ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1998 Audi S6
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1998 Audi S6. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 37 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 1 month of data.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
DRIVER'S SIDE DASH FIRE
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. (VOA) CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 04V133) TO ADD A PLASTIC COVER TO THE TOP SECTION OF THE KNEE BOLSTER CROSSMEMBER TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS.THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL COVERED MODEL YEARS 1998 THROUGH 2004 WITH VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATES OF AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 2004.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED NINE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED, A FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD AREA.VOA REPORTS THAT IF THE PLASTIC COVER IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY BY THE DEALERS, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS COULD CONTINUE TO CONTACT THE CROSSMEMBER, RESULTING IN A SHORT AND/OR FIRE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD AREA.VOA WILL CONDUCT A NEW SAFETY RECALL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL (AND LARGER) COVER OVER BOTH THE KNEE BOLSTER CROSSMEMBER AND THE PLASTIC COVER ASSEMBLY INSTALLED IN THE FIRST RECALL.ALL OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND ALL BUT 3 VOA CLAIMS ARE FOR MY 1998 THROUGH MY 2000.VOA REPORTS THAT BEGINNING IN MY 2001, AUDI EXTENDED THE TIME FOR THE DEBURRING PROCESS OF THE CROSSMEMBER.VOA WAS NOT ABLE TO VERIFY THE CAUSE OF FIRE IN THE MY 2001 AND LATER VEHICLES DUE TO EITHER EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE OR OTHER REASON.THE RATE OF FIRE OCCURRENCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FOR THE MY 2001 AND LATER VEHICLES. THE RECALL COVERS MODEL YEARS 1998 THROUGH 2000 WITH VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATES OF AUGUST 1997 THROUGH MAY 2000.VOA WILL RECALL 66358 MY 1998-2000 AUDI A6, A6 AVANT, S6, AND S6 AVANT VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 59 WARRANTY, FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS FOR THESE VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 06V-198.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I HAD THE CAR JACKED UP USING THE AUDI SUPPLIED JACK ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAD REMOVED THE TIRE AND WAS REPLACING FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE JACK SUDDENLY COLLAPSED. THE JACK HAD COME APART DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A PLASTIC PART THAT OPERATES AS A HINGE POINT. I FEEL THE JACK DESIGN IS VERY POOR AND COULD RESULT IN SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.
- NHTSA ID
- 10394594
- Incident
- Mar 29, 2011
- Mileage
- 145,602 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.
EQUIPMENT
This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
ENGINE
This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change.
EQUIPMENT
Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada.
WHEELS
This information TSB provides information regarding the correct way to torque adjust a wheel bolt.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 19 number 15-61 dated July 7, 2015. Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. G11, G12, and G12+ coolants have been replaced by an improved version. G12++ coolant (for service available) has been introduced in MY 2005 for all engines. G13 has been introduced in MY 2008 as factory filling and service.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 55.3 |
| 2015 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 2014 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 56.3 |
| 2013 | 42 | 3 | 2 | 54.3 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1998Viewing | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 52.6 |
| 1994 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.