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Audi · vehicle model

Audi A6

2,152 NHTSA complaints and 116 safety recalls across model years 1994–2025.

Complaints
2,152
Recalls
116
Model years
31

The verdict

The Audi A6 pairs above-average complaint volume with 116 recalls (heavily recalled).

7th pctile
complaint volume, US models
116
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Audi A6 vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

2,152 Higher than most more complaints than 93% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The Audi A6 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 2,152 consumer safety complaints and 116 recall campaigns across 31 model years (1994–2025). That averages roughly 69 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 9 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year Complaints
2025 4
2023 1
2022 2
2021 15
2020 37
2019 185
2018 12
2017 23
2016 75
2015 28
2014 47
2013 79
2012 86
2011 23
2010 24
2009 22
2008 78
2007 63
2006 83
2005 119
2004 44
2003 85
2002 113
2001 148
2000 201
1999 276
1998 158
1997 26
1996 71
1995 22
1994 2

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 434 in 2017-2021 to 315 in 2022-2026, a fall of 27.4% . That is the 52th percentile of change across the 763 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

2
’96
1
’97
4
’98
64
’99
102
’00
72
’01
56
’02
104
’03
174
’04
100
’05
87
’06
80
’07
56
’08
59
’09
78
’10
55
’11
67
’12
48
’13
45
’14
51
’15
98
’16
150
’17
125
’18
55
’19
57
’20
47
’21
78
’22
138
’23
50
’24
37
’25
12
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare Audi A6 to Similar Vehicles

Audi A6 vs Pontiac Vibe → Audi A6 vs Volvo Xc90 → Audi A6 vs MINI Cooper S → Audi A6 vs Cadillac Escalade →

NHTSA Investigations

EA22001 Engineering Analysis Closed 2022-04-04

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
PE21009 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2021-03-29

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
EA04017 Engineering Analysis Closed 2004-06-30

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
PE04023 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2004-03-05

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
EA03025 Engineering Analysis Closed 2003-11-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASH FIRE
PE03035 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2003-07-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASHBOARD FIRE
DP87007 Defect Petition Closed 1986-12-16

1980 AUDI 5000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION
DP87002 Defect Petition Closed 1986-10-30

1979-86 AUDI 4000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION
EA85037 Engineering Analysis Closed 1985-07-31

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Audi A6?▼
The Audi A6 has received 2,152 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1994 to 2025, with 116 recalls. That averages about 69 complaints per model year.
What years of Audi A6 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Audi A6 from 1994 to 2025 (31 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Audi A6 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Audi A6 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Audi A6 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the Audi A6 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Audi A6 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Audi A6 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.