AUDI A6 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used AUDI A6 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the AUDI A6 has 194 owner complaints and 41 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- AUDI
- Model
- A6
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 194
- Safety recall campaigns
- 41
- Crash-related complaints
- 2
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (114 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
AUDI A6: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe AUDI A6 has 194 NHTSA complaints and 41 recalls on record. 2 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 194 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 41 federal recall campaigns
- 2 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
41 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 194 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
194 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
THE GATEWAY COMPUTER WAS FRIED DUE TO WATER CONSUMPTION. I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR AND HADE TO PULL OVER WITH NO POWER TO HELP ME. ALSO THIS WAS ALREADY RECALLED IN 2019-2022 AUDI FIX WAS TO PUT A PLASTIC BAG AROUND THE GATE WAY COMPUTER BUT THIS DID NOT PRETECT THE GATEWAY PROPERLY. THE GATEWAY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT DEALER CONFIRMED THE GATEWAY HAD WATER DAMAGE AND WOULD NOT WARENTY THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAD A WARENTY AUDI DELT WITH MY INSURANCE TO CORRECT THR PROBLEM. ALL WORNING LIGHT APPERIRED WHEN THE PROBLEM ACCURED ONLY.
Was driving on the highway, all of a sudden showed a sign of transmission malfunction and started decelerating which I could safely navigate the vehicle to the side of the road, got the vehicle towed to repair shop which they reported a transmission code P17F900- parking lock mechanical malfunction with codes P074700 and p077700 I am just out of warranty for this vehicle as I crossed 48000 miles. They have issued bulletins regarding this problem but no recall or extended warranty on that part this I deem as dangerous
My 2021 Audi A6 produces a strong mold and mildew odor from the HVAC/air conditioning system. The smell occurs consistently after the air conditioning is turned off and persists when entering the vehicle. The issue appears to originate from mold growth on the evaporator coil or dampers, likely caused by moisture accumulation and inadequate condensate drainage in the HVAC system. The vehicle was inspected and treated at an authorized Audi dealership; however, the treatment did not resolve the issue and the odor returned. Online owner forums and communities document the same problem across multiple Audi models and model years, suggesting this is a systemic design or manufacturing issue rather than an isolated incident. A passenger in the vehicle β a minor child with a documented mold allergy β has experienced allergic reactions as a result of exposure to the vehicle's air conditioning output. This constitutes a health and safety concern. The mold contamination in the HVAC system poses a risk to vehicle occupants, particularly those with respiratory conditions or mold sensitivities. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether a defect exists in the HVAC/evaporator system design across Audi vehicles, and whether a safety recall or technical service bulletin is warranted.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi A6. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The engine overheating and the low coolant warning light illuminated. In addition, the engine seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a failed coolant pump vacuum. The contact was informed that the coolant pump vacuum assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure of the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Thermostat housing and oil cooler bracket leaking coolant with only 56k miles on the car
I was driving my vehicle when the engine surged and then a transmission warning light came on and there was an immediate and complete loss of drive power. After the vehicle glided to a stop, there was no drive transmission in either forward or reverse. There was no pre-warning and no earlier incidence that led up to this issue. The vehicle is five years old with 39,834 miles and has had all routine maintenance and mileage interval services performed at the dealership, including its recent (Dec-25) 40,000-mile service. Thankfully this complete failure occurred when I was in my neighborhood and travelling 20mph; otherwise, the results could have been catastrophic had it occurred on a multilane highway at speeds of 65-70 MPH. The vehicle was towed to Audi of Indianapolis where the issue was identified as one broken bolt and two loose bolts for the transmission filter cap. This matches a known Audi Issue with a Technical Service Bulletin issued December 13, 2024, where they acknowledge a complete loss of power and a root cause of broken/loose bolts in the transmission filter. This is a known issue and is happening on low mileage well serviced vehicles. Because this issue is known and could result in a severe accident and/or loss of life under high-speed multi-lane highway conditions, it seems Audi of America should issue a recall versus just a TSB and/or extend the warranty for this issue up to 10 years or 100,000 miles which would, perhaps, be considered a normal lifespan for a part.
Read 14 more owner reports
My alternator was not working and it was a recall and I paid to fix it and they donβt wanna pay me back. I got a new part from audi and fix it at the shop and they donβt wanna pay anything just called and she said we donβt pay only if heβs done at the dealer. And I donβt believe that! Bc dealer told me they pay if I fix it any where to get done quick bc was out stock
While driving at normal speed, the entire digital instrument panel suddenly went black and a red warning triangle appeared. I lost all gauges, including speedometer, fuel level, and warning indicators. This created a serious safety risk because I was in active traffic and had no way to know my speed or see alerts. My VIN shows an open recall for this exact defect (instrument cluster blackout), but the failure has already happened during normal driving. I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive until repaired.
