2005 Audi A6 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (40) · Steering (7) · Service Brakes (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A6 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
52 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-22 · campaign 18V427000 · 237,947 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployme
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-11 · campaign 17V032000 · 33,421 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswag
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-06-01 · campaign 16V382000 · 194,453 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 20
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Service bulletins (380)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-10-04 · A0023742052680_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-28 · DC_AudiRingsV12 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
inside the rings | volume 12, spring 2023
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_MA_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the massachusetts dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 audi owners in the state of massachusetts on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_NM_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the new mexico dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 audi owners in the state of new mexico on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-02-13 · TRMDMV_CO_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the colorado dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,174 audi owners in the state of colorado on february 13, 2023.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-02-10 · DC_Rings_VOL10 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata recall and 3g turndown
Showing the 6 most recent of 380 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-01-25 · Steering“when this steering problem is occurring no communication between the steering and driver and accident happened and its very dangerous!!! dtc 00456 (access/start control module -j518- no communication) is found in several control modules or the access/start authorization control module, j518 (address word 05), identifies itself with implausible data…”
2019-10-27 · Air Bags · 82,717 mi“audi of america sent me a flyer (attached) offering $100 in audi goods and services as an incentive to complete the replacement of a takata airbag recall. since may 2nd, now almost 5 months later, audi has still failed to provide the offered incentive despite me contacting them and their promise it would be resolved. as this recall is under nhtsa …”
2019-07-03 · Wheels“nov 17 2017 on my way to work , i got a flat tired so i had to pull over .. right at the intersection of on clairemont going north on the 805. the…”
2018-12-03 · Air Bags“i have attempted to have the airbag recall repairs done many times over the last year,only told that they are waiting for parts at audi of rochester ny. i am concerned the i have hear nothing from them. i have not had the passenger airbag go off nor do i want to take the chance that it will.…”
2018-11-11 · Steering · 145,800 mi“vehicle wouldn't start after parking at a store parking lot. steering column was locked no power to anything only mmi had power transmission was locked on parking position and electronic brake sistem was activated looking up online i found that there's to many customers with same problem they all stated that the problem was the start control module…”
2018-07-30 · Air Bags“takata recall i have contacted audi twice, they have told me they had to order the part and once they receive the part they would call me to set an appointment to repair the airbag. i have been waiting about 6 months (maybe longer). i have not heard back from them. after waiting a few months i decided to also fill out the form on the audi website …”
2018-06-19 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2005 audi a6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the dealer (prestige porsche audi, 1-877-663-9259) was called and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. the manufacturer was notified…”
2018-04-10 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2005 audi a6. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 17v032000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer (larson audi tacoma, 1701 alexander aven…”
2018-01-22 · Air Bags“takata recall manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for my vehicle…”
2017-12-31 · Air Bags“"takata recall i have been getting the round around on replacement of the inflator for the past year. one excuse after another.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.