1999 Audi A6 Electrical Problems

TAKATA RECALL I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING AND AXEL 2X @ $550 EACH TIME. CAR WOULDN'T ALIGN RIGHT, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WEARING ON ONE SIDE. THE CALIPERS WON'T COME OFF WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES AFTER IT WOULD RAIN, AND WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I FIXED THE TURN SIGNAL AND CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE UNDER COVER/PROTECTOR PLASTIC BROKE OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD BECAUSE THE AUDI DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY FORGOT TO PUT IT BACK ON PROPERLY. THIS POSSIBLY ALLOWED FOR THE OIL PAN TO HIT THE GROUND AND CRACK, WHICH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY PART OF THAT PROBLEM TOO. I TOOK IT IN TO SEE ABOUT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN. THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I DROVE TO THE MOVIE STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING. A PUDDLE OF OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF IT, AND THE THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. I'M GUESSING THAT THE PROBLEMS STEMMED FROM THE WHAT THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR.

NHTSA ID

11194856

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501872

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

SMOKE ERUPTED THROUGH VENT SYSTEM. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND FAMILY OF 4 EVACUATED. WITHIN 90 SECONDS, THE DASH ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. INTERIOR/DASH ETC. WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. MOTOR COMPARTMENT UNTOUCHED BY FIRE. SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HAVE PICTURES OF FIRE AND FIRE DEPT RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346307

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY AUDI A6 AVANT QUATTRO, SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH VENT. I STOPPED THE CAR AS SOON AS I SAFELY COULD AND CALLED 911, AS SOON AS I WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE SMOKE BECAME WORSE AND FLAMES BEGAN ROLLING OUT OF THE DASH AREA. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH A NEARBY RESIDENT LUCKILY HAD HANDY. BY VIEWING THIS FIRE AT CLOSE RANGE I AM CERTAIN THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USED A HEAT SENSING TOOL TO DETERMINE THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE OR HOTSPOT WAS VERY NEAR THE FUSE BOX BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THEY CUT THE DASH APART TO BE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I HAD NO WARNING OF THIS MALFUNCTION AND AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AS QUICKLY AS I DID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283285

Incident

Sep 7, 2009

Mileage

181,000 mi

DURING NORMAL USE AND DRIVING ABS, BRAKE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. ERRATIC AT FIRST THEN STEADY. DIAGNOSIS: ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. DURING PERIOD OF FAILURE VEHICLE OPERATES BUT WITHOUT AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON CONCERN AFTER CONDUCTING A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH. MECHANIC STATES THIS IS COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266030

Incident

Mar 2, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A TOXIC ODOR FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED GREEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER. THE SMOKE FROM ALL FOUR OF THE VENTS TURNED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 9,000.

NHTSA ID

10251116

Incident

Nov 5, 2008

Mileage

9,000 mi

ON MAY 2ND, 2007 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR REPAIR TO BEVERLY HILLS AUDI SERVICE. SPECIFICALLY I INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE THAT PENETRATED MY SINUSES LIKE SULFUR. BEVERLY HILLS AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SAME SMELL AND BURNING SENSATION DURING THAT WEEK. THEY ADVISED ME THAT CERTAIN PARTS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR TOTALING ALMOST $2,000.00. ON MAY 10TH, 2007 I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND DROVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. ON MAY 16TH, 2007 I CONTACTED BEVERLY HILLS AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ADVISED MY SERVICE ADVISER THAT I COULD STILL SMELL THE BURNING IN THE CAR AND THAT IT WAS UNBEARABLE. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ON THE WAY THE CAR BEGAN TO BURN A HORRIBLE SMELL AND WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD FROM THE AC VENTS. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO THE LEFT OF THE 405 NORTH FREEWAY AND PUT THE CAR TO A STOP. AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. I RAN AWAY AND WATCHED THE CAR BLOW UP AND GO INTO COMPLETE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED MINUTES LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET (NHTSA) IF THEIR HAD BEEN ISSUES WITH AUDI A6 VEHICLES CATCHING ON FIRE AND FOUND THAT THEIR HAD BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN INITIATED IN JULY 26TH, 2004. IT STATED THAT IN CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES A FIRE COULD ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT DASHBOARD AREA. I CONTACTED THE BEVERLY HILLS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED TEN TIMES SINCE THE RECALL WAS INITIATED. RECALL FOR THE AUDI 1999 A6 - RECALL 04V133000. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IF NEEDED. AT THIS TIME I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST VW OF AMERICA, AUDI OF AMERICA, AND BEVERLY HILLS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235531

