2003 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE MODE IT WILL START SHAKING AND VIBRATING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029587 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT BUMPER GETS CAUGHT ON PARKING BUMPERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ON THIS OCCASION, IT WAS TORN FROM THE FENDER, AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. IT HAS OCCURRED ON COUNTLESS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN. THE CAR IS DESIGNED WITH THE LOWER BUMPER TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039291 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE TO ACCELERATE. I EXPERIENCE MAJOR DELAYS IN ANY ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HAVE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE (AT ANY SPEED) AND THEN TRY TO REACCELERATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG ALL AUDI TIPTRONIC OWNERS REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TYPE. IT IS NOT, AS AUDI TRIES TO SAY, "TURBO LAG." IN ALMOST EVERY FAILURE TO DATE, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. HAD OTHER DRIVERS BEEN LESS ATTENTIVE, I MOST SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK. I AM HESITANT TO PULL OUT INTO ANY VOLUME OF TRAFFIC W…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043066 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FORCE TO REMOVE SNOW BUILD UP EVEN IF IN THE HIGHEST SPEED MODE. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054064 at NHTSA ↗

I NOW DRIVE AN AUDI A6 WITH PIRELLI P/6 TIRES. I HAVE HAD 5 BLOW-OUTS IN THE PAST 19 MONTHS. THE SIDEWALLS ARE EITHER PAPER THIN OR NON-EXISTENT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND HAVEN'T HAD 5 FLAT TIRES IN THAT TIME. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE PUT ON CARS THAT DRIVE ON REGULAR STREETS. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER" NEW COUNTRY AUDI OF GREENWICH, CT. THE SALES MANAGER SAID "DIDN'T THE SALESPERSON TELL YOU YOU HAD TO BE CAREFUL WITH THESE TIRES?" WHAT KIND OF AN ANSWER IS THAT?*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068212 at NHTSA ↗

STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT 50 TO 60 MPH. MANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM HAS NOT HELPED. OTHER A6 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM NOTED ON FIRST DRIVE AT 150 MILES AND STILL PRESENT AT 4000 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069311 at NHTSA ↗

CAR SHAKES AND SHUDDERS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN TRYING TO START FROM A STOP, CAR HESITATES BEFORE MOVING. CAN ROLL BACKWARDS IF CAR IS ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. NATURAL RESPONSE IS TO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL FURTHER. TRANSMISSION THEN ENGAGES AND CAR LURCHES FORWARD. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME TRANSMISSION FLUID TOPPED OFF. SECOND TIME TRANMISSION CONTROL UNIT SOFTWARE UPGRADED. 3RD TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED, EVEN WITH TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 9,554 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079048 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND SHOULDER PAIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 5,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092797 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-10-09 (October 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3-SPOKE SPORT STEERING WHEELS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE IGNITER FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED IGNITER WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

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: 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR 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: 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).

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.