2008 Audi A6 Problems

On August 3, 2026, a 2008 Audi A6 was traveling on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia when the driver encountered a large tree branch in the roadway and swerved to avoid it. The vehicle struck a curb, became airborne, rolled, and went down an embankment before coming to rest. The driver was wearing a seat belt. The driver’s frontal airbag in the steering wheel deployed, but none of the side or curtain airbags deployed during the crash. Given the severity and multiple-impact sequence of the accident, I am reporting the non-deployment so NHTSA can evaluate whether the side and curtain airbag systems operated as designed. The vehicle sustained significant damage and was declared a total loss. It remains intact and available for inspection, and we have requested that it be preserved.The vehicle has been in the same family since it was purchased new in 2008, with two owners within the family. It had never been involved in an accident before this crash, and to our knowledge there had been no previous airbag deployments or repairs to the airbag or restraint systems. There were no airbag warning lights, messages, or other indications of a problem before the crash.Police responded to the accident, and the vehicle has been inspected by the insurance company. It has not yet been inspected by Audi or an independent engineer specifically regarding the side and curtain airbag non-deployment. I understand a rollover alone does not necessarily require these airbags to deploy. My concern is that the driver’s frontal airbag deployed during a serious, multiple-impact crash while the side and curtain airbags did not, and I would like the non-deployment evaluated while the vehicle remains available for inspection. NHTSA previously conducted a Special Crash Investigation involving side-airbag non-deployment in another 2008 Audi A6 (NHTSA Publication 813261). NHTSA determined that vehicle’s airbags operated as intended. I am referencing it because it involved the same model year

The contact owns a 2008 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF MY VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE TWICE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE VOLTAGE IS TOO HIGH/HOT FOR THE THE CHEAP WIRES AUDI USED IN THE THEIR ASSEMBLY LIGHT HOUSING THAT THE WIRES PROTECTIVE COATING IS LITERALLY BURNED/MELTED OFF EXPOSING THE WIRES. THIS THEN LEADS TO THE LIGHTS AND COMPUTER CHIPS TO GO OUT, AND FIRES TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET REPORTING THIS AND AUDI IS AWARE BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THREE MECHANICS THAT I SENT MY CAR TO ALSO SAID THEY SEE THIS A LOT IN AUDI VEHICLES. I WAS IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE OTHER CAR DID NOT SEE MY TURN SIGNAL OR MY BRAKE LIGHT IN THE OTHER INCIDENT. SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE HURT BY THIS PROBLEM IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. I HAVE ALMOST TWICE. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI ALL FIVE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER OR ASSIST IN THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY THEN CHARGE OVER $1200 FOR EACH LIGHT TO BE REPAIRED NOT INCLUDING LABOR! I DID GET ONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS COVERED BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

THE WIRING HARNESS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT - THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WITHIN THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSING GOING DIRECTLY TO THE BULBS ARE LOSING THEIR PROTECTIVE WIRE INSULATION. THE INSULATION HAS BECOME EXCESSIVELY BRITTLE AND IS CRACKING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WIRE LENGTH AND IN SOME AREAS WIRE INSULATION HAS FALLEN OFF THE WIRE EXPOSING BARE WIRES. THIS CAN ONLY BE FOUND WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE LIGHT BULB SINCE TO ACCESS THE DEFECT AREA, THE LIGHT BULB HOUSING PROTECTIVE COVER HIDING THE DEFECT MUST BE REMOVED. THE EXPOSED BARE WIRES CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN MY CAR, I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILE CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB AND MANEUVERING THE HARNESS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BULB, THIS HAS EXCESSIVELY CAUSED THE BRITTLE WIRE INSULATION TO FALL OFF EXPOSING ALL THE HEAD LIGHT WIRES, IN SOME INSTANCES SEVERAL INCHES LONG, LEAVING THEM WITHOUT THE PROTECTIVE SHEATHING. AUDI HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO THE HIGH CURRENT THAT GOES THROUGH AND THE WIRES CANNOT HANDLE THE LOAD (AUDI SERVICE MANAGER AT BRAMAN AUDI IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL TOLD ME THIS) BUT AUDI WILL NOT ADDRESS THE FACTORY DEFECT.

