2011 Audi A6: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 21 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Jun 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“2011 Audi A6 seems to be overlooked compared to the rest of the Audi's yet the Audi has so many different issues such as timing chain such as water pump, such as brake issues, such as rack pinion yet there hasn't been anyone investigating this in particular make a model it needs to be done for safety reasons. Additionally, I was never contacted for the airbags cars registered DMV and nobody has bothered to inform me of the New airbag issues. What other issues are there brought to one's attention?”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2026
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 audi a6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Audi tacoma (1701 alexander ave e, fife, wa 98424, (253) 475-3832) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2018
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 audi a6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v004000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called audi bellevue (1533 120th ave ne, bellevue, wa 98005, (425) 249-7388) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2018
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“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 audi a6. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 18v004000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The dealer (audi greenwich, 181 west putnam avenue, greenwich, ct 06830) stated that the parts were not available for the repair. The manufacturer was also contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was unavailable.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2017
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 audi a6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2011 audi a6. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 156v382000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“"takata recall" I was informed by mail letter (july 2016) that my 2011 audi a6 was under recall for faulty passenger airbags and that I am not supposed to have anyone sit in the front passenger seat. It is now january 20th, 2017 and there still is no correction or replacement in place. This is preventing me from using my car as a daily driver due to the no passenger notification and has decreased the value of my car if I were to try and sell it. I want the problem fixed.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“Passenger and driver seats are falling apart. The seats are paneled and separating seen by rear seat passengers ....the seats are a defect and safety concern for all passengers. The mechanisms of the heated seats are exposed and the only thing holding the seat together is an adhesive that's not sticking or even sticky. Seats back panels are leaning on passenger while driving.”Owner report · Seats · Jul 2016
“"takata recall" audi notified us in july. A call to audi's 800 # resulted in no information as to when repairs will be made. Can someone give us the date when parts will be made available to the dealer to make necessary repairs? Is there a different manufacture's product that audi could install to replace the takata product?”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“Recall has not been performed-recall 6902. No information available from company. NHTSA# 26v382. Can't sell it. Afraid to drive it. Passengers dead or injured could sue all. Needs resolution immediately.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Audi A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles, ever registered in the states of 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet vehicles, and 2009-2011 Audi A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles registered in the states of 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 or "Zone C." 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.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Audi mailed an interim owner notification March 02, 2018. When parts to perform the recall repair become available, Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69U1. Note: This recall has been superseded by 18V427.
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 2011 Audi A6 reliable?
NHTSA has 21 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2011 Audi A6. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2011 Audi A6 have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. 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.