Problems · by component

1998 Audi A6 fuel system, gasoline problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Audi A6 cite fuel system, gasoline, 22% of all 130 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
29
22% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I AM EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE THAT WAS RECALLED BY THE FACTORY AUDI AG BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID OF GETTING STRANDED DUE TO AN IMPROPER FUEL READING. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ACCORDINGLY, THANK YOU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10314095
“I PURCHASED A USED 98 AUDI A6 PN 4/28/07. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE ONLY ISSUES WITH THE CAR WERE THIS GASSY SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEAT, AND A SMOKE COMING FROM THE SOME PIPE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BREATHER WAS CUT, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED . AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. COULD NOT DO THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I STARTED WHILE DRIVING I HEAR THIS BEEPING SOUND. THE FUEL NEEDLE IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO EMPTY, AND BACK UP AGAIN SHOWING THAT I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS. I WENT TO CHECK IT AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. IN THE MEAN TIME, I DECIDED TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED A GAS SMELL COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC ON MY WAY HOME, TO FIND OUT THAT MY GAS TANK WAS LEAKING BECAUSE THERE IS A CRACK AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN SET ON FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2007Fuel system, gasolineODI 10189898
“(1) PURCHASED AUTO 10/7/05. PICK-UP IN MIAMI. AUTO HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPERATED IN FLORIDA CLIMATE. DROVE CAR TO PENNSYLVANIA ARRIVING ON 10/9/05. ON 10/13/05 DETECTED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING AND PARKING IN GARAGE. (THIS WAS FIRST TIME CAR WAS REFUELED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND PARKED IN GARAGE). (2) PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A LEAK IN A SEAM OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF THE AUDI A6. HAS CAUSED NO INJURIES AS YET. OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCE IS FOUL ODOR AND , MORE IMPORTANTLY, A HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. CARFAX VEHICLE HISTORY SHOWS NO RECORD OF THE CAR BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NOT HAVE I EXPERIENCED ONE SINCE PURCHASING. (3) LICENSED REPAIR SHOP IS CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR REPLACEMENT GAS TANK AND DETERMINING THE APPROXIMATE LABOR COST TO REPLACE. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10139846
“BACK PRESSURE DEVELOPS WHEN REFUELING WITH THE ENGINE AND IGNITION OFF. GASOLINE GUSHES OUT ONTO ATTENDANT, CAR AND GROUND. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES , SO THAT WE NO LONGER FILL OUR TANK, AS ITS NOT NEARLY AS BAD IF WE FILL IT ONLY 3/4 FULL. IT WILL STILL SPRAY OUT, BUT NOT GUSH OUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH AUDI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH LIVES COULD BE AT RISK. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2004Fuel system, gasolineODI 10087047
“1998 AUDI A6 FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING AT THE SEAMS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND NO DAMAGE TO THE TANK. GARAGE FULL OF GAS FUMES AND FUEL WAS DRIPPING UNDER THE CAR. *PH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2003Fuel system, gasolineODI 10038807
“CONSUMER STATES HE COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE GARAGE, A MECHANIC FOUND A FUEL LEAK DUE TO A SPLIT IN THE RETURN LINE PLASTIC NIPPLE, THIS ALLOWED FUEL TO DRIP ON THE EXHAUST PIPE WHEN THE TANK WAS MORE THAN HALF FILLED, THE WHOLE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC *SCC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2002Fuel system, gasolineODI 566829

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SULFUR IN FUEL INTERACTS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIVES FOUND IN WIDELY AVAILABLE GASOLINE CAUSING SULFUR TO BECOME DEPOSITED ON THE CONTACT POINTS OF THREE FUEL SENDING UNITS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT IN FACT BE FULL OR COULD BE EMPTY.

Fuel system, gasolineReported May 3, 2001NHTSA 01V157000

Fuel system

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH QUATTRO DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH EMPLOYS A FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM. IF THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, AND IS KEPT RUNNING WHILE BEING REFUELED, THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT BACK PRESSURE TO CAUSE FUEL TO BE EJECTED AFTER A COMPLETE FILL-UP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE IS REMOVED FROM THE FILLER NECK.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Mar 22, 1999NHTSA 99V058000

Fuel system

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRE-ASSEMBLY OF THE FUEL TANKS, AN INCORRECT FILLER NECK WAS INSTALLED CAUSING THE FILLER NECK TO NOT "MATCH" THE FUEL CAP.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Sep 19, 1997NHTSA 97V160000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.