Incident

May 16, 2007

Mileage

142,500 mi

I PARKED AND SHUT OFF MY CAR TO GO IN A STORE LEAVING A FRIEND IN THERE TO WAIT. I WAS IN THE STORE FOR 2 MINS AND MY FRIEND CAME IN AND SAID THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS, AN ABUNDANCE OF SMOKE. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE AND WITNESSED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE. I OPENED THE HOOD TO REALIZE THAT THE SMOKE IN FACT WAS NOT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I WALKED BACK AROUND TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE VENT AND A MAN WALKED UP TO SAY GET AWAY. IMMEDIATELY I CALLED 911 AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN AS I WAS HYSTERICALLY CRYING. I WENT BACK INTO THE STORE, WHICH WAS RITE AID AND THEY PROCEEDED TO MOVE ANY PERSONS TO THE BACK OF THE STORE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ENGULF IN FLAMES AND CONTINUED TO BURN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY SHOWED UP. THERE WAS A CAR PARKED NEXT TO ME AND WAS ALSO DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229609

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

141,500 mi

THE CENTER DASHBOARD DIGITAL DISPLAY ON BOTH MY 1998 A4 & 1999 A6 HAS FADING TO THE POINT YOU CAN'T SEE AND READ THE DIGITAL ENGINE ANALYST READ OUTS TO ALERT THE DRIVER ABOUT ENGINE & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHICH COULD LEAD TO MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217626

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WAS NOT VISIBLE AND COULD NOT BE READ. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR IT FOR FREE OR DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07*JB

NHTSA ID

10209178

Incident

Nov 13, 2006

Mileage

69,000 mi

DRIVERS INFORMATION DISPLAY FAILURE. NO WAY TO ACCESS VEHICLE MAINTAINENCE OR SAFETY INFORMATION. DISPLAY SHOULD TELL YOU WHEN TO REPLAY BRAKES, CRITICAL FAILURE ITEMS ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208592

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

1999 AUDI A6 QUATTRO WITH GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS THAT STARTED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AND THE MULTI-FUNCTION LIQUID CRYSTAL DID NOT INDICATE READABLE INFORMATION , THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FUNCTIONED SPORADICALLY. UPDATE *TR

NHTSA ID

10189009

Incident

Apr 18, 2007

AUDI A6 CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE SHE TOOK HER CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS GIVEN A LARGER BILL FOR OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING AND ENGINE. UPDATE *TR

NHTSA ID

10189007

Incident

Jan 9, 2007

Mileage

59,632 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 1999 AUDI A6. ON MARCH 19, 2007. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT ON MARCH 20, 2007 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON FOR THE FIRST TIME ,AND THAT THERE WAS BURNT SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE GAS LINES. ON MARCH 21, 2007 THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. ON MARCH 22, 2007 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, AND THAT THE ENGINE HOSES NEEDED TO BE TUNED. ON MARCH 24, 2007 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP TRANSPORTED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BAD BATTERY, THE HOSES WERE ADJUSTED. THEY WERE ONLY WAITING ON THE PARTS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE CONTACT HAD INFORMED THEM THAT THERE CONTINUED TO BE A STRONG BURNT SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ON MARCH 31, 2007 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE WORKED ON THE AIR CONDITION UNIT. ON APRIL 1 THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD FAN NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. ON APRIL 4, 2007 THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL VEHICLES GO THROUGH A 25 POINT INSPECTION BEFORE SALES. ON APRIL 7 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PROFESSIONAL DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE LEAKS ON THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. ALL ENGINE CAM SEALS, HOSES, AND ABS MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED . THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD COME TO OVER $5000.00. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST AMERICAR TRADING COMPANY 501 NORTH THOMPSON, SPRING DALE AR, 72764 (479-927-0333) SINCE THEY DID NOT REPORT THAT THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE SALE. THE DEALER HAS NOT RETURNED THE CONTACTS CALLS AFTER THIS LAST FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,049, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,594. *AK UPDATED 07/17/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10187396