HEADLIGHT FLICKERING AND TURNS OFF WITH DIPPED LIGHT WARNING. REAR LIGHTS WARNINGS OF BULBS OUT RANDOM TIMES. SHUTTING LIGHTS OFF AND ON RESOLVES ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT MELTED AND THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE FLICKERED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REWIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,570.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A6. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A WOBBLING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO RISE AND OIL STARTED TO FLOW BACKWARDS TO THE TOP RESERVOIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER (AUDI BEDFORD IN BEDFORD, OHIO) HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS WORKING TO STANDARDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND WOULD EVEN STALL AT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FRED BAKER PORSCHE AUDI 194000 ROCKSIDE ROAD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CHAMBERS TO BOTH THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WHERE SHATTERED, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO MIX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.

I OWN A 2008 AUDI A6 QUATTRO WHICH HAS 40K MILES. RECENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER IS MISFIRING BECAUSE OF CARBON DEPOSITS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT MEANT FOR NJ DRIVING, IT IS MEANT TO BE DRIVEN IN THE AUTOBAHN. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED A FUEL ADDITIVE AND SAID THAT THINGS SHOULD BE FINE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS IN WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN AS IF THE GEAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER CONTINUALLY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SOFTWARE PATCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE SAME REPAIR WAS MADE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,300.

MULTIPLE ISSUES ON THIS CAR THAT ALL CAME ON ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THE AMB/PARKING BRAKE MODULE/ESP WARNING LIT UP, AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR ON STARTUP, AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT INTO GEAR IT SHIFTED ERRATICALLY AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL ON OCCASION. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, ABS SENSORS BOTH WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR SAT AT AUDI LEN STOLER IN OWINGS MILLS, MD FOR 2 WEEKS FOR PROBLEM TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE ABS SENSOR THAT WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR IN THE HOPES THAT IT WOULD RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM! IT DID NOT. THE BILL FOR THE ABS, AND A FAILED DRIVER DOOR LOCK SWITCH REPLACEMENT WAS ALMOST $1400! THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS A SMALL BLACK BOX THAT HAS THE CIRCUITRY THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART ALONE COSTS $2600 AND WITH LABOR IT COSTS ALMOST $4000 - QUOTE FROM DEALER. A 2008 WIT 70K AND A TCM FAILS? ACCORDING TO AUDI FORUMS, THIS IS A PREVALENT ISSUE. AUDI NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE CARS AND GET THIS SERIOUS ISSUE FIXED. IT IS A DESIGN/QUALITY CONTROL FLAW. THE TCM ISSUE ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT SHIFT RIGHT, OR GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST (IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN LOST). THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES AND IS HAPPENING WITH NEWER CARS. MY CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE NEW AND I AM A METICULOUS OWNER THAT DOES NOT ABUSE THE CAR. THESE ARE PREMATURE FAILURES THAT SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING AT THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED BY DRIVER'S LOOSE FLOOR MAT. STARTED CAR IN GARAGE. IN PARK, ENGINE RAN AT 4,000 RPM FROM START. TRIED TO KICK DOWN GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, NO CHANGE. IGNITION ON AND OFF THREE TIMES, NO CHANGE. PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, SHIFTED TO REVERSE. I KNEW IT WOULD LURCH. GOT OUT OF GARAGE, PRESSING FIRMLY. RPMS DROPPED TO NORMAL 1,000 RANGE. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, CAR RPM INCREASED TO 4,000 RPM AND LURCHED. SAT THERE FOR FIVE MINUTES THINKING IT WOULD SETTLE DOWN. NOTHING. I THEN DECIDED TO CHECK THE FLOOR MAT. IT WAS ON TOP OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAD MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE THE ONE OF THE SECURING LOCKS ON THE MAT HAD BROKEN FREE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT EMITTED FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE ABS SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF

