Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Audi A6 problems
Owners filed 54 complaints about the 1996 Audi A6 with NHTSA between Nov 1996 and Jan 2018. The most-cited component is electrical system (39).
Complaints
54
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system39
- Visibility5
- Exterior lighting4
- Equipment4
- Air bags3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Structure3
- Power train2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Tires1
- Steering1
- Seats1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
0
3
1
5
8
5
12
2
3
3
3
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
39 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE IN VARIOUS POSITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR”
Visibility
5 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS. BASED ON THE VIN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 096V17000 IN 1996. THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONLY ONCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.”
Exterior lighting
4 reports
“CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED IGNITION SWITCH. (NAR) *LAB LIGHTS, HEAD LAMPS, HEATER & AC FUNCTIONS, WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL UNPREDICTABLY. *CB”
Equipment
4 reports
“AFTER DRIVING AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS/ HEAD LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONER DIDN'T WORK. *AK”
Air bags
3 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TAKATA RECALL NOTICE TO SAY AIRBAG UNSAFE”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports
“I HAVE A 1996 AUDI A4 AND THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM THE CAM TENSIONER, I TALKED TO A FEW AUDI MECHANICS AND OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND TOLD ME TO REPORT IT TO THIS ORGANIZATION. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.