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

120,049 mi

1999 AUDI A-6 HAD A RECALL ON HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRES AND DEALER REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING AN AFTER MARKET DEVICE INSTALLED. THE AFTER MARKET ACCESSORIES WERE WIRED INTO THE HEADLIGHTS SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181647

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WE CAUSED THE LIGHTS, TURNSIGNLA, HORN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS AND HEAT IN THE CAR TO NO WORK. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS WAS CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH MELTED WIRES FROM THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

10163104

Incident

Dec 28, 2005

Mileage

129,930 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 AUDI A6 ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD SON IN HIS BOOSTER SEAT, THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD STARTS TO SMOKE . THEN IN LESS THAN A MINUTE FLAMES WERE COMING OUT, BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, MY DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE,WHILE TAKING MY SON OUT THE AIRBAG BLEW, SCARING HIM EVEN MORE, AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE TOXIC FUMES WE INHALED. THE INSURANCE TELLS ME THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND IF THAT AIRBAG WAS ACTIVATED WHILE I WAS STILL DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158175

Incident

May 22, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

HEATED STEERING WHEEL BURNS HANDS, SMOKES. DOESN'T VARY WITH SETTINGS. DID NOT ALLOW IT TO GET TO A FIRE CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153643

Incident

Jan 9, 2006

Mileage

91,000 mi

TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER BROKE WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. SHOP WHICH REPAIRED CAR TRIED TO FIND A USED COMPUTER OUT OF 3 OTHER AUDIS AND ALL WERE RUSTY. MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT WATER SEEPED BEHIND DASHBOARD AND UNDER DRIVER'S FLOORBOARD, RUSTING OUT COMPUTER ,AND RUINING TRANSMISSION. EVIDENTLY, ALL OTHER AUDIS SHOWED THE SAME WATER DAMAGE IN THE SAME AREA. COMPUTER FAILED TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE DASHBOARD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND NOT WHILE WE WERE ON THE ROAD. WE INSTALLED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND NEW COMPUTER. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DROVE A VEHICLE ONCE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD, COMING TO A DEAD STOP. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10149026

Incident

Dec 26, 2005

Mileage

103,000 mi

MY 1999 AUDI A6 AVANT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE LACK OF TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATER AND HORN. THE BERNARDSVILLE AUDI DEALERS CLAIMS IT "FRIED SOME WIRES" WHICH TO ME SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146949

Incident

Dec 31, 2005

Mileage

127,600 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE SMELLED MELTED PLASTIC, MAYBE AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. WHEN SHE PULLED OVER FIRE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VENTS. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141729

Incident

Nov 3, 2005

AUDI A6 1999. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED EASILY WHILE IN GEAR. *SC THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10129166

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENT ON 1999 A6 SEDAN.*MR WHILE DRIVING SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE AC VENTS THEN FLAME STARTING COMING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENTS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OF AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SMALL BURN WHILE PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH (04V13300) BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10089582

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

THE CENTRAL DASH CLUSTER, DRIVERS INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES TO ILLEGIBLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064122

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

AS THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMAL, LIGHT SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. NOTHING WAS ON, SUCH AS THE AC OR THE HEATER. THERE WERE NO SIGNALS OR ANY ALARMS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. IN TERMS OF MINUTES, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE LIGHT SMOKE TURNED INTO PITCH BLACK SMOKE, IMMEDIATELY TURNING INTO FLAMES. IN A MATTER OF A MINUTE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENTIRE INTERIOR AS WELL AS THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH NO VISIBLE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OR FRONT END. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016589

Incident

Apr 27, 2003

Mileage

64,000 mi