MULTIPLE ISSUES ON THIS CAR THAT ALL CAME ON ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THE AMB/PARKING BRAKE MODULE/ESP WARNING LIT UP, AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR ON STARTUP, AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT INTO GEAR IT SHIFTED ERRATICALLY AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL ON OCCASION. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, ABS SENSORS BOTH WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR SAT AT AUDI LEN STOLER IN OWINGS MILLS, MD FOR 2 WEEKS FOR PROBLEM TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE ABS SENSOR THAT WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR IN THE HOPES THAT IT WOULD RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM! IT DID NOT. THE BILL FOR THE ABS, AND A FAILED DRIVER DOOR LOCK SWITCH REPLACEMENT WAS ALMOST $1400! THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS A SMALL BLACK BOX THAT HAS THE CIRCUITRY THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART ALONE COSTS $2600 AND WITH LABOR IT COSTS ALMOST $4000 - QUOTE FROM DEALER. A 2008 WIT 70K AND A TCM FAILS? ACCORDING TO AUDI FORUMS, THIS IS A PREVALENT ISSUE. AUDI NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE CARS AND GET THIS SERIOUS ISSUE FIXED. IT IS A DESIGN/QUALITY CONTROL FLAW. THE TCM ISSUE ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT SHIFT RIGHT, OR GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST (IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN LOST). THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES AND IS HAPPENING WITH NEWER CARS. MY CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE NEW AND I AM A METICULOUS OWNER THAT DOES NOT ABUSE THE CAR. THESE ARE PREMATURE FAILURES THAT SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING AT THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

TAKATA RECALL - AIRBAG REPLACED PER RECALL BUT AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT DUE TO FAULTY SEATBELT IN REAR CENTER PASSENGER SEAT. FAULTY SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE PUT UNDER RECALL AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN THE AUDI.

MY 2008 AUDI A6 AVANT HAS HAD AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEAR 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. EACH TIME IT GIVES ERROR CODES FOR IT'S CENTER, REAR SEAT BELT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS MEANS THAT THE RESTRAINT MAY NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR ABRUPT STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED AT 12,983 MILES, AT 29,000 MILES AND NOW AT 39,000 MILES. NOBODY SHOULD USE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED. 1ST TIME AUDI DID GFF TEST STEPS AND CLEARED CODE, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ITSELF. NOW THEY BELIEVE IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE 2008 AUDI A6 CVT (8000 MILES) WITH 2 MAJOR ISSUES. ONE OF THEM BEING CARBON DEPOSIT BUILD-UP ON INTAKE VALVE CAUSING ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO COME UP. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS CAUSED BY DIRECT FUEL INJECTION OF THEIR ENGINE AND IS COMMON WITH EVERY FSI ENGINE AS I WAS TOLD. NO FIX FOR THIS AND THEY WILL BE CHARGING ABOUT 1500 TO CLEAN AND FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARY WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. SECOND ISSUE IS WITH MULTITRONIC CVT. THIS IS ALSO THEIR DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE TRANSMISSION HAVE DIFFICULTIES ENGAGING CAUSING SEVERE SHUDDER AND JERKING DURING AN ACCELERATION FROM STOP. I HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE THROTTLE AND IF I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER, IT WILL CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND IF I DON'T, THE CAR WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH AND WILL NOT GET DECENT ACCELERATION, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI STATES THAT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE. I HAD THE LOANER (A4 CVT) ONE AND THE CAR ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SEVERE. TOYOTA IS BEING HONEST ABOUT THEIR FAULTS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI IS TRYING TO HIDE THIS ISSUE UNTIL THERE IS A DEATH OR AN INJURY INVOLVE, WHICH BY THAT TIME, TOO LATE. *TR

2008 AUDI A6 SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CVT TRANSMISSION (MULTITRONIC)- VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND DOES VERY ODD MOVEMENTS SETTING AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD HAVE TO STEP DEEP ON THE GAS MEDAL AND HAVE TO DRIVE AT RATHER HIGH VELOCITY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD MAKING IT DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY HOME DRIVEWAY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. CAR WILL PERIODICALLY DO JERKING MOVEMENTS AND FEELS DANGEROUS. *TR

TCM is defective will not allow car to shift into gear causing car to stop in traffic with no warnings