Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Audi A6 problems
Owners filed 113 complaints about the 2001 Audi A6 with NHTSA between Jan 2001 and May 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (18).
Complaints
113
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Air bags15
- Electrical system14
- Power train14
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Fuel system, gasoline11
- Tires11
- Exterior lighting6
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Structure5
- Equipment5
- Suspension4
- Fuel system, other3
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 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
11
17
14
9
4
3
4
5
3
10
5
2
4
3
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 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
Engine and engine cooling
18 reports1 crash2 fires
“THE INSULATED HEAR SHIELD AROUND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTED A SLOW BURN AND EXCESSIVE SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE ALARM, WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY WORK PLACE. THE FIRE COMPANY RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME. UPDATED 01/30/12 *BF”
Air bags
15 reports7 crashes1 fire
“I was driving about 67 on the open highway and was struck from behind by another vehicle. I lost control of my car and careened into a guard rail. I went unconscious and when I woke I was badly injured. All the air bags in car had deployed except for the driver's airbag. As a consequence, I sustained severe damages to my ribs and neck. I am lucky to be alive.”
Electrical system
14 reports1 crash5 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND EVACUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED THAT ORIGINATED AT THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V133000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.”
Power train
14 reports
“TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 104,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON AUDI'S. THE CAR WAS A $55000 CAR! I ENDED UP SELLING IT FOR PARTS, AS THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS MORE THAN THE MARKET VALUE. I WILL NEVER BUY AUDI AGAIN. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
12 reports
“ABS/ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR 60 MINUTES OR MORE, USUALLY WENT OFF IF VEHICLE RESTARTED, THIS BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER COURSE OF 10 MONTHS UNTIL LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME, WHEEL SENSORS HAD TO BE CHANGED AT SIGNIFICANT COST TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
11 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A6 AVANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME AND THE CONTACT FOUND A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 02/01/12 *BF UPDATED 02/07/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED AUDI AGREED TO PAY THE COST OF REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. UPDATED 02/22/12”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.