2011 Audi A6 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (12) · Seats (3) · Wheels (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A6 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
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 2018-01-04 · campaign 18V004000 · 10,166 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Audi A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles, ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, 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, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2009 Audi
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other 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. Audi mailed an interim owner notification March 02, 2018. When parts to perform the recall repair become available, Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69U1. Note: This recall
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 (962)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069904_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069078_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-11 · TSB_2079732_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.
Showing the 6 most recent of 962 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-15 · Vehicle Speed Control“the car throw a epc warning light which cause the car to go n limp mode. with doing research ot has to do with the transmission. this cause the car to drive sluggish unable to reverse at times unable to take the car out of park at times. it also cause the car to randomly shut off when reversing or at times when im sitting at a light n i begin to dr…”
2026-02-13 · Unknown Or Other“2011 audi a6 seems to be overlooked compared to the rest of the audi’s yet the audi has so many different issues such as timing chain such as water pump, such as brake issues, such as rack pinion yet there hasn’t been anyone investigating this in particular make a model it needs to be done for safety reasons. additionally, i was never contacted for…”
2020-09-29 · Air Bags · 66,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2011 audi a6. the contact stated while driving 40 mph, when he crashed (t-boned) another vehicle. the air bags did not deploy. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact sustained injuries on his 2 lower disc and required surgery and also had back surgery. a police report was filed. the vehicle was not …”
2018-07-31 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 audi a6. the contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 18v004000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. the dealer (audi greenwich, 181 west putnam avenue, greenwich, ct 06830) stated that the parts were not available for the repair. the manufacturer was also contacted and confirmed t…”
2018-07-12 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 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. audi tacoma (1701 alexander ave e, fife, wa 98424, (253) 475-38…”
2018-06-28 · Air Bags“takata recall- i was first informed of this recall in march even though the recall for my car started in january. since, i have received no notification from audi of the status of repair. given the direction of audi, we are not able to use the front passenger seat which makes the car unable to accommodate the specified passengers and the valu…”
2018-06-13 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 audi a6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v004000 (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 contact called audi bellevue (1533 120th ave ne, bellevue…”
2017-03-27 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2011 audi a6. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 156v382000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. parts distribution disconnect. …”
2017-01-20 · Air Bags“"takata recall" i was informed by mail letter (july 2016) that my 2011 audi a6 was under recall for faulty passenger airbags and that i am not supposed to have anyone sit in the front passenger seat. it is now january 20th, 2017 and there still is no correction or replacement in place. this is preventing me from using my car as a daily driver due t…”
2017-01-19 · Air Bags · 57,000 mi“still no date when the takata airbag recall will be serviced for my vehicle.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.