AUDI A6 · model year

1999 AUDI A6

276 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999AUDIA6 carries 276 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 23 fires, 16 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 A6 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 17 filings, followed by electrical system (17) and vehicle speed control (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 1999 A6. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

276
Complaints
14
Crashes
23
Fires
16
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

276 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER11
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH8
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL7
SEATS5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
POWER TRAIN5
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS4

Recent Complaints

20210322AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

20200717AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20190409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING AND AXEL 2X @ $550 EACH TIME. CAR WOULDN'T ALIGN RIGHT, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WEARING ON ONE SIDE. THE CALIPERS WON'T COME OFF WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES AFTER IT WOULD RAIN, AND WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I FIXED THE TURN SIGNAL AND CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE UNDER COVER/PROTECTOR PLASTIC BROKE OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD BECAUSE THE AUDI DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY FORGOT TO PUT IT BACK ON PROPERLY. THIS POSSIBLY ALLOWED FOR THE OIL PAN TO HIT THE GROUND AND CRACK, WHICH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY PART OF THAT PROBLEM TOO. I TOOK IT IN TO SEE ABOUT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN. THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I DROVE TO THE MOVIE STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING. A PUDDLE OF OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF IT, AND THE THE ENGINE

Mileage: 180,000

20190409STEERING

TAKATA RECALL I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING AND AXEL 2X @ $550 EACH TIME. CAR WOULDN'T ALIGN RIGHT, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WEARING ON ONE SIDE. THE CALIPERS WON'T COME OFF WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES AFTER IT WOULD RAIN, AND WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I FIXED THE TURN SIGNAL AND CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE UNDER COVER/PROTECTOR PLASTIC BROKE OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD BECAUSE THE AUDI DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY FORGOT TO PUT IT BACK ON PROPERLY. THIS POSSIBLY ALLOWED FOR THE OIL PAN TO HIT THE GROUND AND CRACK, WHICH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY PART OF THAT PROBLEM TOO. I TOOK IT IN TO SEE ABOUT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN. THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I DROVE TO THE MOVIE STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING. A PUDDLE OF OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF IT, AND THE THE ENGINE

Mileage: 180,000

20190409SUSPENSION

TAKATA RECALL I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING AND AXEL 2X @ $550 EACH TIME. CAR WOULDN'T ALIGN RIGHT, SO I REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE WEARING ON ONE SIDE. THE CALIPERS WON'T COME OFF WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES AFTER IT WOULD RAIN, AND WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I FIXED THE TURN SIGNAL AND CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE RETURNED AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE UNDER COVER/PROTECTOR PLASTIC BROKE OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD BECAUSE THE AUDI DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY FORGOT TO PUT IT BACK ON PROPERLY. THIS POSSIBLY ALLOWED FOR THE OIL PAN TO HIT THE GROUND AND CRACK, WHICH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY PART OF THAT PROBLEM TOO. I TOOK IT IN TO SEE ABOUT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN. THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I DROVE TO THE MOVIE STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING. A PUDDLE OF OIL WAS SPILLING OUT OF IT, AND THE THE ENGINE

Mileage: 180,000

20150128VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 72 MPH AS IF GOING INTO CRUISE CONTROL. CONFIRMED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVEN TIMES. CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. ENGINE SEEMED TO RACE AGAINST THE BRAKES. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, MOVED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. APPLIED THE HAND BRAKE. TURNED KEY OFF. CAR SLOWED THEN STOPPED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN TWICE BY MECHANICS, DURING WHICH IT SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. ON JANUARY 27, 2015 THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, BELLEVUE AUDI, FOR DIAGNOSIS. AWAITING RESULTS. *TR

Mileage: 167,770

20150128SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 72 MPH AS IF GOING INTO CRUISE CONTROL. CONFIRMED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVEN TIMES. CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. ENGINE SEEMED TO RACE AGAINST THE BRAKES. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, MOVED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. APPLIED THE HAND BRAKE. TURNED KEY OFF. CAR SLOWED THEN STOPPED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN TWICE BY MECHANICS, DURING WHICH IT SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. ON JANUARY 27, 2015 THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, BELLEVUE AUDI, FOR DIAGNOSIS. AWAITING RESULTS. *TR

Mileage: 167,770

20130306FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

20120808POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 127,000

20120808FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 127,000

20120808SUSPENSION

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

Mileage: 127,000

20120808POWER TRAIN

AUDI CLAIMS THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER NEVER NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THIS IS NOT ONLY INCORRECT, BUT THIS ALSO CAUSES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOLD TO THE CUSTOMER FOR IT IS A LIE JUST SO THE CUSTOMER HAS CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE AUDI RACKS IN THE MONEY. IT IS A SCAM AND IT SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM POTENTIAL AND EXISTING AUDI CUSTOMERS. NO OIL WAS EVER MADE NOT TO BREAK DOWN AND NOT EVER BE CHANGED. A NEW AUDI OWNER USUALLY LISTENS TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THEIR CARS, AND USUALLY DON'T CHANGE THE FLUIDS OR FILTERS, HENCE TRANSMISSION BREAK DOWNS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SCAM *TR

