Audi A6: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,227 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Audi A6, model years 2000 to 2026. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2017, 2009, 2011. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 A6FEW REPORTS | 148 | — | 4 | |
| 2001 A6FEW REPORTS | 113 | — | 7 | |
| 2002 A6FEW REPORTS | 88 | — | 4 | |
| 2003 A6FEW REPORTS | 66 | — | 7 | |
| 2004 A6FEW REPORTS | 35 | quiet: 5 of 18 | 4 | |
| 2005 A6FEW REPORTS | 91 | — | 3 | |
| 2006 A6FEW REPORTS | 67 | — | 4 | |
| 2007 A6FEW REPORTS | 53 | — | 4 | |
| 2008 A6FEW REPORTS | 71 | — | 4 | |
| 2009 A6FEW REPORTS | 21 | quiet: 2 of 18 | 4 | |
| 2010 A6FEW REPORTS | 17 | — | 3 | |
| 2011 A6FEW REPORTS | 21 | quiet: 3 of 18 | 3 | |
| 2012 A6FEW REPORTS | 60 | — | 8 | |
| 2013 A6FEW REPORTS | 52 | — | 6 | |
| 2014 A6FEW REPORTS | 41 | quiet: 6 of 18 | 4 | |
| 2015 A6FEW REPORTS | 22 | quiet: 4 of 18 | 4 | |
| 2016 A6FEW REPORTS | 51 | — | 3 | |
| 2017 A6FEW REPORTS | 20 | quiet: 1 of 18 | 3 | |
| 2018 A6FEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 2 | |
| 2019 A6FEW REPORTS | 114 | — | 7 | |
| 2020 A6FEW REPORTS | 27 | — | 9 | |
| 2021 A6FEW REPORTS | 18 | — | 11 | |
| 2022 A6FEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 5 | |
| 2023 A6FEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 1 | |
| 2024 A6FEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 1 | |
| 2025 A6FEW REPORTS | 6 | — | 2 | |
| 2026 A6FEW REPORTS | 7 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
Check your A6 at your mileage
The verdict depends on where your mileage sits against the mileages owners reported. Pick your year and mileage: free, no sign-up.
Other Audi models
Audi A3 · Audi A3 Cabriolet · Audi A4 · Audi A4 Allroad · Audi A5 · Audi A8 · Audi Q3 · Audi Q5 · Audi Q7 · Audi Q8 · Audi S4 · Audi TT · Audi e-tron. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: