Audi A6 · model year

2002 Audi A6

113 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
113
Recalls
4

The verdict

The 2002 Audi A6 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

23rd pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2002AudiA6 carries 113 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 5 fires, 19 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 A6 is vehicle speed control with 7 filings, followed by air bags (7) and engine and engine cooling (7). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2002 A6. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

113
Complaints
10
Crashes
5
Fires
19
Injuries
1
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Audi A6

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

113 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
AIR BAGS7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
ENGINE5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
POWER TRAIN4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
STRUCTURE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD2

Recalls (4)

04V13300018/03/2004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.

08V15700008/04/2008

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 68,240 MY 2001-2004 AUDI A6 QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L, 2.8L, OR 3.0L ENGINES AND MY 2001-2005 ALLROAD QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L OR 4.2L ENGINES. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMIN

06V19800005/06/2006

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HALOGEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, CERTAIN CONNECTOR PINS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. NOTE: VEHICLES WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT IN THESE VEHICLES CONTAIN

11V26700003/05/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS

Recent Complaints

20210612FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IT WOULD START WITH NO ISSUES AND NOW IT WONT START AN I CANT FIGURE OUT WHY AND NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REASON I CANT THINK OF WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE IT ACTS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL OR SOMETHING TO GET STARTED.

20210612ENGINE

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IT WOULD START WITH NO ISSUES AND NOW IT WONT START AN I CANT FIGURE OUT WHY AND NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REASON I CANT THINK OF WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE IT ACTS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL OR SOMETHING TO GET STARTED.

20210401CrashFatalAIR BAGS

ON FEBRUARY 11, 2021, MR. TRAVIS WAS TRAVELING ON I-70 IN VANDALIA ILLINOIS WHEN HE WAS REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEEDS BY MR. FREE. MR. TRAVIS' 2002 AUDI A6 SUSTAINED SERIOUS DAMAGE BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MR. TRAVIS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH.

Mileage: 85,000

20200910ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHORTING OUT AND CRACKING AND BARE WIRES TOUCHING

Mileage: 150,499

20200520ENGINE

I PARKED MY CAR TO DETAIL IT AND AFTER I WENT TO DRIVE TO THE STORE AND MY CAR WASN'T REACHING ABOVE 4000 RPMS AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 60 MPH ...ITS ACTING LIKE THERE IS A REV LIMITER AND THROW 2 NEW CODES...NEVER GOT ENGINE BAY WET JUS OUTER BODY OF VEHICLE ...DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE P0322 AND P0421 I BELIEVE ONE IS FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NO SIGNAL AND ALSO CATALYTIC SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD BANK 1 .....AFTER I PARKED CAR AGAIN I TRIED TO START AND NOTHING HAPPENED ....I'VE BOUT NEW C.O.P'S ....AND STILL NOTHING I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALSO NOTICE THAT THE FUEL FILLER JUST INSIDE THE PORT WAS ALL CRACKED AND WHEN I FILLED WITH FUEL ITS LEAKED ALOT OF MY GAS ...THE *TR

Mileage: 18,000

20200520UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I PARKED MY CAR TO DETAIL IT AND AFTER I WENT TO DRIVE TO THE STORE AND MY CAR WASN'T REACHING ABOVE 4000 RPMS AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 60 MPH ...ITS ACTING LIKE THERE IS A REV LIMITER AND THROW 2 NEW CODES...NEVER GOT ENGINE BAY WET JUS OUTER BODY OF VEHICLE ...DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE P0322 AND P0421 I BELIEVE ONE IS FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NO SIGNAL AND ALSO CATALYTIC SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD BANK 1 .....AFTER I PARKED CAR AGAIN I TRIED TO START AND NOTHING HAPPENED ....I'VE BOUT NEW C.O.P'S ....AND STILL NOTHING I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALSO NOTICE THAT THE FUEL FILLER JUST INSIDE THE PORT WAS ALL CRACKED AND WHEN I FILLED WITH FUEL ITS LEAKED ALOT OF MY GAS ...THE *TR

Mileage: 18,000

20200109FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FILLED GAS TANK AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM TOP OF THE TANK TO THE GROUND NEAR THE INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAL WHEEL. FUEL STOPS LEAKING AFTER IT DROPS BELOW 3/4 FULL. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP THINKING IT WAS FAILURE OF THE ROLLOVER/FILLER NECK VALVE RECALL AGAIN (NHTSA RECALL #08V157000). AUDI SAID THE FILLER NECK WAS DRY, BUT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE ON TOP OF FUEL TANK ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE FILLER NECK. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM WITHOUT DROPPING THE FUEL TANK FROM THE CAR. AUDI QUOTED THE REPAIR FOR COMPLETELY REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AT ~$3400. A FUEL TANK SHOULD NEVER LEAK, AND THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN, NOT ONLY FOR THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS OF THE CAR, BUT ALL OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS ALSO A FAILURE OF AN EMISSIONS COMPONENT THAT AUDI NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SINCE THERE IS RAW FUEL LEAKING ALL OVER THE ROAD.

