1997 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 19 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 2; 2013: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10036702 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT'S A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. GO TO HTTP://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/SEARCH/ AND PUT 'IGNITION SWITCH' IN AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND YET THERE'S A RECALL ON THE A4, BUT NOT THE A6.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058251 · 2004-02-16 (February 16, 2004)
97 AUDI A6 AVANT HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT RESULTS IN FAILURE OF MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067819 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)
I DRIVE A 1997, A6 AUDI QUATTRO STATION WAGON. OVER THE PAST 2 WINTERS, I HAVE HAD 2 VERY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. EACH TIME I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THROW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT TO CAR OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081110 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
I HAVE A "STICKY" IGNITION SWITCH, YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT BACK TO RUN OR THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM YET. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE AND WAS A RECALL ITEM ON OTHER MODELS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143400 · 2005-11-21 (November 21, 2005)
IGNITION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED MANY TIMES, CAUSING HEADLAMPS TO FLICKER OR SIMPLY NOT FUNCTION. THE SWITCH NOW HAS MALFUNCTIONED TO THE POINT OF NO LONGER ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO FUNCTION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143460 · 2005-11-22 (November 22, 2005)
ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLAINT ID 345606/RECALL ID#00V317000 AUDI 1997 A6 WAGON WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD STAY ENGAGED AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE CAR WAS BEING STARTED AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. STARTER WAS BURNED UP AND SO IS THE MOTORMOUNT IS AS MUCH AS I KNOW FOR NOW, IAM SURE THERE'S MORE. CAR IS STILL AT DEALER AND AUDI OF AMERICA (HQ) SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROMISE ME ANYTHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162938 · 2006-07-20 (July 20, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE CLOUDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE MIRRORS WAS PEELING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED THE MIRROR FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181977 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
1997 AUDI A6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - STUCK THROTTLE. ONLY WAY TO STOP CAR FROM MOVING WAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION. AUDI DEALER (SUDS - NORMAL, ILLINOIS) FOUND ICE IN THROTTLE HOUSING AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE-MODEL AUDIS. IF I DID NOT HAVE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN OFF ENGINE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO CROSS TRAFFIC ON BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 85,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181977 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V115000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 1997-07-22 (July 22, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN IMPROPERLY LOCKING SEAT BELT COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V175000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1997-10-08 (October 8, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
NHTSA campaign record ↗