1998 Audi A6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
104 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
78,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 104 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 25.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 5; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 27; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 16; 2004: 23; 2005: 12; 2006: 7; 2007: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003352 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER RELEASING ACCELERATOR AND WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES. RPM'S REV'D AS HIGH AS 5000.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005282 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
1998 AUDI A6 QUATTRO: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY COMING TO THE EXIT RAMP FOR M Y HOME THE CAR WOULDNT STOP. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENGINE KEPT ON REVVING AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, HOWEVER IT WAS OFF. COULDN'T STOP THE CAR UNTIL LUCKILY AT THE LAST MINUTE THE ENGINE DIED AND AN ACCIDENT WITH A STOPPED CAR AT THE END OF THE RAMP WAS AVOIDED. TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND BOTH WERE TERRIFIED. I CALLEDTHE LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038807 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
1998 AUDI A6 FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING AT THE SEAMS. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND NO DAMAGE TO THE TANK. GARAGE FULL OF GAS FUMES AND FUEL WAS DRIPPING UNDER THE CAR. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139846 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
(1) PURCHASED AUTO 10/7/05. PICK-UP IN MIAMI. AUTO HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPERATED IN FLORIDA CLIMATE. DROVE CAR TO PENNSYLVANIA ARRIVING ON 10/9/05. ON 10/13/05 DETECTED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING AND PARKING IN GARAGE. (THIS WAS FIRST TIME CAR WAS REFUELED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND PARKED IN GARAGE). (2) PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A LEAK IN A SEAM OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF THE AUDI A6. HAS CAUSED NO INJURIES AS YET. OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCE IS FOUL ODOR AND , MORE IMPORTANTLY, A HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009119 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL HAD MELTED, AND THE CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS BURNED. *JB THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART. *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024575 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HEAT UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD GET TOO HOT ON HIS HANDS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL HAD GOTTEN EXTREMELY HOT EVERY TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,552 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043091 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR OF OUR AUDI A6 KEPT FILLING UP WITH WATER WHILE DRIVING -- EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT RAINING. THERE WAS NO DRAIN IN THE FLOOR TO ALLOW THE WATER TO EXIT, SO WE BAILED IT LIKE A BOAT AND FINALLY PUNCHED A HOLE THROUGH THE FLOOR WITH A SCREWDRIVER. HOWEVER, SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD: THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR IT WAS PLACED IN. BY REPEATEDLY TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091702 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED WATER COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FROM THE HEATING DOCKS. THIS OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IN A RAIN STORM OVER NIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE DRAIN LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, UNDER THE HOOD, GOT BLOCKED UP AND WATER BACKED UP INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HEATING DOCKS. THIS RESULTED IN THE TRANSMISSION BEING SUBMERGED IN WATER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125117 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
DT: ON MAY 31 2005 WHILE DRIVING SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THEN, SMOKE CAME FROM AIR VENTS, AND SMOKE GOT WORSE. WHILE SPEAKING W/ 911 FLAMES BEGAN TO COME FROM THE AIR VENTS. FIRE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE AIR VENTS. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR CODES TO OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. OWNER BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD A HARD TIME EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, AND WERE UNSURE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT FILED. CAR WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125117 at NHTSA ↗