The Audi Pre-sense is activated by weather. I was driving during a thunderstorm and Audi Presence activated causing the car to come to a hard stop due to precipitation. It happened again backing out of my driveway the Audi Pre-sense was activated and the car came to a hard stop. I thought I had back into another vehicle. This is very dangerous.
The car has had multiple issues with warning lights and malfunctioning systems. Including : 1.Child locks 2.Every single component of the ADAS 3. Emergency services being activated at least a few times a month - this is an SOS for emergency 911 service. The repeated, continuous and mostly false warning lights are a driving distraction that can easily cause an accident. I have photos of all warning lights coming on in the vehicle. The dealership has repeated stated that they couldn't reproduce the problem even though pictures were provided and the car is still under the original warranty period. The latest attempt to fix the vehicle was to replace the sensors on the front of the vehicle. This solution was only attempted after the 4th report of the problem to the dealership where the car was serviced under the original manufacturers warranty
Vehicle had electrical system malfunction. Vehicle provided an electrical system malfunction and vehicle starting system malfunction warning message a few days prior to the incident. Vehicle has approximately 20.5K miles on odometer. Before I was able to bring it to service, the electrical system malfunction message became more severe and turned from yellow to red. While driving, the vehicle progressively shut down ABS, lane departure, and other systems and gave a transmission warning message. Eventually, the car lost power and I was left stranded at the side of the road.
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 symbol and advised to stop the car. After doing so and contacting the Audi roadside, the car was listing a series of issues on multiple symptoms while also saying in the warning message "still okay to drive". These systems included steering, braking, and what seemed to be other sensors the car powers. Finally (and within 5 minutes of the previous message of being okay to drive), the warnings were continuous and started including the transmission. The car stopped accelerating (we were on the expressway) and we thankfully got to the side of the road. This was an enormously dangerous situation as the car became fully disabled and we were subject to limited options of relief from a major traffic area. Within 30 minutes of being disabled, no electrical charge was present in the car, including emergency flashers, making the situation more dangerous as it was nighttime, so we had to abandon the car and walk down the expressway to find a hotel. Could not even put the car in neutral for the tow. Service is initially reporting a failure of the restart generator. This appears to be an alarmingly common issue with Audis.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi A6. The contact stated while his father was driving 45 MPH, the electrical system Malfunction warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several electronic components started to turn off until the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the starter generator to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2021 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V155000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to confirm when parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Multiple warnings indicating to contact dealer (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, electrical system, start/stop, etc) then 1 minute later transmission failure and engine failure imminent. After a minute or two my center MMI went blank then my electronic dash went blank, transmission went into neutral and the engine died all within a few seconds. Fortunately I was able to coast to a stop in the center median of an expressway and contacted the dealer. Flatbed towed to dealer who stated most likely the generator between the lithium battery bank and gas engine failed. They have seen several in this year for A6 and A7's with mild hybrid engines. I was lucky to be in low volume traffic as there was no power to indicate to drivers around me that my engine quit and not even turn signals worked. After having car towed to Audi dealer, they proceeded to tell me it was the starter/generator and the part was on back order for two to three months.
Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving. No other cars around when this occurred. Caused a very loud BANG. Was driving on the freeway when this occurred. Dealer would not confirm issue was spontaneous - felt something must have hit the car to cause this. No defined impact location on roof. Also, roof glass was pushed up in the middle instead of down like would be expected if something hit it from the outside. No warning before it occurred.
Liquid spulked in the trunk and somehow was able to get to the control module that is located under the rear seat similar concerns as recalled Audi Q5. Vehicle malfunctioned in the middle of a busy intersection.
My power steering went out & then all of a suffen I was driving & my steering wheel would not move my wheels
Frequent motor mounts failure, and leakage of hydraulic fluid from both left and right mounts. Motor mounts failure have occurred about three times in the last four years. After some online research and reading, found out that other newer Audi owners are having a similar issues with their mount amounts at low mileage just like myself.
Engine mounts failed. They are fluid damped and the seals failed and leaked and now the motor is sitting loose in a metal on metal condition with the mounts collapsed. Additionally the manifold and timing chain cover leaks. Additionally the water pump failed. This is all on a car with <75k miles. Problems have been noted by mechanics including Audi dealership. No warning lamps except during pump failure causing engine to over heat
Showing 20 of 194 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact AUDI A6
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used AUDI A6, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The AUDI A6 has 194 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The AUDI A6 has 41 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 2 of the AUDI A6's 194 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all AUDI A6 vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two AUDI A6 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The AUDI A6 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a AUDI A6 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used AUDI A6.
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Keep researching before you buy
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AUDI A6 reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the AUDI A6 reliable?
Poor. The AUDI A6 has 194 NHTSA owner complaints and 41 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which AUDI A6 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (114 complaints), 2020 (25 complaints), 2017 (20 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common AUDI A6 problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (121 complaints); ENGINE (40 complaints); FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (25 complaints).
Does the AUDI A6 have recalls?
Yes β 41 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI A6. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.