Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Audi A6 problems
Owners filed 71 complaints about the 2003 Audi A6 with NHTSA between Jun 2003 and Mar 2021. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (16).
Complaints
71
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Electrical system14
- Power train11
- Tires7
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Engine3
- Steering3
- Exterior lighting3
- Service brakes, electric3
- Visibility3
- Suspension2
- Fuel system, other2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
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
7
5
6
7
3
5
5
9
6
5
2
4
0
1
3
2
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 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
Fuel system, gasoline
16 reports1 fire3 related recalls
“AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE ACCELERATION BECOMES SLOW AND IT STALLS WITH A JERK LIKE IT'S GOING TO JUST STOP ALSO, WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE GEAR IT WILL NOT MOVE. I AM STUCK. THE PRND FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. I BECOME AFRAID BECAUSE THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.”
Electrical system
14 reports4 fires2 related recalls
“FAILED CT EMISSIONS TEST. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONFIRMED CODE TO BE P0741. INFORMED BY AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TR”
Power train
11 reports
“TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHUDDER AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GOES TO NEUTRAL WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED, ENGINE REVS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. PRND DISPLAY ON DASHBOARD IS BLINKING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. FAULT CODE SHOWS FAILURE ON TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *TR”
Tires
7 reports
“TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 2003 AUDI A6 QUARTO. WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CONTACT HEARD A LOW BUMPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES STEEL BELTS WERE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THERE WEREN'T ANY POT HOLES NOR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS VISIBLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12000 MILES ON THE KUMHO ECSTA ASX TIRES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 44800 MILES.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“FAULTY IGNITION COILS (SO FAR 3 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS WENT BAD). ON THREE OCCASIONS AFTER STARTING AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO THE GEAR, SHAKING ENSUED AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED EACH TIME TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAULTY PARTS WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Fuel/propulsion system
3 reports
“THE GAS TANK OR COMPONENTS OF THE TANK ARE LEAKING GAS WHEN MORE THAN A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS IS PUT INTO THE TANK. GAS LEAKS ALL OVER THE GROUND FROM THE TANK AND THE CABIN FILLS WITH GAS FUMES. MY 18 SON HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR AND I WILL NOT ALLOW HIM OR ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW. AFTER READING ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL WHEN IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING AND THAT AUDI WANTS TO CHARGE 3K TO LOWER THE TANK AND REPAIR.”
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.