RoadVitals

1999 Audi A6 Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
39
Latest Aug 8, 2012
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.
18%
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 39 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 fuel system

The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words

Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 8, 2012

HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE AUDI A6 SINCE INCEPTION. CAR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. CAR CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS. ENGINE SMOKING FLUID IS POURING OUT OF FRONT OF TRANSMISSION. THE CAR DEALER: NALLEY AUDI IN ROSWELL, GEORGIA. THE CAR DEALER NALLEY AUDI FRAUDULENTLY TOOK MONEY FROM ME AND NEVER REPAIRED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10469694
Incident
Jul 18, 2012
Mileage
127,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2006

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK IN MY 99 AUDI A6 QUATTRO PRESSURE BUILDS INSIDE THE TANK AND SPRAYS BACK AT ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED EACH TIME I PUT GAS IN IT FULL OR NOT. A RECALL WAS MADE BUT, NOT FOR MY VIN. I SPOKE WITH A AUDI REP. AND A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I WOULD BUT, THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL MADE FOR THAT CAR JUST NOT THAT VIN. IT'S A HAZARD AND I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I PAID FOR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! *NM

NHTSA ID
10156187
Incident
Feb 25, 2006
Mileage
8,800 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Jan 6, 2005

CONSUMER RECEIVED ONE OF SEVERAL RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED FOR CONSUMER TO LEAVE A CREDIT CARD AND THEN THEY WILL REPAIR ALL DEFECTS, EVEN THOSE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL, AND CHARGE CONSUMER ADDITIONAL EXPENSES NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECALL. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 01V157000 CONSEQUENCE: RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANK LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS. VEHICLE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. *TC

NHTSA ID
10097855
Incident
Oct 27, 2004
Mileage
122,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 28, 2004

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. ABOUT FOUR YEARS LATER THE GAUGE HAD STOPPED PROVIDING ACCURATE FUEL READINGS. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10095113
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Mar 18, 2004

I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH MY AUDI A6 QUATTRO. THE TEMPERATURE OUTDOORS WAS VERY COLD AND I WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL WHEN THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. UPON PLACING THE CAR IN PARK THE TACHOMETER RED LINED. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE GARAGE THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THE AUTOMOBILE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME THING. AGAIN OUR CAR IS IN THE GARAGE AND THE TECHNICIANS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. TO DATE, THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10065360
Incident
Feb 9, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 25, 2004

FUEL LEAK FROM SUPPLY FUEL LINE IN AN 1999 AUDI A6 DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 15-20 F THE CRIMPED END OF THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAKS FUEL, WHICH CREATES AN INTENSE FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN, BUT ONLY IF NOT MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE FUEL LEAKING FROM THE HOSE TRAVELS TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND EVENTUALLY DRIPS ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING INTENSE SMOKE. APPARENTLY THE COLD LINE INTENSIFIED BY SUPER COOLED GAS STREAMING THROUGH IT CAUSES THE METAL PART OF THE LINE TO CONTRACT AT A SUFFICIENT RATE AS TO ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT. WHEN THE FULE LINE WARMS UP, THE LEAKING STOPS. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 40F AT THE TIME OF TESTING AND HENCE REFUSED TO AKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURED AND I TOOK SEVERAL CLOSE-UP PICTURES SHOWING THE LEAK AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. I CAN MAKE THE PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAN GO UNDETECTED AT HIGH SPEEDS (HIGH AIRFLOW DISSIPITATES THE SMELL) AND/OR IF CABIN AIR GETS RECIRCULATED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10059009
Incident
Feb 7, 2004
Mileage
59,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 1, 2003

ENGINE MALFUNCTION. *MR THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RACE, SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RAN STOP SIGNS AND AN INTERSECTION UNTIL SHE FINALLY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE, AND DUE TO THE LEVEL OF RACING, THE CRANKCASE SEAL BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED OIL TO FLOW. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A STUCK FUEL INJECTOR. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10012218
Incident
Jan 23, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Feb 17, 2003

CAR ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO TRIP, STARTED TO FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. WHEN I LET GO OF THE ACCELERATOR, RPM DID NOT DROP. DOUBLE CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL, TURN IT ON AND OFF MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. PULL OFF ROAD, PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP, RACE TO 4K RPM. RESTART CAR, STILL @4K. STOPPED FOR 5 MINUTES, RESTART, BACK TO NORMAL. AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!

NHTSA ID
10007697
Incident
Jan 27, 2003
Mileage
49,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 17, 2003

VEHICLE FULLY ACCELERATED ON IT OWN, RESULTING IN VERY HIGH SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND ON DOWNHILL DRIVE. VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN CAREENING DOWN STEEP HILL TOWARD AN INTERSECTION. REPORTEDLY CAN HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER AT ANY TIME. DANGEROUS!!

