The 1997 Audi A6 has 2 safety recalls and 20 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (17 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints20filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 4reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 97V175000 · Oct 8, 1997 · 39,300 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Risk: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN IMPROPERLY LOCKING SEAT BELT COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1997 Audi A6 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
A6
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
A6 quattro
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
A6 quattro Wagon
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
A6 Wagon
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; 12v/24v/48v battery
17
0
4
0
102,500 mi
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner
2
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Headlights
1
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine
1
0
0
0
—
Visibility Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
0
1
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jan 24, 2017 · 197,000 milesFuel/propulsion system 1997 AUDI A6 QUATTRO. FILLED UP WITH GAS AT 8PM, PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF GARAGE. BY 2PM NEXT DAY THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS (NEARLY 1/2 TANK) LOCATED UNDER THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE CAR PAST THE WHEELS MORE THEN 2 FT ON BOTH SIDES. THE FUMES COULD SMELT OVER 5 FT AWAY. I'M POSITIVE THE SLIGHTEST SPARK WOULD'VE IGNITED THE FUEL, THAT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR, MY NEIGHBORS AND MY GARAGE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, HE POINTED OUT THE LEAK, A PORT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TANK THAT HAS A HOSE ATTACHED TO IT IS CRACKED. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS WAS LEAKING ON MY EXHAUST, TRAVELING UP THE EXHAUST TOWARD THE ENGINE, I WAS LUCKY THAT THE HEAT DIDN'T IGNITE THE…
Sep 10, 2013 · 90,000 milesElectrical system IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. CAR STILL OPERATES AND IS A DANGER IF DRIVING WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS OR WIPERS WITHOUT KNOWING. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MODEL AND UNDERSTAND THE A4 HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM THE SAME YEAR. IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE FAILED SWITCH IN THE A6 HOWEVER AUDI DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE A6. *TR
Jun 28, 2013 · fireElectrical system THE REAR SEAT WAS SHIFTED BY THE OCCUPANT TO ATTACH A CHILD'S CAR SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT MOUNTING BRACKETS. THE SPRING WIRES UNDER THE REAR SEAT CONTACTED BOTH POSTS OF THE BATTERY UNDER THE SEAT, IGNITING A FIRE, WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSION WIRES OF THE REAR SEAT WERE BURNED AWAY BY THE ARC. BASED UPON THE POSITION OF THE REAR SEAT REPORTED BY THE WITNESS, THE SEAT WIRES LINED UP RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY INSULATING MEANS BETWEEN THE TERMINALS OF THE BATTERY AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SUSPENSION. *TR
Jan 2, 2009 · 100,000 milesElectrical system I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY CAR - A 97/AUDI/AUDI A6 WHITE RCO129. THE KEY TURNS TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO GET THE GAUGES/ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES (WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.) TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AGAIN. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE 1994-1996 A6 RECALL? *TR
Jul 8, 2008 · fireElectrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery 1997 AUDI A6, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0327-89
Feb 7, 2007 · 85,200 milesVehicle speed control 1997 AUDI A6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - STUCK THROTTLE. ONLY WAY TO STOP CAR FROM MOVING WAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION. AUDI DEALER (SUDS - NORMAL, ILLINOIS) FOUND ICE IN THROTTLE HOUSING AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE-MODEL AUDIS. IF I DID NOT HAVE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN OFF ENGINE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO CROSS TRAFFIC ON BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. *NM
Jul 20, 2006 · 67,000 milesVisibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE CLOUDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE MIRRORS WAS PEELING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED THE MIRROR FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
Oct 21, 2005 · fireElectrical system › Ignition › Switch ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLAINT ID 345606/RECALL ID#00V317000 AUDI 1997 A6 WAGON WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD STAY ENGAGED AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE CAR WAS BEING STARTED AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. STARTER WAS BURNED UP AND SO IS THE MOTORMOUNT IS AS MUCH AS I KNOW FOR NOW, IAM SURE THERE'S MORE. CAR IS STILL AT DEALER AND AUDI OF AMERICA (HQ) SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROMISE ME ANYTHING. MADE IT KNOWN THAT I WAS AFRAID TO HAVE A CAR THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE WITH MY TWO KIDS AND I. WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT MY CAR DIDNT HAVE A RECALL ON…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.