NHTSA Safety Recalls
Audi A6 Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 41 recall campaigns for the Audi A6, across 21 model years from 2000 to 2023. The 2021 has the most (11); the fewest among years with a recall is 2023 (1).
Audi A6 years to avoid by our method: 2001 (2.2× the median year).
- Model years
- 21
- Recall campaigns
- 41
- Most recalls
- 2021
- Owner complaints
- 1,226
2000–2023, with a recall
11 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 1,226 complaints with NHTSA about the Audi A6 across 27 model years; the most, 148, concern the 2000.
Owners marked a crash on 44 of the Audi A6 complaints (4%) and a fire on 36.
Across all Audi A6 model years, owners name the air bags most often (at least 290 complaints), then the electrical system (285).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the Audi A6 in 2017: 138, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the Audi A6 is air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module, in 17 model-year listings.
The newest Audi A6 recall, 26V125000, was reported on March 4, 2026 and concerns the lane departure: software.
Audi A6 years to avoid
The 2001 Audi A6 stands out most: 55 complaints between 2000 and 2004, 16% of them naming the engine and engine cooling.
The 2001 also carries 7 recalls, against a median of 4 for the ranked Audi A6 years.
The best-measured Audi A6 years are 2013 (0.4×), 2014 (0.5×) and 2006 (0.6×).
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 7 | — | not ranked |
| 2025 | 0 | 6 | — | not ranked |
| 2024 | 0 | 3 | — | not ranked |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | — | not ranked |
| 2022 | 0 | 2 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2021 | 11 | 18 | 7 | not ranked |
| 2020 | 9 | 26 | 17 | 1.0× |
| 2019 | 7 | 114 | 38 | 1.8× |
| 2018 | 2 | 11 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2017 | 3 | 20 | 6 | not ranked |
| 2016 | 3 | 51 | 23 | 1.1× |
| 2015 | 4 | 22 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2014 | 4 | 41 | 11 | 0.5× |
| 2013 | 6 | 52 | 10 | 0.4× |
| 2012 | 8 | 60 | 12 | 0.6× |
| 2011 | 3 | 21 | 3 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 3 | 17 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 4 | 21 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 4 | 71 | 12 | 0.7× |
| 2007 | 0 | 53 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2006 | 4 | 67 | 10 | 0.6× |
| 2005 | 0 | 91 | 13 | 0.8× |
| 2004 | 4 | 35 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2003 | 7 | 66 | 21 | 1.0× |
| 2002 | 4 | 88 | 36 | 1.4× |
| 2001avoid | 7 | 113 | 55 | 2.2× |
| 2000 | 4 | 148 | 45 | 1.6× |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Audi A6 years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the Audi A6
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14
- AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION9
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM8
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY6
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS5
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA4
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL4
- FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY4
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT3
Audi A6 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every Audi A6 recall campaign (41)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V125000March 4, 2026 | lane departure: software | 2019 | crash | 1,620 |
| 25V900000December 19, 2025 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2021, 2023 | crash | 356,894 |
| 25V201000March 31, 2025 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2021 | crash | 44,387 |
| 23V601000August 25, 2023 | service brakes, hydraulic: fluid | 2019–2021 | crash | 7,499 |
| 22V861000November 21, 2022 | electrical system | 2019–2021 | crash | 50,883 |
| 22V742000October 5, 2022 | back over prevention: display function | 2021 | crash | 170,296 |
| 22V155000March 14, 2022 | electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge: fuel level float/sensor/sending unit | 2019–2021 | crash | 47,238 |
| 22V034000January 26, 2022 | tires | 2020–2021 | crash | 31,058 |
| 21V606000August 5, 2021 | seat belts: rear/other: retractor | 2021 | crash and injury | 45,496 |
| 21V295000April 26, 2021 | suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly | 2020–2021 | crash | 40,993 |
| 21V159000March 10, 2021 | air bags | 2019–2021 | crash and injury | 3,421 |
| 20V749000December 2, 2020 | electrical system | 2021 | crash and injury | 166 |
| 20V274000May 13, 2020 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2020 | crash and injury | 153 |
| 20V153000March 19, 2020 | electrical system: starter assembly | 2019–2020 | fire | 5,471 |
| 20V056000January 31, 2020 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2000 | crash, injury and death | 106,857 |
| 19V035000January 16, 2019 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2016–2018 | fire | 74,881 |
| 18V862000December 5, 2018 | electrical system: wiring | 2015–2016 | fire | 845 |
| 18V427000June 22, 2018 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2006, 2008–2011 | injury and death | 237,947 |
| 18V370000June 4, 2018 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2012–2018 | crash and injury | 139,249 |
| 18V229000April 11, 2018 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 2012–2015 | fire | 342,867 |
| 18V004000January 4, 2018 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2009–2011 | injury and death | 10,166 |
| 17V781000December 6, 2017 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2012–2014 | fire | 48,693 |
| 17V032000January 11, 2017 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2006, 2008–2009 | injury and death | 33,421 |
| 17V002000January 3, 2017 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 2012–2015 | fire | 342,867 |
| 16V955000December 29, 2016 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2017 | crash and injury | 5,947 |
| 16V646000September 7, 2016 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2012–2013 | fire | 28,249 |
| 16V382000June 1, 2016 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2006, 2008–2011 | injury and death | 194,453 |
| 15V823000December 8, 2015 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2012–2013 | crash and injury | 21,074 |
| 15V019000January 20, 2015 | fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail | 2012 | fire | 26,008 |
| 11V580000December 6, 2011 | air bags: side/window | 2012 | crash and injury | 317 |
| 11V267000May 3, 2011 | fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly | 2001–2004 | fire | 5,992 |
| 08V157000April 8, 2008 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2001–2004 | fire | 68,240 |
| 07V375000August 28, 2007 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2003 | crash | 34,358 |
| 07V334000August 1, 2007 | structure: body: trunk lid | 2006, 2008 | injury | 23,898 |
| 06V198000June 5, 2006 | electrical system | 2000–2004 | fire | 70,512 |
| 06V017000January 23, 2006 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2003 | crash | 74,000 |
| 04V133000March 18, 2004 | electrical system | 2000–2004 | fire | 172,866 |
| 03V143000April 7, 2003 | tires | 2001 | — | 1,360 |
| 02V275000October 9, 2002 | air bags: frontal | 2003 | crash | 170 |
| 01V202000June 18, 2001 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 2001 | — | 2,837 |
| 01V157000May 3, 2001 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2000–2001 | — | 70,000 |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Audi A6. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: October 19, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted