RoadVitals

1999 Audi A6 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Apr 17, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 217 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Audi A6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2011

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (2 FRONT) NEED TO BE REPLACED. AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON STEADY, INDICATES ENGINE MISFIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10396597
Incident
Apr 17, 2011
Mileage
72,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+3 more
Filed Nov 2, 2007

1999 AUDI A6 AVANT WITH SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE AUDI TO PAY FOR THE LAST 4 REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. CONSUMER HAS HAD SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND STATES THAT IT IS A LEMON. *KB THERE WAS A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A BAD PIPE, THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, THE BACK WHEELS WERE DRAGGING SO THE PADS WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, T HE SUNROOF WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, GASKET OIL COOLER AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE ALL REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10208310
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2007

1996 AUDI A6 CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AFTER MARKET MUFFLER HE PURCHASED DIDN'T WORK WELL WITH AUDI'S AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER ONLY USE A FACTORY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189022
Incident
Feb 1, 2007
Mileage
97,804 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Apr 23, 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
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 9, 2007

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
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 2006

THE FLEX JOINT WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUNNING INTO THE ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK.

NHTSA ID
10163102
Incident
Jul 5, 2006
Mileage
135,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2004

I HAD A LEAK IN THE CAM SEAL AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT IN THE AUDI FORUM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096277
Incident
Sep 21, 2003
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
10092169
Incident
Sep 14, 2004
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 2004

WATER PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY AT 56,000 MILES WHILE ON VACATION TRIP. CAR IMMEDIATELY OVERHEATED, AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE WITHOUT RISK OF SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ENGINE. OCCURRED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FROM NEAREST AUDI DEALER. COST TO REPLACE OVER $600 PLUS $400 FOR HOTEL & FOOD FOR TWO NIGHTS (WORK PERFORMED BY LOCAL VW DEALER BECUASE NEAREST AUDI DEALER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY; HAD TO WAIT OVERNIGHT FOR PARTS TO COME FROM AUDI DEALER; AUDI USA WILL NOT WARRANY VW'S CANADA'S WORK, ONLY PARTS, EVEN THOUGH AUDI IS A SUBSIDIARY OF VW). NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM (WATER PUMP FAILURE AT LOW MILES) AT AUDI OWNERS SITE WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM; AUDI OWNERS MANUAL SUGGEST WATER PUMP SERVICE AT 90,000 MILES. CAR SERVICED PER AUDI'S RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE & USUALLY BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090823
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2004

CAM SEALS AND MAIN SEAL BOTH FAILED AND COST OVER $2000 TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY. VERY UPSET SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAD 58000 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10078601
Incident
Jun 10, 2003
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2004

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION -- CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. WOULD NOT SLOW EVEN WHEN DRIVER'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. ENGINE REVVED RAPIDLY AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10066056
Incident
Feb 16, 2004
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2004

CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND THE OIL PRESSURE ESCALATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061574
Incident
Feb 6, 2004
Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2004

ENGINE OIL LEAKS. WIFE (MAIN DRIVER OF VEHICLE) REPORTED STRONG SMELL OF BURNING OIL. DEALER MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT MANUFACTURER HAS COVERED REPAIR FOR OTHER OWNERS. MANUFACTURER DECLINED ASSISTANCE FOR OUR MODEL YEAR (1999 WITH 37,000 MILES) EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD APPROVE A 2000 MODEL YEAR WITH UP TO 62,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10059086
Incident
Feb 24, 2004
Mileage
37,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2004

1999 AUDI A6 2.8 LITER CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AT 93,000 MILES NOVEMBER 2003. INTERIOR OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS LOOSE AND RATTLES VERY LOUDLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, MEANING THE THE EMISSIONS COMPONENT IS INEFFECTIVE. DEALER STATES OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10052806
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Mileage
92,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2004

ENGINE OIL LEAK: DRIVER SIDE VALVE COVER LEAKS AFTER CAM SEALS, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING BELT REPLACED. VEHICLE NOW HAS 95,000 MILES. VALVE COVER GASKET ON THAT SIDE REPLACED 2 TIMES EACH TIME ONLY LASTS ONE WEEK BEFORE OIL LEAK DEVELOPS. WORSE LEAK EACH TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052805
Incident
Mar 1, 2003
Mileage
75,542 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2003

ENGINE HAS LEAKS IN THE CRANK SEAL HOUSING,CAM SEAL AND THE TRANSMISSION SEAL. THE SEALS SEEM TO FAIL AT A HIGH RATE.

NHTSA ID
10013934
Incident
Feb 4, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2002

CONSUMER STATES HAS HAD AN OIL LEAK BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. INSPECTED BY DEALER WHO REPLACED HEAD GASKET, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURED. TS

NHTSA ID
8021089
Incident
Oct 1, 1999

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .