YearToAvoid

2015 Audi A6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 A6 years

The 2015 Audi A6 has 22 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 60, and 4 recalls, ranking 7th worst out of 16 model years. Its verdict is "Caution" — worse than the 2010, 2011, and 2017-2018 A6, but better than 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019.

Complaints
22
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25.5
22 city / 31 hwy

Top 2015 Audi A6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine10 (45%)
  2. Airbags4 (18%)
  3. Electrical System3 (14%)
  4. Brakes2 (9%)
  5. Fuel System2 (9%)
  6. Other2 (9%)
  7. Steering2 (9%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed rear-end crash, leaving the driver with chest, neck, and back injuries.
  • The automatic emergency braking system (Audi brake guard) reportedly triggered on its own with no vehicle ahead, causing a sudden stop on an open road.
  • Steering exhibited unexplained side-to-side weaving at highway speed with no driver input, more noticeable when the wheel was centered.
  • Owners reported delays getting recall parts, including the engine coolant pump recall (18V229000) and the Takata airbag recall, with dealers unable to source components.
  • A wheel bearing needed replacement after the vehicle made an abnormal noise at various speeds, matching a known technical pattern.
  • An amber steering warning light escalated to a red "do not drive" alert after driving through standing water on a flooded road.
2015 Audi A6 complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2015Dec 2017Aug 2018Nov 2019Jan 2022Jan 2023Oct 2024
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2015 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2019 (3).

2015 Audi A6 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V862000Dec 5, 2018Electrical System845 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi A6 Sedans and 2015 Audi A7 vehicles. The auxiliary heater electrical connector on these vehicles may have been incorrectly inserted into the auxiliary heater, possibly resulting in increased electrical resistance.

    Risk: The extra resistance can cause the connector to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater connector, replacing the auxiliary heater and connector, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 82C1.

  2. NHTSA 18V370000Jun 4, 2018Airbags139,249 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.

    Risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

  3. NHTSA 18V229000Apr 11, 2018Engine342,867 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:cooling system

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

    Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

See all 4 recalls for the 2015 Audi A6 →

2015 Audi A6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
25.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,350
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other A6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid9352624
2014Caution7341425.5
2015Caution6022425.5
2016Avoid8751326.5
2017Good2720325

All Audi A6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi A6 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 A6 has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 7th worst of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict relative to other A6 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Audi A6?
Engine issues make up 45% of complaints (10 of 22), followed by airbags at 18% and electrical system problems at 14%. Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 75,746.
Does the 2015 Audi A6 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2015 A6, covering the auxiliary heater electrical connector, front seat airbag stress/wear, engine coolant pump, and coolant pump software, none marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2015 Audi A6 compare to other years?
The 2015 A6's complaint index of 60 is lower than 2012 (80), 2013 (93), 2016 (87), and 2019 (100), all rated "Avoid," but higher than 2017 (27) and 2018 (20), rated "Good" and "Best."
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Audi A6?
EPA rates the 2015 Audi A6 at 25.5 mpg combined (22 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.