1996 Audi A6

Routine

Owners filed 51 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition › switch. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch23
000
Electrical System4
000
Electrical System › Ignition3
000
Air Bags3
100
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
010
Structure › Body › Bumpers1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal97V175000
Filed Oct 8, 199739,300 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. 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.

Risk. ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch96V017000
Filed Jan 29, 199624,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.

Risk. SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Jan 5, 2018ME

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE TO SAY AIRBAG UNSAFE

Electrical System
Filed Aug 5, 2016125,000 milesIL

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

Power Train
Filed Jun 17, 2016125,000 milesIL

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 17, 2014114,000 milesOH

ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 11TH 2014, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN HER VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SHE BELIEVES SHE WAS GOING BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND TOPPED OUT AT 70 BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN. SHE STATED TO ME AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT SHE HAD TO PRESS BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK HER CAR TO FRIEND'S HOUSE, DROPPED HER OFF AT SCHOOL AND TOOK HER VEHICLE TO SUNNY SIDE AUDI IN MIDDLEBURG OHIO. THEY FOUND THE SPEED CONTROL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $800 AND $1000 TO REPAIR. I PAID THEM $138.00 TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE $138 ISN'T GOING TO BREAK ME BUT THEN AGAIN BREAKING ME IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE GIVEN THIS INCIDENT A LOT OF THOUGHT; WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, HOW LUCKY WE ARE THAT MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T PANIC AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY MANY MORE 1996 AUDI A6'S OUT THERE AND WHO KNOWS OTHER AUDI'S IN GENERAL WITH THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SET UP THAT IS INSTALLED IN OUR CAR THAT HAVE OR WILL MALFUNCTION. I AM HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS INCIDENT. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO INSPECT OUR VEHICLE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE RESPONSE OF THE SUNNY SIDE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY OFFERED US NO SUPPORT OR AVENUE F

Electrical System
Filed Jun 19, 201240,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE ON POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE KEY REMAINED IN THE STARTING POSITION, CAUSING SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACK MANUALLY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE FROM THE STARTING POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 1, 2009149,000 milesPA

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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 29, 2008155,000 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. HE ASKED FOR THE REPAIR RECORDS, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS DO NOT ILLUMINATE, AND THERE IS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION DIDN'T SPRING BACK. THE STARTER MADE A CRACKING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 23, 2008125,000 milesMA

IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION CAUSING LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. STARTER ALSO REMAINS ON CAUSING BURN OUT. *TR

Equipment
Filed Aug 13, 2008100,000 milesMA

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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Oct 15, 2007112,000 milesMA

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

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Mar 12, 2007MI

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

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 20, 2006WA

1996 A4 HEADLAMPS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. ***NAR*** *TS RECALL 06V403 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE HEADLAMP AND WIPER FAILURES. THE 1996 A4 HAS BEEN RECALL BUT NOT THE A6. *NM

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 12, 2006142,000 milesWA

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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Oct 27, 2006107,445 milesCA

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.

Electrical System
Filed May 26, 200573 milesME

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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 21, 2004SC

MY 1996 AUDI A6 HAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AS DESCIRBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIN ID NUMBER : 96V017000, WHICH APPLIES TO MY CAR'S MODEL YEAR. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER SEEMS TO FALL RIGHT OUTSIDE THE RANGE DESCRIBED BY AUDI AS THE AFFECTED RANGE, AUDI USA REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNDER THEIR RECALL PROGRAM. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY THE ONE TARGETED BY THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND SO I SUSPECT THAT AUDI USA DELIBIRATELY UNDERSTATED THE RANGE OF CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM SO AS TO SAVE THEMSELVES THE COST OF ADDRESSING IT PROPERLY AND HONESTLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 16, 2004CO

IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS/INTERIOR LIGHTS/HEAT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Sep 9, 2004NY

"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT REMAINS ON DESPITE REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALER. FIRST IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAILED "VACCUM LINE," BUT THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME BACK. CORRECTIVE MEASURES HAVE SINCE INCLUDED THE CHANGE OF: OXYGEN SENSORS, FUEL LINES, AND A NEW BATTERY. THE LIGHT IS STILL PERMANENTLY ON, ALTHOUGH NO NOTICABLE DRIVABILITY IS AFFECTED.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Sep 8, 2004103,758 milesPA

CLIMATE CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK UPON START-UP UNLESS THE IGNITION KEY IS "JIGGLED" INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS AND UNFORTUNATELY, MY VIN # IS JUST OUT OF THE ORIGIANL RECALL RANGE OF RECALL #96V0117000. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 23, 2004WA

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN DETERMINED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 96V017000 FOR IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

20 of 51 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266000Routine
20256200Routine
20242100Routine
20232100Routine
20222500Routine
2021161100Routine
202025900Routine
2019114710Routine
201811210Routine
201720300Routine
201651320Routine
201522400Routine
201441400Routine
201352620Routine
201259800Routine
201121300Routine
201017310Routine
200921400Routine
200871410Routine
200753400Routine
200667410Routine
200591320Routine
200435420Routine
200366750Routine
200288431Fatalities reported
2001113770Routine
2000148480Routine
19992179232Fatalities reported
19981301070Routine
199720240Routine
1996 — this page51210Routine
199516200Routine
19942100Routine

Compare every A6 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 8, 1997. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.