2008 Audi A6 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (47) · Exterior Lighting (6) · Electrical System (3)
🧭 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
21 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 (495)
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:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2024-02-07 · A9124632044694_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information pertaining to mmi navigation database concerns.
Electrical System:adas:parking Assist:software 2023-12-21 · A912306202432310 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2023-11-16 · A9023562032113_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading.
Equipment 2023-11-07 · A0023812070568_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool for professional noise analysis.
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights 2023-10-30 · A9423672071954_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information pertaining to when there are foreign objects inside of a headlight or taillight.
Equipment:other:labels 2023-10-25 · A7423262071893_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides damage assessment guidelines for textile seat covers.
Showing the 6 most recent of 495 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-08 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“on august 3, 2026, a 2008 audi a6 was traveling on the george washington parkway in virginia when the driver encountered a large tree branch in the roadway and swerved to avoid it. the vehicle struck a curb, became airborne, rolled, and went down an embankment before coming to rest. the driver was wearing a seat belt. the driver’s frontal airbag in…”
2025-01-24 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2008 audi a6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not exper…”
2022-09-11 · Power Train“tcm is defective will not allow car to shift into gear causing car to stop in traffic with no warnings …”
2019-02-27 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 audi a6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. audi fairfield (435 commerce dr, fairfield, ct 06825, (203)-951-6570) was contacted and confirmed that the parts we…”
2019-02-11 · Air Bags“audi periodically sends out a provocative safety warning to 'schedule your repair immediately' stating that (my) 'safety and satisfaction are their top priorities'. when i call a dealer, i'm told that i already have the (temporary and only) fix (as takata went bankrupt). please encourage corp audi to get their story strait. the only fact i know fo…”
2019-01-03 · Air Bags“takata recall i have contacted the audi dealer and audi usa several times to get a repair scheduled without any success. this has now been going on for more than 2 years. every time i get the same story. we have not received any parts, one time they told me the repair had just been revoked and that they were waiting new information. i feel very …”
2018-10-26 · Air Bags“2008 audi a6 quattro. consumer writes in regard to dealership failing to replace faulty components in a timely manner; airbag safety recall no. 69r7. *as *js…”
2018-07-31 · Seat Belts“takata recall - airbag replaced per recall but airbag light remains lit due to faulty seatbelt in rear center passenger seat. faulty seat belt needs to be put under recall as this seems to be a common issue in the audi.…”
2018-07-26 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 audi a6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. paul miller audi (179 us-46, parsippany, nj 07054, (973) 575-77…”
2018-07-26 · Air Bags · 134,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was involved in a passenger side impact accident where the passenger side curtain did not deploy. the impacting vehicle was traveling above 35mph when it struck. there were no skid marks nor any attempt to slow the vehicle before impact. both vehicles were totaled in the collision. all passengers in both vehicles (1 driver/ 1 passenger) were tran…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.