VehicleVerdict

Audi A6 years to avoid

The Audi A6 years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2019, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2002, 2012, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2008, 2016, 1996 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2024 is the cleanest year on record.

2,197

Total complaints

54

Recall campaigns

1994–2026

Years covered

14

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Audi A6 NHTSA complaints by model year276 complaints1994: 2 complaints1995: 22 complaints1996: 71 complaints1997: 26 complaints1998: 158 complaints1999: 276 complaints2000: 201 complaints2001: 148 complaints2002: 113 complaints2003: 85 complaints2004: 44 complaints2005: 119 complaints2006: 83 complaints2007: 63 complaints2008: 78 complaints2009: 22 complaints2010: 24 complaints2011: 26 complaints2012: 86 complaints2013: 79 complaints2014: 47 complaints2015: 28 complaints2016: 77 complaints2017: 24 complaints2018: 16 complaints2019: 193 complaints2020: 39 complaints2021: 21 complaints2022: 4 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 0 complaints2025: 10 complaints2026: 11 complaints
Audi A6 NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

A6 years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
1999High complaint rate276
2000High complaint rate201
2019High complaint rate193
1998High complaint rate158
2001High complaint rate148
2005High complaint rate119
2002High complaint rate113
2012High complaint rate86
2003High complaint rate85
2006High complaint rate83
2013High complaint rate79
2008High complaint rate78
2016High complaint rate77
1996High complaint rate71

Every A6 year

YearComplaintsRecalls
2026110
2025102
202401
202311
202245
20212111
2020399
2019avoid1937
2018162
2017243
2016avoid773
2015284
2014474
2013avoid796
2012avoid868
2011263
2010243
2009224
2008avoid784
2007634
2006avoid834
2005avoid1193
2004444
2003avoid857
2002avoid1134
2001avoid1487
2000avoid2014
1999avoid2769
1998avoid15810
1997262
1996avoid712
1995222
199421

Common questions

What are the worst Audi A6 years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the A6 years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2019, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2002, 2012, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2008, 2016, 1996. The cleanest year on record is 2024.

What is the best year for the Audi A6?

By complaint volume, 2024 has the cleanest NHTSA record among A6 years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Audi A6 have?

Across all model years, the A6 has 54 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,197 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.