2002 Audi A6: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 88 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints); the 2004 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2021
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2020
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2013
“Transmission failure while driving on freeway. Fourth time in 3 years. Each time the transmission was replaced. Audi refuses to acknowledge the failure of the cvt transmission on that model. It is a danger to public safety. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2013
“The audi was stopped at a stop light when the rpm meter started to drop revs suddenly. Once the car was in motion the engine felt rough. The car was driven 3 miles with no further incidence and was parked for the night. The next day when the car was started in the morning the check engine light came on and the engine started to get very sluggish and shuddering. The car was immediately stopped and the diagnostic codes were pulled. The codes showed multiple cylinder misfires with specific misfires in cylinder 2 and three. The car was towed to an audi dealer where this was confirmed. The dealership mentioned that there was a voluntary recall for exactly this issue. This is a safety issue. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 audi a6. While driving approximately 25 mph the vehicle began to hesitate while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. The technician stated the transmission clutch plate would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,700.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 audi a6. The contact stated the check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed a diagnostic, which located the failure at the fuel tank. The fuel tank was leaking fuel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 08v157000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 116,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Nov 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 2002 audi a6. While the vehicle was being inspected for emissions 01/10/2011, the contact was informed that the engine was misfiring due to a defective coil. The failure led to damage to the catalytic converter which needed to be replaced along with the coil. The local authorized dealer replaced the coil. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The converter was not replaced. The failure mileage was 99,370 and the current mileage was 99,410.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2011
“After parking the car it caught on fire from the dashboard the firemen came and extinguished the fire and said it was from the electrical fire from the dashboard. *tr”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jan 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
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 2002 Audi A6 reliable?
NHTSA has 88 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Audi A6. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Audi A6 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 71,145 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Audi A6 have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly. 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.