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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling18
  2. Air bags15
  3. Electrical system14
  4. Power train14
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  6. Fuel system, gasoline11
  7. Tires11
  8. Exterior lighting6
  9. Fuel/propulsion system5
  10. Vehicle speed control5
  11. Structure5
  12. Equipment5
  13. Suspension4
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200113
200211
200317
200414
20059
20064
20073
20084
20095
20103
201110
20125
20132
20144
20153
20162
20170
20181
20191
20200
20211
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10445388

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11428121

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2015Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10767326

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2014Power trainODI 10627673

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10425078

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10443555
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.