YearToAvoid

2019 Audi A6 Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 85 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Audi A6, 75% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 13,514. Three related recalls exist, covering the starter generator, fuel level sender, and rear seat liquid intrusion.

Electrical System complaints
85
75% of 114
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
13,514 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe a sudden "Electrical System Malfunction" warning, first with a yellow battery icon then a red one, followed by the vehicle losing power and stalling while driving.
  • Some drivers report the instrument cluster and center MMI screen going completely black while on the highway, leaving them without dash information as the car shuts down.
  • Several complaints mention the starter generator failing, which Audi dealers linked to the message and, in one case, a report of possible fire risk.
  • Owners report the engine stalling unexpectedly at stops, requiring the ignition to be restarted, separate from the normal auto start/stop function.
  • One complaint describes multiple simultaneous warnings for lane departure, adaptive cruise control, and collision avoidance right before the transmission and dash display failed.
  • A separate complaint noted intermittent failure of the rearview camera and blind spot monitoring system that a dealer reprogram did not fix.

When 2019 Audi A6 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 9, 2019, latest May 9, 2026.

2019 Audi A6 electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month14Mar 2019Nov 2021Oct 2022Feb 2023Jul 2023Nov 2023Mar 2024Jan 2026
85 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2019 to May 2026; peak Dec 2022 (14).

Electrical System recalls for the 2019 Audi A6

  1. NHTSA 22V861000Nov 21, 2022Electrical System50,883 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, A6 Allroad, 2021-2022 RS7, RS6 Avant, 2019-2022 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.

    Risk: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90V2.

  2. NHTSA 22V155000Mar 14, 2022Electrical System47,238 vehicles

    Electrical system:instrument panel:fuel gauge:fuel level float/sensor/sending unit

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RS6 Avant and RS7, 2020-2022 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, and S7, and 2019-2022 A6 Sedan and A7 vehicles. The fuel level sender may stick, causing an inaccurate fuel level reading to be displayed on the instrument cluster.

    Risk: An inaccurate fuel reading may cause an engine stall due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DN.

  3. NHTSA 20V153000Mar 19, 2020Electrical System5,471 vehicles

    Electrical system:starter assembly

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Audi A6 vehicles equipped with mild-hybrid technology and 2.0TFSI engines. Moisture may enter the starter generator and cause an electrical short circuit.

    Risk: A short circuit in the starter generator increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter generator, free of charge. The recall began by May 22, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 27H2.

Electrical System complaints by A6 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20102 (12%)
  2. 20113 (14%)
  3. 201213 (22%)
  4. 20138 (15%)
  5. 20142 (5%)
  6. 20153 (14%)
  7. 20168 (16%)
  8. 20172 (10%)
  9. 20181 (9%)
  10. 201985 (75%)
  11. 202017 (68%)
  12. 202111 (65%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20231 (50%)
  15. 20240 (0%)
  16. 20252 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical system problems on the 2019 Audi A6?
NHTSA lists 85 electrical system complaints for the 2019 A6, which is 75% of all 114 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Audi A6 electrical system?
Yes. NHTSA lists three related recalls: 20V153000 for the starter generator, 22V155000 for the fuel level sender, and 22V861000 for rear seat liquid intrusion.
At what mileage do 2019 Audi A6 electrical problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 13,514 miles.
Are the electrical failures dangerous?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2019 A6 includes 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury, and owners describe complete loss of power while driving.
What does the starter generator recall fix?
Per NHTSA recall 20V153000, moisture may enter the starter generator on mild-hybrid 2.0TFSI 2019-2020 A6 vehicles and cause an electrical short; dealers replace the starter generator free of charge.

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.