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What 40 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Audi A6

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (40)Crash / fire / injury (1)Fuel system (8)Steering (8)Airbags (7)Brakes (4)Engine (4)Body & structure (2)Electrical system (2)Backup camera & sensors (1)Engine & cooling (1)Equipment (1)

Newest first · 40 complaints · page 2 of 2

Aug 17, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (AUDI ROCHESTER, 3955 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, 585-334-1600) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11120637

Jun 29, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V370000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 100 RIVERINE RD, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO 81601, (970) 945-5200) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11104675

Jun 14, 2018

AFTER RUN COOLANT PUMP

NHTSA ODI 11101903

Feb 28, 2018Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A VOID ON THE FLOORBOARD, HER SHOE HEELS PIERCED THROUGH THE MAT AND ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL MAT WITH A RUBBER MAT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI ANNAPOLIS (1833 WEST STREET, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN OFFERED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO RE-CARPET THE FLOOR AT HALF PRICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUPPORTED THE DEALER'S RECOMMENDATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11075501

Dec 10, 2016Brakes

A FEW TIMES WHEN SLOWLY GLIDING TO A STOP (RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT SEEMS TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND NEEDS TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO STOP. IT'S A SCARY SITUATION. I CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN UNTIL I HAD THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AUDI. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER WHERE THE WORK WAS DONE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY REDID THE FLUID CHANGE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH IT IDLING I CAN JUST ABOUT PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ODI 10934453

Aug 11, 2016Crash

AT 5PM ON JULY 20, 2016 I DROVE MY A6 TO THE HOME OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS FRIEND, THEY ARE BOTH 15 YRS. OLD AND WERE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, TO DROP HER OFF . I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK IT LUNGED, AT A FAST RATE, FORWARD SMASHING INTO A RAILROAD TIE RETAINING WALL AND THEN FLEW INTO REVERSE. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE SHIFT WAS IN PARK. AS THIS WAS HAPPENING THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR. SO LOUD THAT 2 NEIGHBORS CAME RUNNING OUT OF THEIR SEPARATE HOUSES. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER AND THE CAR STOPPED. IT HAD GONE BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 10 TO 15 FEET, INTO THE STREET AND BACK OVER A CURB AT SUCH A RATE THAT THE BACK TIRE BLEW OUT. IT CAME TO A STOP ON THE LAWN JUST MISSING A TREE TRUNK BY A FOOT. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AN AUDI DEALER AND A WEEK LATER AUDI SENT AN ENGINEER FROM AUBURN HILLS, MI TO LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND I HAVE A POLICE REPORT. THE POLICEMAN DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE LAWN AND HE ALSO HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. IT IS A DEATH TRAP. I BELIEVE SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH EITHER THE COMPUTER OR SOME OTHER ELECTRONIC PART. THE CAR ACTED COMPLETELY ON IT'S OWN. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 8 TO 10 AUDI'S OVER THE YEARS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US BEFORE. WE'VE ALSO HAD MANY OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES. WHAT CAN WE DO?

NHTSA ODI 10895077

Jan 27, 2016Fuel system

THERE IS A FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT IS PARKED. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC MOVING AT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR, THE SMELL IS VERY NOTICEABLE INSIDE THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10822716

May 4, 2015Body & structure

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE RAMP TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY TO ENTER ONTO TOLL ROAD 73 WHEN MY SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED. I WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER ANYTHING SO NOTHING DROPPED FROM THE AIR. I CALLED THE AUDI DEALERSHIP AND INDICATED I DID NOT KNOW HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN BUT ASKED IF ANY OTHER AUDI CUSTOMERS HAD REPORTED ANYTHING SIMILAR AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FIRST THEY HAD EVER HEARD OF IT. I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND HAVE LEARNED THAT OTHER AUDI CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. MY CONCERN IS IT WAS LOUD AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE GLASS WAS SHOWERING DOWN ON ME. IT WAS VERY LOUD - LIKE AN EXPLOSION WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714424

Jan 12, 2015Equipment

GOOD AFTERNOON, FIRST I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO RECALL THE NUMBER OF CASES WHERE POLICE OFFICERS WERE GETTING CANCEROUS TUMORS IN THEIR NECKS DUE TO THE RADAR UNITS BEING MOUNTED ON THE BACK OR FRONT DASH BOARD BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S AND EARLY 1980'S. ALSO THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WHERE THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE GETTING TESTICULAR CANCER FROM PUTTING THE RADAR GUNS BETWEEN THEIR LEGS WHEN THEY WERE NOT USING THEM. I HAVE A RADAR WAVE DETECTION DEVICE IN MY AUTOMOBILE. WHEN I AM NEAR A LATE MODEL AUDI [ UP TO 1/8 OF A MILE] , MY DETECTION DEVICE ALERTS ME THAT A "K" BAND RADAR WAVE IS DETECTED.. SO MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE. ARE THE SIDE MOTION DETECTION DEVICES NOW BEING INSTALLED IN AUDI AND OTHER MAKES SAFE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, NOT JUST THE AUDI CUSTOMERS? AUDI IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THANKS YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671880

