1996 Audi A6: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 51 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (63% of complaints); the 1995 and 1997 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 1997
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the ignition switch became inoperable in various positions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 96v017000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. Updated 10/18/16*lj *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2016
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. When attempting to start the vehicle, the starter would disengage. After further inspection, the contact determined that the ignition switch would not release and caused the failure. There were no warnings prior to the failure. He is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 149,000 and current mileage was 149,063.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2009
Show 7 more owner reports
“Ignition switch gets stuck in on position causing lights, radio, wipers not to function. Starter also remains on causing burn out. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2008
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact is experiencing intermittent failures with the air conditioning, windshield wipers, and turn signals. Based on the VIN, the dealer stated that the ignition switch was replaced. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 096v17000 in 1996. They are obligated to repair the vehicle only once. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer to have the ignition switch replaced. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 104,000.”Owner report · Equipment · Nov 2007
“I was driving an 1996 audi a6 on highway 95 in florida at about 7pm on thursday march 8, 2007. Traveling about 73 mph. The left front tires tread was separated from the tire itself. This caused me to dangerously swerve in traffic. I pulled to the side of the road and saw a great deal of damage done to the front left side of the car, the bumper and side paneling. I called the police but they were not cooperative and did not write an accident report since the damage was done to my own car by my own car. Both front tires had to be replaced costing about $150 also there is an estimated $4000 worth of damage done to the car. *jb”Owner report · Tires · Mar 2007
“1996 audi a6 ignition gets stuck and starter stays on. Lights, air, wipers, etc, will not work. This problem was a major recall on other audis of the same year but my VIN # does not show up for some reason. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2007
“Dt*: the contact stated intermittently the turn signal, headlight, and windshield wiper fail to operate. When vehicle was maneuvered off the road and restarted, the components were functional again. A NHTSA recall, #96v017000 was performed on the vehicle years ago concerning, the ignition switch however; the problem has recurred. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2006
“Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch did not return automatically to the run position. The contact had to manually twist the ignition cylinder back into the correct position. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined that the remedy for NHTSA recall # 96v017000, which pertains to the ignition switch, had previously been performed on the vehicle in a different state. The manufacturer was notified.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2006
“My 1996 audi a6 check engine light continually come on. Repeated visits to audi dealer. Spent several hundreds of $ with no sucess. I now visit them every week to have it turned off to come on again and again. I will be thinking of riding of thr car and going back to honda's. They have never failed me.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2005
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
How other years compare
Check your exact A6 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Audi A6 reliable?
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Audi A6. The most complained-about area is electrical system (63% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Audi A6 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 105,602 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Audi A6 have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.