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2008 Audi A6: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

71 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

44,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 71 complaints (69.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting57.0%
Braking behavior57.0%
Engine operation45.6%
Electrical and battery issues34.2%
Steering behavior11.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
49
Electrical System
6
Exterior Lighting
6
Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Seat Belts
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags49
Electrical System6
Exterior Lighting6
Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Seat Belts2

Air Bags: 49; Electrical System: 6; Exterior Lighting: 6; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seat Belts: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 50 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
2
2009
2
2010
6
2011
2
2013
4
2015
1
2016
14
2017
25
2018
9
2019
3
2022
1
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20092
20106
20112
20134
20151
201614
201725
20189
20193
20221
20251
20261

2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2013: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 14; 2017: 25; 2018: 9; 2019: 3; 2022: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10222837 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)

2008 AUDI A6 WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AT SPEEDS UP TO 65 MPH. HE STATES THAT THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10224396 · 2008-04-14 (April 14, 2008)

DRIVING CAR ON CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY IN NYC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AT VERY LOW SPEED. I CALLED AUDI DEALER AND BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR. PARTS WERE ORDERED FROM AUDI - PROBLEMS WITH CENTRAL COMPUTER - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224396 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10273754 · 2009-06-14 (June 14, 2009)

2008 AUDI A6 SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CVT TRANSMISSION (MULTITRONIC)- VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND DOES VERY ODD MOVEMENTS SETTING AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD HAVE TO STEP DEEP ON THE GAS MEDAL AND HAVE TO DRIVE AT RATHER HIGH VELOCITY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD MAKING IT DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY HOME DRIVEWAY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. CAR WILL PERIODICALLY DO JERKING MOVEMENTS AND FEELS DANGEROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10282073 · 2009-08-28 (August 28, 2009)

I LEASED A 2008 AUDI A6, LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. AUDI HAS HAD MY CAR NOW 3 TIMES FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE VALVES AND CARBON DEPOSITS. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS FOR 15 DAYS. I HAVE HAD TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR THE CAR WHEN IT IS UN-DRIVABLE. I ALSO PAID FOR AUDI CARE UPFRONT WHEN I LEASED THE CAR, AND THE LEVEL OF CARE IS PATHETIC. ON THE AUDI FORUMS, THERE ARE MANY A6 AND A4 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,892 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282073 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10298187 · 2010-01-04 (January 4, 2010)

MY 2008 AUDI A6 AVANT HAS HAD AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEAR 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. EACH TIME IT GIVES ERROR CODES FOR IT'S CENTER, REAR SEAT BELT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS MEANS THAT THE RESTRAINT MAY NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR ABRUPT STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED AT 12,983 MILES, AT 29,000 MILES AND NOW AT 39,000 MILES. NOBODY SHOULD USE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED. 1ST TIME AUDI DID GFF TEST STEPS AND CLEARED CODE, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ITSELF. NOW THEY BELIEVE IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,938 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298187 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10298193 · 2010-01-04 (January 4, 2010)

MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT IN ARIZONA WHEN OUR AUDI'S DRIVER-SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT FAILED. THEN AGAIN 2 MONTHS LATER, DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD THROUGH CALIFORNIA THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BULB. BUT WE COULDN'T SIMPLY BUY A NEW BULB. AUDI NEEDS TO ORDER IT AND TAKE OFF THE BUMPER TO REPLACE THEM. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, DRIVING THROUGH THE ARIZONA DESERT WITH MY FAMILY, THE DRIVER-SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME AUDI SERVICE SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE IGNITER FOR THE XE…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298193 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10308697 · 2010-02-11 (February 11, 2010)

I HAVE 2008 AUDI A6 CVT (8000 MILES) WITH 2 MAJOR ISSUES. ONE OF THEM BEING CARBON DEPOSIT BUILD-UP ON INTAKE VALVE CAUSING ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO COME UP. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS CAUSED BY DIRECT FUEL INJECTION OF THEIR ENGINE AND IS COMMON WITH EVERY FSI ENGINE AS I WAS TOLD. NO FIX FOR THIS AND THEY WILL BE CHARGING ABOUT 1500 TO CLEAN AND FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARY WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. SECOND ISSUE IS WITH MULTITRONIC CVT. THIS IS ALSO THEIR DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE TRANSMISSION HAVE DIFFICULTIES ENGAGING CAUSING SEVERE SHUD…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10314269 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)

2008 AUDI A6. CONSUMER STATES WHEN RESUMING ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS A FUEL SHUT-OFF CAUSING A SUDDEN AND SHARP DECELERATION AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TRANSFER DURING ACCELERATION.*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO RUN, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER TRANSFER FROM THE THROTTLE TO THE DRIVE-LINE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10314269 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

07V334000 · Structure:Body:Trunk Lid

Reported: 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE AUTOMATIC REAR LID INCLUDES AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND CLUTCH THAT WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH TWO GAS STRUTS TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE REAR LID, INCLUDING A MANUAL CLOSE FUNCTION. IF ONE OF THE STRUTS HAS A TOTAL LOSS OF PRESSURE, THE RESULTANT SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE REAR LID IS INTERPRETED BY THE SOFTWARE AS AN INTENDED MANUAL CLOSE AND THE MOTOR CLUTCH RELEASES TO CLOSE THE REAR LID IMMEDIATELY.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN UNINTENDED RAPID CLOSING OF THE REAR LID WITH A RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V382000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V032000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-01-11 (January 11, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V427000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-06-22 (June 22, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

NHTSA campaign record ↗