Total Complaints
113 filings
AUDI A6 · model year
113 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 A6 is vehicle speed control with 7 filings, followed by air bags (7) and engine and engine cooling (7). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2002 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.
Total Complaints
113 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHORTING OUT AND CRACKING AND BARE WIRES TOUCHING
Mileage: 150,499
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.