RoadVitals

1996 Audi A6

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
51
Latest Jan 5, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 8, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 51 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Audi A6, most frequently naming the electrical, visibility and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 39 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical3857.6%
  • Visibility57.6%
  • Exterior lighting46.1%
  • Heating & air conditioning34.5%
  • Airbags34.5%
  • Driver assistance23.0%
  • Engine23.0%
  • Body & structure23.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V175000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 8, 1997
39,300 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
The risk: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
96V017000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Jan 29, 1996
24,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
The risk: SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 51
Airbags
Filed Jan 5, 2018

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE TO SAY AIRBAG UNSAFE

NHTSA ID
11060713
Incident
Dec 31, 2017
Electrical
Filed Aug 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE IN VARIOUS POSITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10893605
Incident
Jun 5, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10874904
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 2014

ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 11TH 2014, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN HER VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE BELIEVES SHE WAS GOING BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND TOPPED OUT AT 70 BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN. SHE STATED TO ME AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT SHE HAD TO PRESS BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK HER CAR TO FRIEND'S HOUSE, DROPPED HER OFF AT SCHOOL AND TOOK HER VEHICLE TO SUNNY SIDE AUDI IN MIDDLEBURG OHIO. THEY FOUND THE SPEED CONTROL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $800 AND $1000 TO REPAIR. I PAID THEM $138.00 TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE $138 ISN'T GOING TO BREAK ME BUT THEN AGAIN BREAKING ME IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE GIVEN THIS INCIDENT A LOT OF THOUGHT; WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, HOW LUCKY WE ARE THAT MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T PANIC AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY MANY MORE 1996 AUDI A6'S OUT THERE AND WHO KNOWS OTHER AUDI'S IN GENERAL WITH THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SET UP THAT IS INSTALLED IN OUR CAR THAT HAVE OR WILL MALFUNCTION. I AM HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS INCIDENT. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO INSPECT OUR VEHICLE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE RESPONSE OF THE SUNNY SIDE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY OFFERED US NO SUPPORT OR AVENUE FOR ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR AND TREATED THIS INCIDENT LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE REPAIR. WE WERE LUCKY IT WASN'T WORSE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED AND HAVE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572985
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Mileage
114,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE ON POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE KEY REMAINED IN THE STARTING POSITION, CAUSING SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACK MANUALLY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE FROM THE STARTING POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10462253
Incident
May 21, 1999
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER WOULD DISENGAGE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,063.

NHTSA ID
10263872
Incident
Mar 25, 2009
Mileage
149,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. HE ASKED FOR THE REPAIR RECORDS, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS DO NOT ILLUMINATE, AND THERE IS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION DIDN'T SPRING BACK. THE STARTER MADE A CRACKING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10253058
Incident
Dec 17, 2008
Mileage
155,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 23, 2008

IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION CAUSING LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. STARTER ALSO REMAINS ON CAUSING BURN OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249580
Incident
Apr 11, 2008
Mileage
125,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

AWC 19-05

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

This communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries.

AWC 19-04

EQUIPMENT

This communication is issued to remind dealers of the repair validation process for repair group 19. 2005-2019 A3, 1996-2019 A4, 2008-2019 A5, 1992-2019 A6, 2012-2019 A7, 1997-2019 A8, 2019 E-Tron, 2015-2019 Q3, 2010-2019 Q5, 2007-2019 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2000-2019 TT, 2008-2018 R8

A941791 2012749-

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.

SM 44-2017 EN

EQUIPMENT

This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.

ATE-17-05

EQUIPMENT

Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada.

A441662 2010334-

WHEELS

This information TSB provides information regarding the correct way to torque adjust a wheel bolt.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A6 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026500—
2025520—
2024010—
2023210—
2022250—
20211511056.1
2020249054.7
20191137052.5
2018112055.5
2017203043.7
2016513050.7
2015224056.6
2014414050.7
2013526053.5
2012598043.2
2011213054.2
2010173052.8
2009214046.2
2008714049.8
2007534049.1
2006674048.1
2005913148.5
2004354152.0
2003667154.9
2002884155.2
20011137262.1
20001484458.5
19992179866.5
199813010662.7
1997202054.4
1996Viewing512045.5
1995162149.6
1994211—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.