Research · complaint index
Audi A6 years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 23 model years of the Audi A6 by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 1999 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 9 | — | 0 | 1 | Too new to judge |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 20 | 2 | 0.6 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2016 | 51 | 5 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2015 | 22 | 2 | 0.6 | 4 | 2 | Typical |
| 2014 | 41 | 3 | 1.0 | 4 | 1 | Typical |
| 2013 | 52 | 4 | 1.2 | 6 | 2 | Typical |
| 2012 | 60 | 4 | 1.3 | 8 | 0 | Typical |
| 2011 | 21 | 1 | 0.4 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2010 | 17 | 1 | 0.3 | 3 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 21 | 1 | 0.4 | 4 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 71 | 4 | 1.2 | 4 | 2 | Typical |
| 2007 | 53 | 3 | 0.8 | 4 | 4 | Typical |
| 2006 | 67 | 3 | 1.0 | 4 | 3 | Typical |
| 2004 | 35 | 2 | 0.5 | 4 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 71 | 3 | 0.9 | 7 | 1 | Typical |
| 2002 | 103 | 4 | 1.3 | 4 | 6 | Typical |
| 2001 | 113 | 4 | 1.4 | 7 | 11 | Typical |
| 2000 | 148 | 5 | 1.7 | 4 | 4 | Typical |
| 1999 | 217 | 8 | 2.5 | 9 | 12 | Most complaints |
| 1998 | 130 | 4 | 1.4 | 10 | 6 | Typical |
| 1997 | 21 | 1 | 0.2 | 2 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 1996 | 54 | 2 | 0.6 | 2 | 1 | Typical |
- 20269 complaints · 0 recallsToo new to judge
- 20182 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 201720 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201651 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201522 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 201441 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 201352 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 201260 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 201121 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 201017 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 200921 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 200871 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 200753 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 200667 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 200435 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 200371 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2002103 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2001113 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2000148 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 1999217 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 1998130 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
- 199721 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 199654 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Oct 29, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2018, 1997, 2010, 2009, 2011, 2004.
About this comparison
What Audi A6 years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 1999 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 23 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.