NHTSA ID
10007690
Incident
Feb 14, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 29, 2003

ON JANUARY 19, RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY TRIP, THE THROTTLE ON OUR 1999 A6 STUCK OPEN AT 65MPH. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO DUE TO HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATION. I HAD STAND ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD TO AVOID SMASHING INTO THE VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME THAT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN UPCOMING SPEED ZONE. I OVERHEATED MY BRAKES ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE IN ORDER TO PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND MAKE A QUICK EXIT WHERE I TURNED OFF THE KEY. MY BRAKES SMOKED AND SMELLED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN ZERO TEMPERATURES. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A WHILE I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT IMMEDIATELY REDLINED. WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE THE CAR HOME AT A VERY SLOW AND CAUTIOUS PACE USING BACK ROADS. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS, LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR MY SELF AND MY FAMILY. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE "REPAIR" AT JOHN HOLTZ AUDI THE THROTTLE AGAIN FROZE WHEN MY WIFE HAD TO SLOW FOR A STOPPING SCHOOL BUS. THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURED. I AM A MEMBER OF THE AUDI QUATRO CLUB. THROUGH MY EXPOSURE TO MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON IN VERY COLD WEATHER AND THE AUDI SOLUTION OF CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY DOES NOT PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. THE AUTHORIZED AUDI MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR IN ROCHESTER USED TO WORK IN VERMONT. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS OFTEN SEEN THERE, BUT INFREQUENT IN ROCHESTER, NY. HE WAS RELCUCTANT TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION EXTENSIVELY, SAYING" I HAVE TOO MANY YEARS IN." A FRIEND OF MINE IS AN AFTERMARKET AUDI SPECIALIST WHO HAS DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY. ART MAYHEW CAN BE REACHED AT 315 429 9902 THE AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFERRAL # IS 030031445

NHTSA ID
10003601
Incident
Jan 19, 2003
Mileage
116,501 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 25, 2001

WHEN PUMPING VEHICLE WITH GAS IT WILL SPILL OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO STOP ONCE IT'S FULL. THIS HAS HAPPEND AT TWO DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS.AK

NHTSA ID
893160
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
Fuel system
Filed May 13, 2001

FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED VIA RECALL IN DEC 2000 AND THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN. AUDI'S RECALL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL GAUGE CAN READ ANYWHERE BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY REGARDLESS OF THE FUEL QUANTITY IN THE TANK.

NHTSA ID
745275
Incident
May 9, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Jan 24, 2001

RECALL 00V137 WAS COMPLETED, HOWEVER 4 MONTHS LATER THE FUEL SENDING UNITS FAILED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER RAN OUT OF GAS ONCE ON A FREEWAY BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
559142
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Dec 28, 2000

THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE WILL BE SIX TIMES. AUDI HAS REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNITS AFTER THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AUDI HAS NOT FIX THE ISSUE YET. I WILL BE PURSUING FULL REMEDY MANDATED BY THE LEMON LAWS. AUDI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM AND ALSO STATING THEY DID HAVE FUEL SENDING THAT WOULD OF RESOVE THE PROBLEM WHILE IN FACT THEY DID NOT. *AK

NHTSA ID
738432
Incident
Dec 27, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Oct 27, 2000

RECALL 00V137000/FUEL SENDING UNIT: ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DAVIS STRONG PEUGOT, AUDI; IN SALT LAKE CITY, UT; PHONE # 801/531-9900. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONSUMER BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS A REPAIR FAILURE OR DEFECTIVE PART. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
874065
Incident
Jun 20, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Oct 20, 2000

VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL DUE TO FUEL GUAGE'S WRONG READING OF AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
857296
Incident
Dec 23, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Oct 19, 2000

CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL (00V-137) PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS, CONSUMER HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY SYSTEM. *MJS

NHTSA ID
556700
Fuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2000

GAS LEVEL INDICATED 1/4 TANK WHEN ENGINE STALLED. FUEL SENDER IS DEFECTIVE. AUDI HAS NO REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
722094
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2000

CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL GAUGE. IT SHOWS TANK IS FULL WHEN THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK. BUT DEALER DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
860900
Incident
Apr 25, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Mar 10, 2000

THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. NLM

NHTSA ID
551356
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2000

FUEL TANK SENSOR IS INOPERATIVE. YH

NHTSA ID
551220
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Feb 28, 2000

GASOLINE SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE LOW FUEL ALARM TO GO OFF. NLM

NHTSA ID
551136
Fuel system
Filed Feb 27, 2000

THE FUEL TANK SENSOR IS A WIDESPREAD FAILURE. AUDI HAS PROVIDED NO NOTIFICATION TO ANYONE OF THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT IN ITS CARS AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR EITHER DEFECT IN 76 DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID
719351
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Feb 18, 2000

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE HAS NOTICED FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT READS FULL EVEN WHEN TANK IS EMPTY. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE PART. *AK

NHTSA ID
857210
Incident
Nov 18, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 7, 2000

GAS FUMES LEAK AROUND TANK ELECTICAL CONECTIONS; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. STILL NOT REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
718403
Incident
Jan 11, 2000

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .