AUDI A6 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Air bags deployed

The steering rack for my 2017 Audi A6 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro has failed at roughly 54000 miles. This is the same exact OEM part (OEM Part # 4G1423055EA) that is used in the 2016 A6, which has an extended warranty from Audi due to a lawsuit of 10 years and 125000 miles. My VIN is not included in this extended warranty even though the 2017 Audi A6 and 2016 Audi A6 are the same engines, use the same OEM steering rack parts, and are the same vehicle outside of minor exterior updates in the facelift model (2017). This part has failed and now I'm being charged $6323.77 by the Audi dealership to fix this issue. I am sure this is simply the same issue as it is the same exact part in the same engine. This extended warranty must include all future Audi vehicles that use the same steering rack that is problematic and was given an extended warranty to cover the replacement.

While driving my family on a major Interstate, a myriad of warning ️ lights appeared on my dash panel and my vehicle’s steering literally locked! I have had no previous warning lights or issues with this vehicle since it was purchased. This near fatal incident happened as a 18-wheeler was seeking to merge onto the Interstate and I couldn’t change lanes to allow the oncoming traffic to merge. This malfunction/failure caused me and my family to narrowly miss being fatally crushed by the merging 18-wheeler. After bringing the vehicle to a stop in a safe area off of the Interstate and locating the vehicle owner’s manual, I learned that the Electromechanical Steering Unit failed on my 2017 AUDI A6 (Mfg 6/16). Because all of the local AUDI dealerships were closed, I had to call and have the vehicle towed to my home. Upon further researching the issue in various AUDI forums, I realized this system failure was widely experienced by AUDI owners and that it may have even played a part in prompting AUDI to issue “Electromechanical Steering Unit Extended Warranty” letters to certain AUDI 2011-2016 vehicle owners (A6 owners included). I believe NHTSA should do its due diligence in seeking to reduce highway safety fatalities on our nations highways caused by vehicle safety defects/malfunctions by auto manufacturers and execute a mandate for AUDI to (1) issue a SAFETY RECALL for this issue, OR (2) extend the Electromechanical Steering Unit Warranty to include later model year vehicles. It appears that AUDI has not corrected the known issue on their own; thereby warranting NHTSAs regulatory intervention. I would like NHTSA to launch a defects/safety investigation to determine how many more AUDI owners are at risk of experiencing this life-threatening, correctable, and known issue. Please keep me informed on the results of my report.

Had the car parked in the driveway for about a week and half. When turned it on for the first time after that period, noticed the airbag light in the odometer panel continue to be on. Checked for any airbag recalls but found none. Although no airbag recalls have been placed on this particular vehicle so far; I found an online source which states that vehicle of this year, make and model may be affected with airbag issues. Since this could be of a major safety concern, Please check and advise on how to go about this.

Car overheat. Engine light on. pulled over and then drove directly to local dealer 10min away who noted engine temp control actuator faulty- stuck. Needed to replace thermostat. Dealer noted problem was noted in earlier year Audi A6 models as well but thought 2017 year did not have similar. Could not leave/drive away from dealership since they noted too dangerous with faulty thermostat/coolant/heating etc. Hoping others are not experiencing similar danger/risks…

The contact owns a 2017 Audi A6. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a stop sign, after lifting her foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to slow the vehicle by depressing on the brake pedal. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and the mechanic was able to duplicate the failure while test driving the vehicle however, there was no error codes was found. The contact had experienced the failure on multiple occasions. The contact stated she had attempted to contact the manufacturer, but no one answered the call. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

My 2017 Audi A6 has approximately 50,000 miles on it. I am diligent about obtaining regular maintenance on my vehicle and visited the Audi dealership in Memphis, TN for a 50,000 mile inspection and service in June of 2021. Last week, just 3 months after my 50,000 mile services/inspection, my vehicle stopped operating correctly when making a turn from stopped at a stop sign and lost all power steering. I was informed by the Audi dealership in North Miami, FL (where I am now located), that the steering rack on the vehicle is faulty. The vehicle and this component are still located at the Audi dealership in North Miami while they wait for the part to come in. I can coordinate to make it available for inspection if you would like. I am concerned that this part failed after only 50,000 miles and am particularly concerned that this poses a major safety issue. I was lucky that I was at a near stop and able to make it to safety when this component failed. Had the power steering gone out at any other time, for example, while I was in the middle of an intersection or while driving on a busy roadway, it could have resulted in a major incident. I did not have any warning signs that the power steering was about to shut down, and as mentioned, I had the vehicle inspected just 3 months earlier without any issues. It is also worth noting that Audi had a known issue with the steering rack in the 2012-2016 model years for my vehicle and offered to reimburse owners of those vehicles and warranty the steering rack to 125,000 miles. Audi has indicated to me that the steering rack in my vehicle is the same part as that used in 2016.

I was at a stop light and automatic engine shut-off turned the vehicle off. However, when the light turned green car would not start. I had to put it in park and then turn the vehicle on/off to restart the vehicle.

Car loss power and turned off while turning at an intersection. Had to stop, place in Parking and restart the car with power switch

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING, ABS, AND ETC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER WAS INOPERABLE. A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI OF RICHMOND LOCATED AT 15292 BROAD ST, HENRICO, VA 23233, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WATER HAD BACKED UP INTO THE FIRE WALL AND DAMAGED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE DRAINAGE PANEL AND THE FIRE WALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER IMAGE PROCESSING MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

I AM WRITING WITH RESPECT TO RECALL REPORT 18V370, POSSIBLE FAILURE OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PODS SENSING SYSTEM. AUDI NOTIFIED ME OF THIS DEFECT IN JULY 2018 AND STILL HAS NOT PRODUCED A SOLUTION FOR THE RECALL. BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY AS TO WHEN OR WHETHER THE PODS SENSING SYSTEM MIGHT FAIL (INCLUDING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IMPACT), I CAN'T ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE AFFECTED SEAT. I BELIEVE AUDI IS BEING DELINQUENT IN ITS OBLIGATION TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SOLUTION UNTIL AT LEAST 2019. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSING CONSUMER HARM AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY. THEY SHOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM PRODUCING ANY NEW VEHICLES WITH THE CORRECTED PART UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY REPAIR EVERY AFFECTED EXISTING VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V370000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TRADE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AUDI FINANCIAL THAT THERE WAS A STOP SALE ON THE VEHICLE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE WAS NO TIMEFRAME FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AUDI OF STUART (3990 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997) THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V370000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME OF WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RECALL NOTICES HAD NOT BEEN MAILED TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY CAR HAS A RECALL. I'VE CALLED AUDI NO TIMELINE TOLD ME 3-6 MONTHS TILL CAN FIX. I AM ALSO NOT ALLOWED TO SELL MY CAR BECAUSE AUDI CAN'T SELL THE CARS. ESSENTIALLY I'M STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE CAR UNTIL AUDI DECIDES THEY WANT TO FIX.