Model year record

2002 Audi A6 recalls & problems

The 2002 Audi A6 has 4 safety recalls and 88 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (15 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints88filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths11 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, otherMay 3, 2011

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 11V2670005,992 vehicles

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

Fuel system, gasolineApr 8, 2008

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 08V15700068,240 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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

Electrical systemJun 5, 2006

Electrical system

Recall 06V19800070,512 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING OR FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Electrical systemMar 18, 2004

Electrical system

Recall 04V133000172,866 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: A FIRE COULD ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT DASHBOARD AREA.
Fix: 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.

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

2002 Audi A6 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot 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

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

A6 quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A6 quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A6 quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A6 quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A6 Avant quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system	15	0	1	0	100,094 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Starter assembly	15	0	2	0	62,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Master cylinder; Foundation components › Disc	11	0	0	0	48,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	10	0	0	0	55,700 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Fuel pump	10	0	0	0	76,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	8	1	0	0	39,881 mi
Air bags	7	5	1	11	96,000 mi
Engine	5	0	0	0	65,645 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	5	0	0	0	103,000 mi
VisibilityWindshield; Windshield wiper/washer	4	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front	4	4	0	8	—
StructureFrame and members	4	0	0	0	62,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IT WOULD START WITH NO ISSUES AND NOW IT WONT START AN I CANT FIGURE OUT WHY AND NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REASON I CANT THINK OF WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE IT ACTS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL OR SOMETHING TO GET STARTED.
Oct 4, 2020
Air bagsCrash3 injuries
ON FEBRUARY 11, 2021, MR. TRAVIS WAS TRAVELING ON I-70 IN VANDALIA ILLINOIS WHEN HE WAS REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEEDS BY MR. FREE. MR. TRAVIS' 2002 AUDI A6 SUSTAINED SERIOUS DAMAGE BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MR. TRAVIS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH.
Feb 11, 2021 · 85,000 miles
Electrical system
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHORTING OUT AND CRACKING AND BARE WIRES TOUCHING
Sep 1, 2020 · 150,499 miles
Engine
I PARKED MY CAR TO DETAIL IT AND AFTER I WENT TO DRIVE TO THE STORE AND MY CAR WASN'T REACHING ABOVE 4000 RPMS AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 60 MPH ...ITS ACTING LIKE THERE IS A REV LIMITER AND THROW 2 NEW CODES...NEVER GOT ENGINE BAY WET JUS OUTER BODY OF VEHICLE ...DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE P0322 AND P0421 I BELIEVE ONE IS FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR NO SIGNAL AND ALSO CATALYTIC SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD BANK 1 .....AFTER I PARKED CAR AGAIN I TRIED TO START AND NOTHING HAPPENED ....I'VE BOUT NEW C.O.P'S ....AND STILL NOTHING I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALSO NOTICE THAT THE FUEL FILLER JUST INSIDE THE PORT WAS ALL CRACKED AND WHEN I FILLED WITH FUEL ITS LEAKED ALOT OF MY GAS…
May 4, 2020 · 18,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
FILLED GAS TANK AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM TOP OF THE TANK TO THE GROUND NEAR THE INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAL WHEEL. FUEL STOPS LEAKING AFTER IT DROPS BELOW 3/4 FULL. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP THINKING IT WAS FAILURE OF THE ROLLOVER/FILLER NECK VALVE RECALL AGAIN (NHTSA RECALL #08V157000). AUDI SAID THE FILLER NECK WAS DRY, BUT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE ON TOP OF FUEL TANK ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE FILLER NECK. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM WITHOUT DROPPING THE FUEL TANK FROM THE CAR. AUDI QUOTED THE REPAIR FOR COMPLETELY REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AT ~$3400. A FUEL TANK SHOULD NEVER LEAK, AND THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN, NOT ONLY FOR THE…
Dec 28, 2019 · 145,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Nov 24, 2017
Vehicle speed control
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I WENT TO PASS ANOTHER CAR IN A PASSING ZONE SO I ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I BRAKED AND MANEUVERED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. AFTER A WHILE IT RELEASED. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED HOME, NOT PUSHING THE PEDAL DOWN ANY FARTHER THAN NECESSARY. I WILL TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. THERE WAS NOTHING OBSCURING THE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR MAT WAS CLICKED INTO PLACE. I FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A RECALL, BUT MANY AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, SO I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Aug 24, 2013 · 125,690 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
FUEL VAPORS AND LEAKING FUEL APPEARS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED BEYOND 3/4 TANK. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR THE CAR TO BE PARKED INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE FUMES MAKE PASSENGERS FEEL ILL. AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENTS WANT TO CHARGE OVER $2500 TO REPAIR. A RECALL FOR THE ROLLOVER VALVE HAS BEEN PERFORMED; HOWEVER THE AUDI SERVICE TECHS SAY THE LEAKAGE IS COMING FROM SMALL CRACKS IN THE DEFECTIVE TANK. UNABLE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE OF COSTS I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITH LESS THAN1/2 TANK OF FUEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS . THE STATE OF UTAH WILL NO LONGER PASS MY VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE EMISSIONS ISSUE. MY FEAR IS THE LEAKING FUEL COULD BE IGNITED BY ANY NUMBER OF SOURCES INCLUDING EXHAUST/HEAT FROM…
Jul 6, 2009 · 72,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL TANK LEAKClosedLed to recall 08V156000
VOLKSWAGEN (VW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN VW PASSAT 4MOTION AND AUDI A6 QUATTRO AND ALLROAD QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER CARS.VW VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL WERE MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 22, 2000 THROUGH MAY 31, 2005 AND AUDI VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2001 TO JUNE 1, 2005.THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE VW VEHICLES IS 08V-156 (VW ALSO IS CORRECTING DEFECTS RELATED TO HEAT SHIELD AND FUEL LINE HAZARDS FOR THESE VEHICLES AND FOR 1999-2000 PASSATS IN THIS RECALL ACTION.)THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE AUDI VEHICLES IS 08V-157.SINCE 2006, ODI HAS RECEIVED 17 COMPLAINTS OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE SUBJECT VEHICLES' FUEL TANKS.THE 400 COMPLAINTS SHOWN ABOVE MAY INCLUDE DUPLICATE REPORTS TO ODI AND THE MANUFACTURER. WHILE THE CONSEQUENCE (FUEL LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK) IS SIMILAR FOR BOTH THE PASSAT AND AUDI SUBJECT VEHICLES, DIFFERENCES IN DESIGN AND…
PE08008 · opened Jan 31, 2008 · closed May 30, 2008