Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Audi RS6 problems

Owners filed 48 complaints about the 2003 Audi RS6 with NHTSA between Jun 2003 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (31).

Complaints
48
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension31
  2. Fuel system, gasoline5
  3. Power train4
  4. Tires2
  5. Fuel system, other1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Electronic stability control1
  8. Electrical system1
  9. Steering1
  10. Engine and engine cooling1
  11. Exterior lighting1

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 Nov 11, 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
20034
20042
20050
20064
20076
200820
20091
20104
20112
20120
20131
20141
20150
20160
20171
20181
20190
20200
20210
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

Suspension

31 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI RS6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND BACK SHOCKS ABSORBER, THE TUBING AND THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2014SuspensionODI 10631040

Fuel system, gasoline

5 reports
“2003 AUDI RS6 (A6 4.2 V8 BITURBO) FUEL TANK DEFECT: THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO MY 2003 AUDI RS6 SEDAN. AFTER NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR IN MY GARAGE THE MORNING AFTER FILLING UP SAID CAR, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR'S FUEL TANK IS BROKEN AT THE TOP WHERE THE ROLL OVER VALVE IS BONDED TO THE TANK. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM SUCH AS A LEAKING FUEL TANK. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOW FOUND THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTS WITH OTHER AUDI A6 BASED MODELS - AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL SAFETY RECALL (08V-157) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER ONLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SMALLER 18.5 GALLON FUEL TANK. THE 21.7 GALLON TANK IN THE AUDI RS6 (4.2 BITURBO QUATTRO) IS MADE OF THE SAME DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE OTHER A6 BASED VEHICLES LISTED IN THE REFERENCED SAFETY RECALL. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE QUITE PREVALENT IN ALL B5 AUDI A6 BASED MODELS (REGARDLESS OF TANK SIZE OR VENT LINE MATERIALS) AND I BELIEVE THAT THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10363614

Power train

4 reports
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS RESULTED IN NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2011Power trainODI 10419249

Tires

2 reports
“THIS WAS NOT A BLIZZAK LM-25. IT WAS A BLIZZAK LM-60. TWICE WITHIN A YEAR, I'VE HAD MY REAR TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE BEADS, SPLITTING ALL THE WAY AROUND ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALLS. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON THE PASSENGER REAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH. IT BLEW OFF AND WENT ROLLING BESIDE AND BEHIND THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY WITH SOME DAMAGE OCCURRING TO THE INNER TIRE WHEEL WELL. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AFTER RECENTLY EXITING THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME IT WAS THE DRIVER'S REAR. WHILE IT SEPARATED, I HEARD AND FELT IT AND PULLED TO THE CURB. THIS TIME THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE WHEEL WELL AS WELL AS THE BODY TRIM THE GOES FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR WHEEL WELLS BENEATH THE DOORS. I HAVE PICTURES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2018TiresODI 11161163

Fuel system, other

1 report1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Audi RS6. The contact stated that after adding fuel to the vehicle, he noticed that fuel had leaked, and there was a puddle of fuel on the ground on the rear driver's side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred routinely when adding fuel in the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V267000 (Fuel System, Other) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2023Fuel system, otherODI 11534403

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“FUEL TANK LEAK FROM TIP OVER VALVE. THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. AUDI RECALL 20L8/JY WAS PERFORMED ON 5/16/2012. BUT THE VALVE STARTED LEAKING AGAIN RECENTLY. I CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA (AOA) THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO AUSTIN NORTH AUDI DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION AND TAKING PHOTOS. AFTER THE DEALER CONFIRMATION THEY DENIED MY REQUEST TO COVER THE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. THEIR REASON WAS: CAR IS TOO OLD, I AM SECOND OWNER, AND THERE IS NO BRAND LOYALTY (THIS IS MY FIRST AUDI). HERE ARE THE AUDI OF AMERICA CASE DETAILS: VIN: [XXXXXX] AUDI RECALL CODE 20L8/JY AUDI CASE #: [XXX] AUDI OF AMERICA REP: SHEMONA (1-800-822-2834 EXT. 43444) CURRENT OWNER: [XXX] OWNER PHONE: [XXX] PLEASE ADVISE IF AOA IS LIABLE FOR REPLACING THE TANK WHEN RECALL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE OF TIP OVER VALVE LEAK. '*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2017Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11056824
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

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