Audi A6 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Avoid the 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019 Audi A6 model years; 2019 stands out with 114 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the worst of all 16 years covered. The 2018 A6 is the best year, with only 11 complaints and an index of 20.
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 463
- Recall campaigns
- 31
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 7
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
A6 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Audi A6 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Good | 33 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Airbags | 21 | — |
| 2011 | Good | 47 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 21 | — |
| 2012 | Avoid | 80 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 8 | Engine | 25 | — |
| 2013 | Avoid | 93 | 52 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Airbags | 24 | — |
| 2014 | Caution | 73 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Fuel System | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 60 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Engine | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Avoid | 87 | 51 | 0 | 2 | 3 | Engine | 26.5 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Good | 27 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 25 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Best | 20 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Engine | 26 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 114 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Electrical System | 26 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 67 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 9 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Good | 40 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 11 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2022 | No verdict | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 24 | — |
| 2023 | No verdict | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2024 | No verdict | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | 25 | — |
| 2025 | Caution | 53 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Structure & Body | 25 | — |
A6 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Audi A6 Index 100 · 114 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2019 A6 is the worst year in the lineup, with 114 complaints and a complaint index of 100. Electrical system issues made up 75% of complaints, with a strikingly low median failure mileage of 13,514, including reports of electrical malfunction warnings followed by the vehicle stalling and smoke near the battery. Engine complaints (28%) occurred at a median mileage of just 150. Seven recall campaigns cover this year, including brake fluid cap labeling and rearview camera software errors.
2019 electrical system problems →2019 engine problems →2019 transmission & powertrain problems →
2013 Audi A6 Index 93 · 52 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2013 A6 recorded 52 complaints and a complaint index of 93, ranking as the second-worst year. Airbags were the top problem area (35%), with owners reporting frontal crashes where airbags failed to deploy, and engine complaints (31%) included overheating and smoke from the engine compartment. Median mileage at airbag failure was 60,935.5. Six recall campaigns cover this year, including the same airbag seat wiring issue and a fuel line recall shared with 2012.
2016 Audi A6 Index 87 · 51 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2016 A6 had 51 complaints and a complaint index of 87. Engine problems dominated at 39% of complaints, with a low median failure mileage of 26,287, alongside owners describing stumbling and cutting off during idling and sudden power loss followed by rapid power return. Fuel system complaints (18%) included fuel rail leaks. Three recall campaigns apply, covering fuel rail leaks, an auxiliary heater electrical connector, and airbag seat wiring.
2012 Audi A6 Index 80 · 59 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2012 A6 logged 59 complaints and a complaint index of 80, with engine issues (27%) as the top concern, followed closely by airbags (24%) and electrical system problems (22%). Owners described unintended acceleration episodes at low speeds and stops, steering that felt notchy and unstable, and fuel line leaks caused by rodent damage to the fuel hose. Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 76,000. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this year, including airbag seat wiring and fuel pump issues.
Most common Audi A6 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System158 (34%)
- Engine122 (26%)
- Airbags83 (18%)
- Other49 (11%)
- Fuel System47 (10%)
- Steering46 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain37 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras30 (6%)
- Brakes28 (6%)
- Structure & Body27 (6%)
Frequently asked questions
- Which Audi A6 years should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019 Audi A6. The 2019 model has the highest complaint index at 100 with 114 complaints, driven mostly by electrical system problems.
- What is the best year for the Audi A6?
- The 2018 Audi A6 is the best year, with only 11 complaints, a complaint index of 20, and just 2 recall campaigns.
- What is the most common problem with the Audi A6?
- Across all years, electrical system issues are most common, accounting for 158 complaints (34% of all reported problems), followed by engine issues at 26%.
- Does the 2019 Audi A6 have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2019 Audi A6, including issues with brake fluid cap labeling, rearview camera software, and lane departure warning software.
- Are 2014 and 2015 Audi A6 models reliable?
- The 2014 and 2015 A6 are rated Caution, not Avoid or Best. They had 41 and 22 complaints respectively, with complaint indexes of 73 and 60.