2011 Audi A6 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Audi A6, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1248.0%
- Electrical312.0%
- Interior & seats312.0%
- Engine28.0%
- Other / unspecified28.0%
- Driver assistance14.0%
- Powertrain (other)14.0%
- Steering14.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN HE CRASHED (T-BONED) ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HIS 2 LOWER DISC AND REQUIRED SURGERY AND ALSO HAD BACK SURGERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSS. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER AUDI TACOMA LOCATED AT 1701-B ALEXANDER AVE E, FIFE, WA 98424, (253) 475-3832 AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V004000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI GREENWICH, 181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car throw a EPC warning light which cause the car to go n limp mode. With doing research ot has to do with the transmission. This cause the car to drive sluggish unable to reverse at times unable to take the car out of park at times. It also cause the car to randomly shut off when reversing or at times when im sitting at a light n i begin to drive the car can randomly shut off at times. Which in my open is unsafe because what if the the person behind me isnt payimg attention and i get rear ended. Ive reached out to Audi dearlership is was told a part was discontiued and to bring it in for them to further diagnostic it. Ive had the codes read and im getting the symptoms of the code i pulled but told that part was discontiued. So i feel like if thats the case Audi should have did a recall on the car.
2011 Audi A6 seems to be overlooked compared to the rest of the Audi’s yet the Audi has so many different issues such as timing chain such as water pump, such as brake issues, such as rack pinion yet there hasn’t been anyone investigating this in particular make a model it needs to be done for safety reasons. Additionally, I was never contacted for the airbags cars registered DMV and nobody has bothered to inform me of the New airbag issues. What other issues are there brought to one’s attention?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HARD PLASTIC SEAT BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS COME LOOSE. THE ADHESION SYSTEM HAS FAILED. THERE HAS BEEN VERY LIGHT USE OF ALL SEATS OTHER THAN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS ARE FALLING APART. THE SEATS ARE PANELED AND SEPARATING SEEN BY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS ....THE SEATS ARE A DEFECT AND SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL PASSENGERS. THE MECHANISMS OF THE HEATED SEATS ARE EXPOSED AND THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE SEAT TOGETHER IS AN ADHESIVE THAT'S NOT STICKING OR EVEN STICKY. SEATS BACK PANELS ARE LEANING ON PASSENGER WHILE DRIVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car throw a EPC warning light which cause the car to go n limp mode. With doing research ot has to do with the transmission. This cause the car to drive sluggish unable to reverse at times unable to take the car out of park at times. It also cause the car to randomly shut off when reversing or at times when im sitting at a light n i begin to drive the car can randomly shut off at times. Which in my open is unsafe because what if the the person behind me isnt payimg attention and i get rear ended. Ive reached out to Audi dearlership is was told a part was discontiued and to bring it in for them to further diagnostic it. Ive had the codes read and im getting the symptoms of the code i pulled but told that part was discontiued. So i feel like if thats the case Audi should have did a recall on the car.
2011 Audi A6 seems to be overlooked compared to the rest of the Audi’s yet the Audi has so many different issues such as timing chain such as water pump, such as brake issues, such as rack pinion yet there hasn’t been anyone investigating this in particular make a model it needs to be done for safety reasons. Additionally, I was never contacted for the airbags cars registered DMV and nobody has bothered to inform me of the New airbag issues. What other issues are there brought to one’s attention?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUDI 2011 A6, VIN [XXX] HAD A CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE ON FEB 24, 2016. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. AUDI AND THE LOCAL DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AS A RANDOM FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK WHICH THEY REPLACED. IF THIS STEERING FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND INJURY INCLUDING LOSS OF LIFE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AUDI REFUSED THE RETURN THE FAILED STEERING RACK TO ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD EXPLODED. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WHEEL RIM WHICH EXHIBITED A HOLE THAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE SIZE OF A FIST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. ...UPDATED 08-10-12 *BF UPDATED 08/15/2012 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car throw a EPC warning light which cause the car to go n limp mode. With doing research ot has to do with the transmission. This cause the car to drive sluggish unable to reverse at times unable to take the car out of park at times. It also cause the car to randomly shut off when reversing or at times when im sitting at a light n i begin to drive the car can randomly shut off at times. Which in my open is unsafe because what if the the person behind me isnt payimg attention and i get rear ended. Ive reached out to Audi dearlership is was told a part was discontiued and to bring it in for them to further diagnostic it. Ive had the codes read and im getting the symptoms of the code i pulled but told that part was discontiued. So i feel like if thats the case Audi should have did a recall on the car.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A HILL OF MORE THAN 30 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD 3-5 FEET WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD 10 FEET, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 03/12/13*LJ
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUDI 2011 A6, VIN [XXX] HAD A CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE ON FEB 24, 2016. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. AUDI AND THE LOCAL DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AS A RANDOM FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK WHICH THEY REPLACED. IF THIS STEERING FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND INJURY INCLUDING LOSS OF LIFE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AUDI REFUSED THE RETURN THE FAILED STEERING RACK TO ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .