2013 Audi A6

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Audi A6 has 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: had a frontal crash as i was trying to click in the safety belt while in motion. the impact was severe enough that my head went forward and cracked the windshield injuring my forehead. i lost consciousness for 30 minutes. this was a new car (115 miles) and none of the multiple airbags went off. trie. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 4 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

18 complaints

23%

• HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AS I WAS TRYING TO CLICK IN THE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD INJURING MY FOREHEAD. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW CAR (115 MILES) AND NONE OF THE MULTIPLE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. TRIE
• I WAS ENTERING MY GARAGE AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I SLAMMED INTO ANY FRONT WALL DOING LOTS OF DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURES IN AND OUT AS WELL AS TO MY BODY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY FIRST ACCIDENT EVER AND THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD PRIOR ACCELERATION/DECELERATION ISSUES WITH THI
• AUDI REPLACED PODS MODULE IN FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT, WHICH MONITORS IF THERE IS AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT AND THIS TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG ACTIVATION. AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE WHEN MY HUSBAND SITS THERE (ABOUT 170 LB.), BUT I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AS I WAS TRYING TO CLICK IN THE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD INJURING MY FOREHEAD. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW CAR (115 MILES) AND NONE OF THE MULTIPLE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. TRIE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

16 complaints

20%

• THIS DOES NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE CAR ALWAYS SURGED AHEAD AFTER A FRACTION OF A SECOND. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TURBOCHARGER ON THE 2 LITER ENGINE "SPOOLED" AT 1600 RPMS AND CAUSED THE SURGE. IT IS A VERY
• I WAS ENTERING MY GARAGE AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I SLAMMED INTO ANY FRONT WALL DOING LOTS OF DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURES IN AND OUT AS WELL AS TO MY BODY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY FIRST ACCIDENT EVER AND THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD PRIOR ACCELERATION/DECELERATION ISSUES WITH THI
• EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO ADD 1 QUART OF OIL 3,000 MILES BEFORE THE NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL. ONLY 22,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THIS DOES NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE CAR ALWAYS SURGED AHEAD AFTER A FRACTION OF A SECOND. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TURBOCHARGER ON THE 2 LITER ENGINE "SPOOLED" AT 1600 RPMS AND CAUSED THE SURGE. IT IS A VERY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

11%

• HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AS I WAS TRYING TO CLICK IN THE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD INJURING MY FOREHEAD. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW CAR (115 MILES) AND NONE OF THE MULTIPLE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. TRIE
• LANE CHANGE ASSIST GIVES ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD AND TURNS OFF.
• WHEN I WAS DRIVING, WE SMELLED BURNING OF RUBBER BUT THOUGHT THAT IT MUST BE FROM OUTSIDE. HOWEVER AFTER DRIVING OF ANOTHER 3-4 MILES, SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM AIR VENT MAINLY ON DRIVER AND WINDSHIELD SIDE INSIDE OF CABIN. I STOPPED CAR AND TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT TO NEARBY GARAGE AND T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

10%

• FUEL HOSE APPEARS TO HAVE DETERIORATED FROM THE INSIDE. SMALL PINHOLE LEAK APPEARED AND ALLOWED FOR GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO HOT ENGINE. CURRENT VOLKSWAGEN RECALL 24BZ DOES NOT APPEAR TO INCLUDE MY VIN, ALTHOUGH CHARACTERISTICS ARE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL. I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPAN
• START SMELLING GASOLINE AND EVERY DAY WAS WORSE. I BRING THE A6 FOR THE RECALL BUT I JUST REALIZE THAT AUDI DID THE 20AR BUT I REMEMBER PRIOR TO THIS RECALL THE CAR HAD THE 24BZ . I TRIED TO CALL THEM AND MY VIM SOES NOY SHOW FOR THIS RECALL . THE A6 IS WITH AUDI LIVERMORE THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO UN
• ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL CABLES MORE THAN ONCE, ALSO FUEL EXHAUST ISSUE AND COOLING SYSTEM. VEHICLE STATIONARY AND OR DRIVING UNDER 50 MILES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FUEL HOSE APPEARS TO HAVE DETERIORATED FROM THE INSIDE. SMALL PINHOLE LEAK APPEARED AND ALLOWED FOR GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO HOT ENGINE. CURRENT VOLKSWAGEN RECALL 24BZ DOES NOT APPEAR TO INCLUDE MY VIN, ALTHOUGH CHARACTERISTICS ARE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL. I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

7 complaints

• STEERING FEELS LOOSE-HARD TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT.AUDI PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE STEERING-SAME PROBLEM STILL EXIST-MOST NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MAGNETIC STEERING NEEDED TO B
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A6. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN. THE CONTACT PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. A "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE STEERING FAILURE" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“STEERING FEELS LOOSE-HARD TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT.AUDI PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE STEERING-SAME PROBLEM STILL EXIST-MOST NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 79 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AS I WAS TRYING TO CLICK IN THE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD INJURING MY FOREHEAD. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW CAR (115 MILES) AND NONE OF THE MULTIPLE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. TRIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THIS DOES NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE CAR ALWAYS SURGED AHEAD AFTER A FRACTION OF A SECOND. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TURBOCHARGER ON THE 2 LITER ENGINE "SPOOLED" AT 1600 RPMS AND CAUSED THE SURGE. IT IS A VERY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AS I WAS TRYING TO CLICK IN THE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD INJURING MY FOREHEAD. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WAS A NEW CAR (115 MILES) AND NONE OF THE MULTIPLE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. TRIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL HOSE APPEARS TO HAVE DETERIORATED FROM THE INSIDE. SMALL PINHOLE LEAK APPEARED AND ALLOWED FOR GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO HOT ENGINE. CURRENT VOLKSWAGEN RECALL 24BZ DOES NOT APPEAR TO INCLUDE MY VIN, ALTHOUGH CHARACTERISTICS ARE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL. I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)