Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Audi A6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
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
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.
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.
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
IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION CAUSING LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. STARTER ALSO REMAINS ON CAUSING BURN OUT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS. BASED ON THE VIN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 096V17000 IN 1996. THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONLY ONCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
1996 AUDI A6 IGNITION GETS STUCK AND STARTER STAYS ON. LIGHTS, AIR, WIPERS, ETC, WILL NOT WORK. THIS PROBLEM WAS A MAJOR RECALL ON OTHER AUDIS OF THE SAME YEAR BUT MY VIN # DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR SOME REASON. *TR
1996 A4 HEADLAMPS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. ***NAR*** *TS RECALL 06V403 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE HEADLAMP AND WIPER FAILURES. THE 1996 A4 HAS BEEN RECALL BUT NOT THE A6. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, THE COMPONENTS WERE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. A NHTSA RECALL, #96V017000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE YEARS AGO CONCERNING, THE IGNITION SWITCH HOWEVER; THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RETURN AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TWIST THE IGNITION CYLINDER BACK INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA RECALL # 96V017000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN A DIFFERENT STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
MY 1996 AUDI A6 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY COME ON. REPEATED VISITS TO AUDI DEALER. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF $ WITH NO SUCESS. I NOW VISIT THEM EVERY WEEK TO HAVE IT TURNED OFF TO COME ON AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WILL BE THINKING OF RIDING OF THR CAR AND GOING BACK TO HONDA'S. THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED ME.
MY 1996 AUDI A6 HAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AS DESCIRBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIN ID NUMBER : 96V017000, WHICH APPLIES TO MY CAR'S MODEL YEAR. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER SEEMS TO FALL RIGHT OUTSIDE THE RANGE DESCRIBED BY AUDI AS THE AFFECTED RANGE, AUDI USA REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNDER THEIR RECALL PROGRAM. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY THE ONE TARGETED BY THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND SO I SUSPECT THAT AUDI USA DELIBIRATELY UNDERSTATED THE RANGE OF CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM SO AS TO SAVE THEMSELVES THE COST OF ADDRESSING IT PROPERLY AND HONESTLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS/INTERIOR LIGHTS/HEAT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT REMAINS ON DESPITE REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALER. FIRST IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAILED "VACCUM LINE," BUT THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME BACK. CORRECTIVE MEASURES HAVE SINCE INCLUDED THE CHANGE OF: OXYGEN SENSORS, FUEL LINES, AND A NEW BATTERY. THE LIGHT IS STILL PERMANENTLY ON, ALTHOUGH NO NOTICABLE DRIVABILITY IS AFFECTED.*AK
CLIMATE CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK UPON START-UP UNLESS THE IGNITION KEY IS "JIGGLED" INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS AND UNFORTUNATELY, MY VIN # IS JUST OUT OF THE ORIGIANL RECALL RANGE OF RECALL #96V0117000. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN DETERMINED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 96V017000 FOR IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
BATTERY EXPLOSION OCCURRED. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO BATTERY EXPLOSION, VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RETURN COMPLETELY FROM START POSITION TO RUN POSITION WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE DRIVER TO MANUALLY RETURN THE KEY TO THE RUN POSITION. WHEN THE KEY WAS BETWEEN START AND RUN POSITION, TURN SIGNALS AND AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE ON AUGUST 4, 2004, BATTERY EXPLODED. BATTERY IN THIS VEHICLE IS POSITIONED UNDERNEATH REAR SEAT PASSENGER SIDE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED FOR ROOT CAUSE OF BATTERY EXPLOSION AT LOCAL NON-AUDI SERVICE CENTER.*AK
CONSUMER VEHICLE'S EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 96V017000. DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, AND COULD CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.*AK THE STARTER REMAINED ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. *NM
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 96V017000. DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, AND COULD CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION. *AK STARTER STAYED ENGAGED WHEN VEHICLE WAS ALREADY RUNNING. *LA
IGNITION SWITCH IS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND CONSEQUENCE DESCRIBED IN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 96V01700. *AK
CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED IGNITION SWITCH. (NAR) *LAB LIGHTS, HEAD LAMPS, HEATER & AC FUNCTIONS, WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL UNPREDICTABLY. *CB
IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING. WATER PUMP STOPPED WORKING. (WAS REPLACED 40,000 MILES AGO). *LA
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ALSO, STALLED WHEN JIGGLING THE KEYS.*AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE RANGE, THEREFORE THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. RECALL#96V017000. *JB *NM
AFTER DRIVING AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS/ HEAD LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONER DIDN'T WORK. *AK
THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH GOES PAST THE ACCESSORIES AND CAUSES SOME ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
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.
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