Mileage: 145,000

20180306FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20130824VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I WENT TO PASS ANOTHER CAR IN A PASSING ZONE SO I ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I BRAKED AND MANEUVERED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. AFTER A WHILE IT RELEASED. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED HOME, NOT PUSHING THE PEDAL DOWN ANY FARTHER THAN NECESSARY. I WILL TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THERE WAS NOTHING OBSCURING THE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR MAT WAS CLICKED INTO PLACE. I FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A RECALL, BUT MANY AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, SO I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 125,690

20130725FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL VAPORS AND LEAKING FUEL APPEARS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED BEYOND 3/4 TANK. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR THE CAR TO BE PARKED INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE FUMES MAKE PASSENGERS FEEL ILL. AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENTS WANT TO CHARGE OVER $2500 TO REPAIR. A RECALL FOR THE ROLLOVER VALVE HAS BEEN PERFORMED; HOWEVER THE AUDI SERVICE TECHS SAY THE LEAKAGE IS COMING FROM SMALL CRACKS IN THE DEFECTIVE TANK. UNABLE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE OF COSTS I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITH LESS THAN1/2 TANK OF FUEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS . THE STATE OF UTAH WILL NO LONGER PASS MY VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE EMISSIONS ISSUE. MY FEAR IS THE LEAKING FUEL COULD BE IGNITED BY ANY NUMBER OF SOURCES INCLUDING EXHAUST/HEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. PASSENGERS SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO VAPORS INSIDE OF A VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT UTAH AUDI DEALERSHIPS AND 1 INDEPENDENT AUDI REPAIR GARAGE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS @ 1-800-253-2834. ALL OF THE AUDI REPRESENTATIVES AND TECHNICIANS HAVE PLAYED DU

Mileage: 72,000

20130502POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. FOURTH TIME IN 3 YEARS. EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AUDI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURE OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION ON THAT MODEL. IT IS A DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 122,700

20130220ENGINE

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY AUDI AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IT DROVE JUST FINE, BUT ONCE WINTER CAME AROUND AND THE TEMPERATURES DROPPED, I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS IN MY CAR AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS GAS SPRAYING FROM WHAT LOOKED LIKE ALL SIX FUEL INJECTORS. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, WHERE THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS THINGS (FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, O RINGS, VALVE SYSTEM, AND ALL 6 FUEL INJECTORS) ALL TO NO AVAIL. NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG, NOBODY KNOWS. I CALLED AUDI AND THEY TOLD ME I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP BUT THAT THEY COULDN'T PROMISE THEY CAN FIX THE CAR. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE LOOKED ON MANY FORUMS AND THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. IS THERE A RECALL, OR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE AS TO HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?? *TR

Mileage: 61,000

20130220FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY AUDI AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IT DROVE JUST FINE, BUT ONCE WINTER CAME AROUND AND THE TEMPERATURES DROPPED, I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS IN MY CAR AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS GAS SPRAYING FROM WHAT LOOKED LIKE ALL SIX FUEL INJECTORS. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, WHERE THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS THINGS (FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, O RINGS, VALVE SYSTEM, AND ALL 6 FUEL INJECTORS) ALL TO NO AVAIL. NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG, NOBODY KNOWS. I CALLED AUDI AND THEY TOLD ME I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP BUT THAT THEY COULDN'T PROMISE THEY CAN FIX THE CAR. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE LOOKED ON MANY FORUMS AND THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. IS THERE A RECALL, OR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE AS TO HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?? *TR

Mileage: 61,000

20121010ENGINE

THE AUDI WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE RPM METER STARTED TO DROP REVS SUDDENLY. ONCE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THE ENGINE FELT ROUGH. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 3 MILES WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE AND WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO GET VERY SLUGGISH AND SHUDDERING. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE PULLED. THE CODES SHOWED MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRES WITH SPECIFIC MISFIRES IN CYLINDER 2 AND THREE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHERE THIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 70,290

20121010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE AUDI WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE RPM METER STARTED TO DROP REVS SUDDENLY. ONCE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THE ENGINE FELT ROUGH. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 3 MILES WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE AND WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO GET VERY SLUGGISH AND SHUDDERING. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE PULLED. THE CODES SHOWED MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRES WITH SPECIFIC MISFIRES IN CYLINDER 2 AND THREE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHERE THIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 70,290

20121003FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TYPICAL AUDI FUEL LEAK PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS A ROLL OVER VALVE. THEY FIXED IT. IT STILL LEAKS AND NOW IT IS MY PROBLEM AT $2800. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

20120710FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD THE FIREMEN CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND SAID IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20120710FireAIR BAGS

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD THE FIREMEN CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND SAID IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20120710FireELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

AFTER PARKING THE CAR IT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD THE FIREMEN CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND SAID IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20120523POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,700.

Mileage: 55,700

Compare 2002AudiA6 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 Audi A6 have?
The 2002 Audi A6 has 113 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 5 fires, 19 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Audi A6?
Yes, the 2002 Audi A6 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Audi A6?
The most-complained component for the 2002 Audi A6 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2002 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.

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. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 Audi A6; 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.