AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1997 Audi A6
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Audi A6, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 41 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 7 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 8 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 9 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 11 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 13 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 15 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 2013 | 1 | 19 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 20 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical1460.9%
- Driver assistance14.3%
- Engine14.3%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Interior & seats14.3%
- Exterior lighting14.3%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
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.govSEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1997 AUDI A6 QUATTRO. FILLED UP WITH GAS AT 8PM, PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF GARAGE. BY 2PM NEXT DAY THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS (NEARLY 1/2 TANK) LOCATED UNDER THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE CAR PAST THE WHEELS MORE THEN 2 FT ON BOTH SIDES. THE FUMES COULD SMELT OVER 5 FT AWAY. I'M POSITIVE THE SLIGHTEST SPARK WOULD'VE IGNITED THE FUEL, THAT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR, MY NEIGHBORS AND MY GARAGE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, HE POINTED OUT THE LEAK, A PORT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TANK THAT HAS A HOSE ATTACHED TO IT IS CRACKED. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS WAS LEAKING ON MY EXHAUST, TRAVELING UP THE EXHAUST TOWARD THE ENGINE, I WAS LUCKY THAT THE HEAT DIDN'T IGNITE THE GAS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE, AFTER CALLING, WERE INFORMED THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED. AFTER DOING HOURS OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS OTHER VW/AUDI OWNERS COMPLAINING THEIR VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL EVEN THOUGH ITS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME PART!! BY USING THE AUDI PARTS WEBSITE TO LOOK UP OTHER MODELS ITS EASY TO SEE THEY USE FUEL TANKS THAT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN ISSUE BUT NOT COVERED IN RECALL. PLEASE GET VW/AUDI TO INCLUDE ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE FUEL TANKS WITH THE VALVE NIPPLES THAT HAVE PROVEN TO FAIL OVER AND OVER. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE REPORTS OF PART FAILURE AFTER RECALL HAS BEEN PREFORMED AND AUDI IS REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE AFTER THE FACT FORCING OWNERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. JUST BECAUSE NO ONE COMPLAINED ABOUT A MAKE/MODEL THAT IS USING THE SAME DESIGN FLAWED PART SHOULDN'T BE AN EXCUSE NOT TO ISSUE OR INCLUDE IN A RECALL! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING MAJOR TO HAPPEN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED.
- NHTSA ID
- 10947506
- Incident
- Jan 24, 2017
- Mileage
- 197,000 mi
IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. CAR STILL OPERATES AND IS A DANGER IF DRIVING WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS OR WIPERS WITHOUT KNOWING. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MODEL AND UNDERSTAND THE A4 HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM THE SAME YEAR. IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE FAILED SWITCH IN THE A6 HOWEVER AUDI DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE A6. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10557136
- Incident
- Sep 10, 2013
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
THE REAR SEAT WAS SHIFTED BY THE OCCUPANT TO ATTACH A CHILD'S CAR SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT MOUNTING BRACKETS. THE SPRING WIRES UNDER THE REAR SEAT CONTACTED BOTH POSTS OF THE BATTERY UNDER THE SEAT, IGNITING A FIRE, WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSION WIRES OF THE REAR SEAT WERE BURNED AWAY BY THE ARC. BASED UPON THE POSITION OF THE REAR SEAT REPORTED BY THE WITNESS, THE SEAT WIRES LINED UP RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY INSULATING MEANS BETWEEN THE TERMINALS OF THE BATTERY AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SUSPENSION. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10522252
- Incident
- Jun 28, 2013
I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY CAR - A 97/AUDI/AUDI A6 WHITE RCO129. THE KEY TURNS TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO GET THE GAUGES/ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES (WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.) TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AGAIN. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE 1994-1996 A6 RECALL? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10349494
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2009
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
1997 AUDI A6, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0327-89
- NHTSA ID
- 10321958
- Incident
- Jul 8, 2008
1997 AUDI A6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - STUCK THROTTLE. ONLY WAY TO STOP CAR FROM MOVING WAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION. AUDI DEALER (SUDS - NORMAL, ILLINOIS) FOUND ICE IN THROTTLE HOUSING AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE-MODEL AUDIS. IF I DID NOT HAVE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN OFF ENGINE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO CROSS TRAFFIC ON BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10181977
- Incident
- Feb 7, 2007
- Mileage
- 85,200 mi
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE CLOUDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE MIRRORS WAS PEELING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED THE MIRROR FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10162938
- Incident
- Jul 20, 2006
- Mileage
- 67,000 mi
ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLAINT ID 345606/RECALL ID#00V317000 AUDI 1997 A6 WAGON WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD STAY ENGAGED AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE CAR WAS BEING STARTED AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. STARTER WAS BURNED UP AND SO IS THE MOTORMOUNT IS AS MUCH AS I KNOW FOR NOW, IAM SURE THERE'S MORE. CAR IS STILL AT DEALER AND AUDI OF AMERICA (HQ) SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROMISE ME ANYTHING. MADE IT KNOWN THAT I WAS AFRAID TO HAVE A CAR THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE WITH MY TWO KIDS AND I. WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT MY CAR DIDNT HAVE A RECALL ON IT BY THE DEALER AND THAT THE SAME PART WAS NOT BEING USED AS IN AUDI A4, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED THE AUDI 1997 EARLIER COMPLAINT. AUDI IS BEING VERY INSENSITIVE TO THE SITUATION AND THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING VERY FAST. I RECEIVE SEVERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT THE SAME INFO OVER AND OVER AS IF THE DEALER AND HQ ARE NOT CONNECTING. THE INSURANCE AGENT AND MYSELF ARE NOT RECEIVING TIMELY CALL BACKS FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. I AM VERY AFRAID OF THIS CAR, PLEASE HELP!!! I KNOW THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE AT HQ SO I REALLY NEED THEIR HELP. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10143460
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2005
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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.
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
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.
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.
ENGINE
This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 2020 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 54.7 |
| 2019 | 113 | 7 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2018 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2017 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 43.7 |
| 2016 | 51 | 3 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2015 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 56.6 |
| 2014 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2013 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 2012 | 59 | 8 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2011 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 2010 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 2009 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 46.2 |
| 2008 | 71 | 4 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 2007 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 49.1 |
| 2006 | 67 | 4 | 0 | 48.1 |
| 2005 | 91 | 3 | 1 | 48.5 |
| 2004 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 52.0 |
| 2003 | 66 | 7 | 1 | 54.9 |
| 2002 | 88 | 4 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2001 | 113 | 7 | 2 | 62.1 |
| 2000 | 148 | 4 | 4 | 58.5 |
| 1999 | 217 | 9 | 8 | 66.5 |
| 1998 | 130 | 10 | 6 | 62.7 |
| 1997Viewing | 20 | 2 | 0 | 54.4 |
| 1996 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 45.5 |
| 1995 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 49.6 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
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.