Mileage: 127,000

20120808SUSPENSION

AUDI CLAIMS THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER NEVER NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, THIS IS NOT ONLY INCORRECT, BUT THIS ALSO CAUSES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOLD TO THE CUSTOMER FOR IT IS A LIE JUST SO THE CUSTOMER HAS CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE AUDI RACKS IN THE MONEY. IT IS A SCAM AND IT SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM POTENTIAL AND EXISTING AUDI CUSTOMERS. NO OIL WAS EVER MADE NOT TO BREAK DOWN AND NOT EVER BE CHANGED. A NEW AUDI OWNER USUALLY LISTENS TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THEIR CARS, AND USUALLY DON'T CHANGE THE FLUIDS OR FILTERS, HENCE TRANSMISSION BREAK DOWNS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SCAM *TR

Mileage: 127,000

20120118SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY 1999 AUDI A6 2.8 HAS ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1996 TO 2001 AUDI'S AND VW'S LACK OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CONTROL MAKES MY VEHICLE UNSAFE. AUDI IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES.

Mileage: 115,000

20111212TIRES

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING WHEN SHE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60MPH. I MET UP WITH HER TO PUT THE SPARE ON AND I WAS EXPECTING A NAIL OR SOMETHING IN THE TIRE. WHEN I INSPECTED THE TIRE I WAS SURPRISED TO NOTICE A SEVERE BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE FROM THE TREAD TO THE RIM. THIS IS CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE WE STILL HAD 40,000 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY AND WE STILL HAVE THE SAME BRAND/SIZE ON THE OTHER TIRES. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN ON THE OTHER TIRES. THE BRAND OF TIRE IS YOKOHAMA AVID TRZ SIZE: P205/55R16 89T. I KNOW THIS TIRE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT I AM SUSPECT OF THIS TIRE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 125,846

20110902SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

ABS MODULE FAILURE, ABS SYSTEM FAILED, ABS WARNING LIGHT ON , ALARM AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON. COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL BOSCH UNIT. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

20110423VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1999 AUDI A6 QUATTRO SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT AT MAYBE 5 MPH, MY FOOT WAS LIGHTLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS I WAS NEARLY IN THE PARKING STALL. THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE SPEED. AS I COASTED INTO THE PARKING STALL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING REVVED UP TO ABOVE 3000 RPM. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE PARKING CURB DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JUMPING OVER THE CURB, AND SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO N. THE ENGINE THEN REVVED EVEN HIGHER, AT WHICH POINT I TURNED OFF THE KEY. WITH THE KEY OFF, I MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO P, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN RAN IDLED AT NORMAL SPEED, AND DROVE NORMALLY TO MY HOME ABOUT 1/4 MILE AWAY. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED; THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AS I WAS COASTING TO A STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. AGAIN MY FOOT WA

Mileage: 184,700

20110417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (2 FRONT) NEED TO BE REPLACED. AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON STEADY, INDICATES ENGINE MISFIRE. *TR

Mileage: 72,500

20110209SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DRIVING HOME TONIGHT MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED ACCELERATING (I DRIVE AN AUDI A6 1999). USING THE BRAKES I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY THOUGH MY BRAKES SEEMED TO BE FIGHTING AGAINST THE CAR. I ROLLED THROUGH TWO STOP SIGNS AS MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND LUCKILY AVOIDING THE OTHER CARS WAITING THERE I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I WAITED TEN MINUTES OR SO AND TRIED STARTING MY CAR. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4 TO 5000 RPMS SO, I QUICKLY SHUT IT OFF AGAIN. I WAITED AGAIN, TRIED IT ONCE MORE AND THE CAR STARTED FINE. I DROVE HOME, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I COULD BE SEEN ON 02/14/11. FOUR DAYS FROM NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20110209VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING HOME TONIGHT MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED ACCELERATING (I DRIVE AN AUDI A6 1999). USING THE BRAKES I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY THOUGH MY BRAKES SEEMED TO BE FIGHTING AGAINST THE CAR. I ROLLED THROUGH TWO STOP SIGNS AS MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND LUCKILY AVOIDING THE OTHER CARS WAITING THERE I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I WAITED TEN MINUTES OR SO AND TRIED STARTING MY CAR. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4 TO 5000 RPMS SO, I QUICKLY SHUT IT OFF AGAIN. I WAITED AGAIN, TRIED IT ONCE MORE AND THE CAR STARTED FINE. I DROVE HOME, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I COULD BE SEEN ON 02/14/11. FOUR DAYS FROM NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

Compare 1999AUDIA6 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 AUDI A6 have?
The 1999 AUDI A6 has 276 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 23 fires, 16 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 AUDI A6?
The most-complained component for the 1999 AUDI A6 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1999 AUDI A6 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.