Nov 4, 2014Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE IF THERE WAS A REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10652344

Nov 4, 2014Airbags

REF # 10652344 I CANNOT SIT BOTH SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY AS A PASSENGER IN OUR 2014 A6. I AM DISABLED AND MUST USE A CUSHION, NOT ALL THAT UNUSUAL. BUT THE SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE A6 IS NOT BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON BUT ON THE ELECTRO-STATIC CHARGE THAT THE PASSENGER'S BODY GIVES OFF. IF I SIT ON A CUSHION, I AM NOT DETECTED BY THE SYSTEM.I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS PUT IN PLACE SO THAT A CHILD'S CARSEAT WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE AIRBAG. NO CHILD'S SEAT SHOULD EVER BE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A CAR. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT REALLY DOES NOT EXIST. AN AUDI ENGINEER HAS MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO MY HUSBAND'S CAR, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE FINAL DECISION OF EITHER FOREGO THE CUSHION AND ENGAGE THE AIRBAG OR SIT WITHOUT PAIN AND FOREGO THE SAFETY OF AN AIRBAG .I ASKED IF WE COULD RETURN THE CAR; THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FEDERAL REGULATION DOES NOT PERMIT SIMPLY TURNING THE SYSTEM OFF SO THAT THE AIRBAG IS ALWAYS ON, MUCH AS THE DRIVER'S IS ALWAYS ON.ALTERNATIVELY I HAVE ASKED THAT A WEIGHT BASED SYSTEM, LIKE THE ONE IN MY 2013 A5 CABRIOLET, BE INSTALLED IN THE A6. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BUYING THE CAR IN MAY OF THIS YEAR OF THE ISSUE; IT WAS ALLOWED TO LANGUISH ALL SUMMER EVEN WITH MY HUSBAND'S GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY MONTH FROM MAY TO AUGUST UNTIL I SENT A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT TO AUDI USA. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "NOTHING CAN BE DONE".SINCE THEN WE HAVE DRIVEN THOUSANDS OF MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO BE WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF AN AIRBAG. AUDI HAS MADE A DESIGN DECISION THAT PUTS PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, AT RISK. THE MANUAL STATES THAT "NEVER USE CUSHIONS, PILLOWS, BLANKETS,,...(WHICH) PREVENT THE CAPACITIVE PASSENGER DETECTION SYSTEM FROM" WORKING. THIS SYSTEM IS LESS SAFE THAN THE PREVIOUS WEIGHT RELATED SYSTEM IN PREVIOUS MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652360

Aug 25, 2014SteeringElectrical systemEquipment Adaptive/mobility

THIS HAS BEEN THE THIRD TIME MY AUDI A6 3.0T HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SINCE PURCHASING IT AS A CPO VEHICLE FOR A STEERING WHEEL JERK AND SQUEAK PROBLEM AT ANY SPEED. IT WANTS TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (SINCE IT IS ELECTRONIC) SLIGHTLY AS WELL AS SQUEAK. I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY DEALER HAS YET TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH BRINGS UP TONS OF OWNERS WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME TO BRING THIS TO AUDI AND TO RESOLUTION. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AS IT IS CURRENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627932

May 6, 2014Tires

ON MY 2014 AUDI A6 AT 2300 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAS A BUBBLE. THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TIRE WAS NOTIFIED AND EXCHANGE THE TIRE, NOW AT 6300 MILES ANOTHER TIRE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM . *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586894

Apr 17, 2014

WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR MADE A "CLUNK" SOUND AND I LOST ANY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL. I COASTED DOWN A HILL AND THE WHEEL UNLOCKED, BUT I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND STILL NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TUCSON ARIZONA AUDI DEALER. THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE AND TRIED TO RUN THE VEHICLE BUT CAN'T KEEP IT RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES. THE CAR KEEPS "SEIZING" UP IS WHAT THE SERVICE SHOP TELLS ME. THEY STILL CAN'T FIX IT AND THE CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 5,000 MILES ON IT. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10583413

Dec 16, 2013Brakes

2014 AUDI A6. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, AND WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, SMOKE FILLED THE ENTIRE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AN INSPECTION REVEALED A PLASTIC BAG WAS CAUGHT IN THE VENT PIPE AND MELTED, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS TO THE SCREECHING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SMALL SOUNDS WERE HEARD AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE CLEANED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED, THE VEHICLE BE DRIVEN MORE AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE OXIDATION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN. HOWEVER AS SHE PERIODICALLY SLOWED DOWN, THERE WAS A SCREECHING SOUND, EVEN LOUDER THAN EVER BEFORE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10556665

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Working with the data? Download all 40 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Audi A6 verdict →