2002 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

2002 AUDI A6 AVANTE WAGON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT"HESITATION" ON ACCELERATION SUCH THAT THE CAR DOES NOT INITIALLY RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED BUT DOES SO SUDDENLY A SHORT TIME RESLTING IN A HESITATION. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, BOTH REPORTING THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE "FLY-BY-THE-WIRE" SYSTEMS WHICH IS USED IN THE CAR AND THAT THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT OR CORRECTION…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000835 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ONE OUT OF THE SIX CYLINDER COIL HAD BROKE, AND THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REMAINING FIVE COILS WILL ALSO BREAK. TS *JG

Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001334 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2002 AUDI A6 AS OUR "FAMILY CAR." DURING THE PURCHASE PROCESS I INQUIRED ABOUT THE SAFETY REGULATIONS IN REGARDS TO THE SIDE AIRBAGS (REAR SEAT) AND CHILD SAFETY SEATS. I WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THEY WERE POSTIONED PROPERLY THAT THERE WAS NO DANGER TO A CHILD IN A PROPERLY INSTALLED SEAT. NOT LONG AFTER RECIEVING THE VEHICLE, WE FOUND OUT THE "FAMILY" WAS IMMINENT. DURING MY RESEARCH INTO WHAT CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO PURCHASE, I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH INACCURATE INFORMATION. I ALSO FOUND OUT THA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003188 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIV IGNITION COILS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COILS. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003716 at NHTSA ↗

STARTER COILS ON MY 2002 AUDI A6 FAILED. DEALER REPLACED 4 FAILED STARTER COILS, BUT UNABLE TO REPLACE OTHER 2 UNTIL THEY FAIL. RECENT NEWS ARTICLE CITED A4'S, BUT MY A6 HAD PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004948 at NHTSA ↗

THE IGNITION COILS HAVE FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHICH IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT DANGEROUS AS THE CAR LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI ADMITS THAT THE COILS ARE DEFECTIVE BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE REMAINING THREE UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY FAIL. THIS MAKES THE CAR UNRELIABLE AS WELL AS DANGEROUS AS THE CAR LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE IGNITION COILS ARE DEFECTIVE BUT WILL NOT REPLACED THEM UNTIL THEY FAIL. AS THERE ARE SIX OF THEM ON MY CAR, AUDI ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE REMAINING THREE MAY ALSO FAIL (ONE IGNI…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,835 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006649 at NHTSA ↗

IGNITION COILS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ARE REDUCING THE PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECTIVE COILS, BUT WILL ONLY REPLACE WHEN THEY FAIL. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006716 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE JERKED HEAVILY, WHILE DRIVING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010056 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2008-04-08 (April 8, 2008)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 68,240 MY 2001-2004 AUDI A6 QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L, 2.8L, OR 3.0L ENGINES AND MY 2001-2005 ALLROAD QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L OR 4.2L ENGINES. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 27, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Reported: 2011-05-03 (May 3, 2011)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.