2001 Audi A6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 113 complaints (8.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 19.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 10.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 6.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Tires: 10; Air Bags: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2001: 13; 2002: 11; 2003: 17; 2004: 14; 2005: 9; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 10; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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 10001824 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002362 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS THE FUEL DOOR ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043073 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
AUDI 2001 A6 2.7T TIPTRONIC WHILE IN D TRANSMISSION MODE, CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE PER ACCELERATOR INPUT AFTER USING THE BRAKES. THERE IS A DELAY OF ABOUT A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE CAR ACCELERATES. THIS HAPPENS AFTER BRAKING FROM LOW SPEEDS FOLLOWED BY GENTLE ACCELERATION AND ALSO WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS FOLLOWED BY EITHER GENTLE OR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION. OFTEN THERE WILL BE A PRONOUNCED JERK WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE DELAY. *LA SAFETY ISSUE TYPICAL SITUATION: WHEN CROSSING MEDIANS TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC IN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089702 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *MR THE DRAIN HOLES WERE NOT APART OF THE 20K MILES MAINTENANCE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE PLENUM CHAMBER COVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED DURING MAINTENANCE AT WHICH TIME ANY EVIDENCE OF DEBRIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS TO THE TECHNICIAN. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE UNDER THE COWL, WHICH DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051285 · 2003-12-29 (December 29, 2003)
2001 AUDI A6 WITH ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE BASICALLY MELTED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. DEALER SAYS THE RADIATOR WAS FINE AND THE WAS NO OIL LEAK. ALL WIRES ARE MELTED ONTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE IS RUINED. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ONLY 2 YEARS OLD BUT OFF WARRANTY. DEALER OFFERS NOTHING AND AUDI OFFERS 4000 TOWARDS A NEW AUDI PURCHASE. A NET 37000 DOLLAR LOSS IN 2 YRS FOR ME. I WAS TOLD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT WOULD EASILY GET 90000 TO 1…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083832 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN A RAIN STORM VEHICLE SWERVED AND LOST CONTROL, CAUSING IT TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A WALL. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. TWO WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE AIR BAG ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201211 · 2007-08-30 (August 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI 6. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CHECK VALVE FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS BENT AND CRACKED. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 10/11/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279387 · 2009-08-04 (August 4, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A6. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DISPENSED GASOLINE INTO THE FUEL TANK, HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO OBSERVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK NIPPLE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V157000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND CURRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023890 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS EVERY 3000 MILES. SOME FOR MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS REPLACING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND OTHER TIMES FOR MULTIPLE REPAIRS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS (ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11138799 · 2018-10-06 (October 6, 2018)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 AROUND A CURVE WHEN I HEAR A LOUD NOISE O LOOKED AROUND AT THE OTHER CARS IN THE OTHER LANES TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME WONDERING THE SAME THING OR THEY SAW THE BLOWOUT AND OR HEARD THE NOISE? I REALIZED IT WAS MY TIRE LOSING STEERING CONTROL. I QUICKLY MOVED OVER TO SHOULDER FOUND I WAS RIDING ON RIM. THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OFF RIM TO THE BACK OF WHEEL WELL PUSHING OFF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CABLE FOR THAT WHEEL AND DAMAGING MY WHEEL WELL. A FEW MINUTES AFTER EXAMINING TIRE A STATE OF NEVADA EME…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11138799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 6900632 · 2001-12-10 (December 10, 2001)
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS INOPERATIVE, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WILL MOVE 15 - 20 FEET THEN IT WILL STOP FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS, THEN VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALER, THE VEHICLE IS NOT CONSISTENT IN SELECTING THE STARTING GEAR, SOMETIMES STARTING FAST AT OTHER TIMES, SLOW, THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, EVEN WITH SUNSHDES ON, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS. *JG *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 6900632 at NHTSA ↗