2004 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

OUR NEW AUDI A6 HAD THE P6 P235/R17 INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WITHIN THE FIRST 4,000 MILES, ALL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, A LARGE BULGE DEVELOPED ON THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE REAR TIRES. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. WHEN WE HAD REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO OUR DEALER, THEY VERY RUDELY DISCLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY AND HAD GIVEN US THE NUMBER FOR THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. WHEN WE HAD REPORTED THIS TO PIRELLI CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION, THEY QUICKLY ASCERTAINED (WITHOUT INSPECTION) THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD, A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067981 at NHTSA ↗

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY 2004 AUDI A6 2.7T S LINE. THE ISSUE IS THE 18 INCH RIMS AND TIRES DELIVERED WITH THE CAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES, I NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR SHAKES, VIBRATES AND DRIVES ROUGH. IN ADDITION, I EXPERIENCED 3 TIRE FAILURES INCLUDING 1 BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY (LUCKILY, I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE). I HAVE NOW BEEN IN CONTACT WITH 4 NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AUDI DEALERS…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125298 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED 4 TIRE BLOW OUTS WITHT EH CONTINENTAL TIRE EQUIPMENT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE TIRE DEALER REPLACED THE CONSUMER'S FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES WITH WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MODEL TIRE WHICH HAD BLOWNOUT. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOURTH BLOWOUT OF ON OF THE CONTINENTAL TIRES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130200 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN FLAW ON THE SERVICE BRAKES. HE SUSPECTED THAT HEAT AND WEIGHT BALANCE ON THE BRAKES WAS CALCULATED INCORRECTLY. THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS BECAME DISCOLORED AND OVERHEATED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES DUE TO DISCOLORATION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A HEAVY NOISE. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143913 at NHTSA ↗

A NUMBER OF CARS THAT HAVE RED TURN SIGNALS (VERSUS ORANGE) DO NOT BLINK THE ENTIRE LIGHT WHEN TURNING. THUS, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE TURN SIGNAL IS ON, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE. IF THE COLOR OF THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNAL IS THE SAME, THE ENTIRE LIGHT SHOULD BLINK, NOT JUST A SMALL PORTION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147948 at NHTSA ↗

DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 FLAT TIRES ON MY AUDI A6 2.7T S LINE. ONE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND 3 ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED ABOUT 3 FLAT TIRES IN THAT ENTIRE PERIOD BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FLAT TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH THREE DIFFERENT BRANDS. REGARDLESS OF THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, THERE CONTINUES TO BE FLATS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159771 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD, THE GRAVEL WAS LODGED INTO THE RIMS. THE CONTACT WASHED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE GRAVEL REMAINED IN THE RIMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT POWER WASHING THE RIMS WOULD REMOVE THE GRAVEL OR MANUALLY WASH THEM BY HAND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WILL NOT OCCUR IF THE CONTACT IS DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 30,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188244 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT EFFECTIVELY CLEAR THE SNOW; THE SNOW IS PUSHED INTO THE AIR INTAKE; THE MELTED SNOW FORMS ICE/SNOW GLOBS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REDUCING VISIBILITY TO VERY HAZARDOUS LEVELS. THIS BUILDUP HAS TO BE MANUALLY REMOVED WITH A SCRAPER. THIS WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY IS USED ON ALL NEWER AUDI'S ( 2002 FORWARD) AND SOME VOLKSWAGENS. WE PURCHASED THE 2004 ALLROAD AND A 2005 VW TOUREG THIS SPRING UNDER DEALER CERTIFIED USED CAR PROGRAMS. BOTH HAVE THE SAME WIPER ASSEMBLY. AUDI INFORMS ME THERE IS NO WINTER BLADE; ONLY O…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,516 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211860 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.