartment causing wiring harness corrosion, electrical failures, and even black mold growth. This can lead to a host of electrical gremlins, including warning lights and system failures.
Complaints include engine overheating and seizing, as well as issues with the auto start-stop system and air conditioning. These problems can leave owners stranded and require expensive repairs.
The pre-sense system can malfunction, with warning lights appearing and steering locking while driving. Owners also report the system working intermittently, and dealers may charge high fees for realignment.
“* Passenger front Seat wiring harness corrosion and failure due to water ingress due to leaking web plate in the longitudinal member on passenger side. Water ingress in passenger compartment caused electrical failure and black mold to grow in the interior car…”
“Car reported an engine restarter issue (with battery symbol) and recommended to contact the dealer. Car next shut down automatic restart system, and air conditioning stopped working. Within a short period of time (same day), the car listed a red battery symbo…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden power loss. Some owners report the vehicle shutting off and then restarting with a jerk, which is a safety concern.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These can be persistent and may require dealer intervention.
Headlight problems are common, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Given the high number of complaints, headlight failures or malfunctions are likely frequent.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
AUDI A6 — 41 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, R…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi custome…
The defect: 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…
The risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
The risk: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
AUDI A6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi A6 has far fewer complaints per year (19.4) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the A6's issues are often electrical and can be severe, while the F-150's transmission problems are widespread and can affect drivability. In practice, the A6 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but the F-150's issues are more predictable and well-known.
Key differences
- The Audi A6 has significantly fewer complaints per year (19.4) than the Ford F-150 (1,131.1).
- Audi A6 owners report water ingress causing electrical failures and mold, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission hard shifts and power loss.
- The Audi A6 has issues with forward collision avoidance and engine overheating, while the Ford F-150 has more exterior lighting complaints.
- The Ford F-150 has a higher number of crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287) compared to the Audi A6 (2 crashes, 2 injuries).
- Check for signs of water damage in the passenger footwells and under carpets, as water ingress can cause electrical failures and mold.
- Inspect the engine cooling system and look for any history of overheating or coolant leaks, as engine seizure has been reported.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for hard shifts or jerking.
- Check for any warning messages on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' which may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Audi A6, have a mechanic inspect the wiring harnesses and check for any signs of water intrusion or corrosion.
- For the Ford F-150, review the transmission service history and consider a diagnostic scan for any stored trouble codes.
- Ask for the vehicle's recall completion status for both models to ensure all safety recalls have been addressed.
- Test all electronic features, including the forward collision warning and pre-collision assist, to ensure they function properly.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any previous accident or flood damage, which could exacerbate electrical issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | AUDI A6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 24 |
| 2025 | 8 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 15 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 25 | 33 |
| 2019 | 114 | 36 |
| 2018 | 2 | 56 |
| 2017 | 20 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific AUDI A6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A6 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI A6 total complaints
- 194
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- AUDI A6 total recalls
- 41
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- AUDI A6 avg complaints/year
- 19.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A6
- AUDI A6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN