1999 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

MY 1999 AUDI A6 AVANT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER IS TURNED ON IT ACTIVATES THE STEERING WHEEL HEATER. ON 12/13/02 IN USING THIS HEATER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO BURN MY HAND AND BEGAN TO FILL THE CAR WITH SMOKE. IT MELTED THE FOAM UNDER THE LEATHER COVER. IF I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE SEAT/STEERING WHEEL HEATER I BELIEVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. MY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WHEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000150 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES IN INCLIMATE WEATHER,WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S THROTTLE GETS STUCK OPEN CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A HARD SHIFT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001868 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING MY AUDI 1999 A6 QUATTRO 2.8L MY VEH STATRED TO SMOKE FROM THE DASHBOARD. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WITH IN 5 MINUTES MY VEH WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO INJURIES

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003514 at NHTSA ↗

ON JANUARY 19, RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY TRIP, THE THROTTLE ON OUR 1999 A6 STUCK OPEN AT 65MPH. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO DUE TO HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATION. I HAD STAND ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD TO AVOID SMASHING INTO THE VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME THAT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN UPCOMING SPEED ZONE. I OVERHEATED MY BRAKES ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE IN ORDER TO PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND MAKE A QUICK EXIT WHERE I TURNED OFF THE KEY. MY BRAKES SMOKED AND SMELLED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES …

Owner-reported narrative. 116,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003601 at NHTSA ↗

ACCELERATION PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004751 at NHTSA ↗

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS FADED TO UNREADABLE. AN ALARM IS GOING OFF AND I CAN'T READ WHAT IT SAYS. A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S. CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO A RECALL.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005249 at NHTSA ↗

THE ACCELERATOR FROZE IN FULL THROTTLE POSITION, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007217 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE FULLY ACCELERATED ON IT OWN, RESULTING IN VERY HIGH SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND ON DOWNHILL DRIVE. VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN CAREENING DOWN STEEP HILL TOWARD AN INTERSECTION. REPORTEDLY CAN HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER AT ANY TIME. DANGEROUS!!

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007690 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-12-06 (December 6, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Consequence: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

Reported: 2001-05-03 (May 3, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SULFUR IN FUEL INTERACTS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIVES FOUND IN WIDELY AVAILABLE GASOLINE CAUSING SULFUR TO BECOME DEPOSITED ON THE CONTACT POINTS OF THREE FUEL SENDING UNITS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT IN FACT BE FULL OR COULD BE EMPTY.

Consequence: RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANK LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNITS AND REPLACE THEM WITH FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNITS USING A NEW ALLOY COMPOSED OF GOLD, SILVER, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF NICKEL, WHICH WILL NOT CHEMICALLY REACT WITH SULFUR. VW/AUDI WILL ALSO CALL BACK VEHICLES THAT WERE REPAIRED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL LAST JUNE IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE UPDATED FUEL SENDING UNITS NHTSA 00V137/AUDI LB). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-866-892-2834.

Reported: 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.

Consequence: A FIRE COULD ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT DASHBOARD AREA.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVERING ON THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT). IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS THE FELT PROTECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD CARRIER WILL BE CHECKED, AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Reported: 2004-10-12 (October 12, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: AUDI WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY KIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THE COLD-WEATHER STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING, WILL BE NOTIFIED OF A SERVICE ACTION, UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE PROVIDED THE FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST.

Reported: 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HALOGEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, CERTAIN CONNECTOR PINS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. NOTE: VEHICLES WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT IN THESE VEHICLES CONTAINS A FUSE, WHICH PRECLUDES EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW IN THE CASE OF A SHORT CIRCUIT. AUDI S6 AND S6 AVANT VEHICLES ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND, THEREFORE, ARE NOT LONGER AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING OR FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS BY INSTALLING A JUMPER WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Reported: 2020-01-31 (January 31, 2020)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.

Reported: 1999-03-22 (March 22, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH QUATTRO DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH EMPLOYS A FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM. IF THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, AND IS KEPT RUNNING WHILE BEING REFUELED, THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT BACK PRESSURE TO CAUSE FUEL TO BE EJECTED AFTER A COMPLETE FILL-UP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE IS REMOVED FROM THE FILLER NECK.

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL SPRAY COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: VW IS PROVIDING A NEW PAGE FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO REQUESTING OWNERS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE A LABEL CONTAINING IMPORTANT REFUELING INSTRUCTIONS INSTALLED INSIDE OF THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. DEALERS WILL ALSO REMOVE THE TIRE PRESSURE LABEL AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FENDER WELL AT THE RIGHT REAR DOOR.

Reported: 1999-05-21 (May 21, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Reported: 1999-09-13 (September 13, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Consequence: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.