2000 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

AUDI A-6 YR 2000 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR MY HUSBAND EYES BECAME IRRITATED, SMELT SOMETHING BURNING, SHORTLY AFTER, SMOKE BLEW-OUT FROM THE LEFT AIR VENT INTO THE CAR AND THEN FIRE SPARKS. AS THE CAR WAS MOVING, HE NOTICED THE SMOKE, SLOWED DOWN, FORCED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND DASH OUT OF CAR. THE FIRE SPREAD FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ESTIMATED $22,000 LOSS WHICH IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE GEORGIA, DEKALB COUNTY FIRE SERVICES - INCIDENT REPORT NUM. 02-049367 WHICH WAS EXAMINED BY THE FIRE CHIEF CLEARLY STATE THE AREA …

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002614 at NHTSA ↗

CYLINDER HEADS (V-6, 2.7 LITER, 5-VALVE) ARE LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENDS IN AN AREA WHICH IS PLUGGED WITH A "BALL SEAL" PRESSED IN PLACE DURING MFG. OIL DRIPS ONTO EXHAUST CAUSING CAUSING MODERATE TO SEVERE SMELL OF BURNING OIL INSIDE AND AROUND VEHICLE. DEALER MECHANICS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM BY INSERTING SPECIAL DYE IN THE OIL AND CHECKING WITH A BLACKLIGHT, AND STATE HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER DENIES DEFECT AND SUGGESTS THIS AS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, BUT THERE ARE NO MOVING PARTS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SEALS RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010522 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO AUDI SERVICE ABOUT A NOISE IN THE STEERING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THEM IN MAY OF 2002. 43,769 MILES. I WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND. I BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2002. 48,743. NO PROBLEM FOUND. IN JAN. 2003 I BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION AGAIN. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS. I WAS TOLD AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. IN DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THE 1999 AUDI A6 HAD A RECALL FOR TIE RODS. I FEEL THIS MATTER OF THE TIE RODS FOR THE 2000 A6 AUDI …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010784 at NHTSA ↗

WINDOWS ROLL DOWN BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY SOURCES, THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S, AND AUDI'S. THE FIX IS REPLACING THE REGULATOR, AT A VERY HIGH COST. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY FIXED, AS IT IS A HAZARD TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN A STORM AT 65 MILES AN HOUR, AND HAVE ALL THE WINDOWS START OPENING. THIS WILL GO ON, EVERY MINUTE OR SO. SHOULD BE FIXED, PRIOR TO PEOPLE GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013868 at NHTSA ↗

HELLO, 2000 A6 HAS AN AUXILIARY FAN ON THE 2.8 ENGINE. MY AUDI WAS IN WARRANTY ON 10/17/02, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE FAN MAKES ALOT OF NOISE, AND THE FAN SMELLS LIKE A FIRE IS HAPPENING..NOW THE LOCAL DEALER, WAGNER AUDI IN BOYLOSTON, MA CHECKED THE CAR, AND WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN A FIRE FROM THIS AUDI A6 PROBLEM. THANKS, DON MELANSON. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014110 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WERE OIL LEAKS, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TURBO(S) AT 37000 MILES AND NEEDED A NEW TURBO(S) AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS APPEARED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER STATED THE OIL WASN'T CHANGED REGULARLY. THE INITIAL TURBO(S) WERE REPLACED WITH THE OLD OIL BECAUSE THE NEW OIL WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT 1 OUT OF 15 VEHICLE'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MR SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014871 at NHTSA ↗

TWO SEPARATE TIRE FAILURES FROM SAME BRAND/TYPE OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES, FIRST: JANUARY 22, 2003, SECOND: APRIL 28, 2003 BOTH WERE SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS. THE FIRST, ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL IN JANUARY 2001, DID NOT POSE A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE. HOWEVER, THE 2ND, ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST, OCCURRED ON A DIFFERENT WHEEL (RIGHT REAR) AT 60 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A CONGESTED PORTION OF I-95 NEAR MILFORD, CT. THE LATTER CLEARLY POSED A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO US, AND TO ALL OTHER VE…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018434 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE FIVE TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022924 at NHTSA ↗

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: 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.