KnownCarProblems2001 Audi A6 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 113 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Audi A6, most often about the engine (18% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about A6 model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2001 Audi A6 problems
Engine
20 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Dt: the consumer's car caught on fire. Prior to the fire there was an electrical system recall (04v1233000) which could result in a fire, this recall was complete prior to the fire. While driving the car it started to smoke heavily and smoke came through the vents. The consumer saw fire in the vents on the drivers…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Audi A6. The contact stated that a valve that allows air in the crankcase freezes. This causes a build-up and prevents oil from escaping due to the frozen valve. The failure occurs in cold weather conditions. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The…
Fuel system
19 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, fuel injection system.
The contact owns a 2001 Audi A6. The contact stated that he noticed a fuel leak near the fuel tank from under the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and they advised him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 08v157000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). The vehicle was taken to an…
Gas leaking on the floor of garage from roll-over nipple. The dealer refused to apply recall (not covered VIN) for this issue. The vehicle was repaired with Audi parts as listed in dot recall documents. The repair failed in april 2015. The 3m material used in the repair had deteriorated.
Air bags
15 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
While driving 50 MPH in a rain storm vehicle swerved and lost control, causing it to crash head on into a wall. Upon impact, none of the six air bags deployed. Two weeks later, consumer received a recall notice for the air bag electrical system. Driver sustained neck and back injuries.
The consumer was going about 50 MPH when she was involved in an accident. Vehicle a pulled in front of vehicle b and stopped short, forcing vehicle b to rear end vehicle a. In the process, the air bags failed to deploy. Owner contacted the manufacturer and was told that the vehicle was not hit at the right angle to…
Transmission
14 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Car hesitates when pulling from a stop. Hesitation appears to be transmission related. Transmission is Audi/zf tiptronic automatic. Hesitation is unpredictable, and can last for several seconds. I have had a number of near misses as I pulled into traffic and have had to quickly shift to reverse and get out of the way…
There appears to be a possible design defect that I believe merits reporting and possible investigation. I have 2001 Audi A6. The replacement of the oil filter at a jiffy lube resulted in damage to the oil cooler which cause me to suffer a $800 plus repair bill at the dealer. The dealer technician advised jiffy lube…
Brakes
14 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages.
When the brakes were applied, the pedal had gone to the floor causing extended stopping distance. The dealer was notified. Ts the fuel door assembly was found to be faulty. Scc
Car burns oil 1/2 quart/1000 mi. Almost runs out before warning light comes on. Audi says this is normal- we have had two emergencies on the freeway where we almost ran out of oil. Also, it is very hard to read the oil dip stick- it is artful not useful. Rotors (all) failed at 14k miles and had to be replaced. We are…
Electrical
14 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn, starter assembly, alternator/generator/regulator.
Dt: the consumer's car caught on fire. Prior to the fire there was an electrical system recall (04v1233000) which could result in a fire, this recall was complete prior to the fire. While driving the car it started to smoke heavily and smoke came through the vents. The consumer saw fire in the vents on the drivers…
Consumer has had valve cover replaced 3 times on the 2001 a-6. The right side camshaft tensioner seals were replaced. The valve cover gasket was replaced. The pcv hose assembly broke and had to be replaced. The consumer request reimbursement due to the inadequate service received. The battery in the vehicle died twice.
Wheels and tires
13 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: sidewall, rim.
While driving 35 to 40 MPH, right front tire went flat. Upon inspection it was observed that sidewall had cracked and separated from tread along the entire inside circumference. This is the second time that this has occurred on this car. The first separation occurred at approximately 26,000 miles (complaint odi…
All four original tires were replaced by the consumer at 14,500 miles. The tire dealer provided 50% on the second set of tires and at 25,000 miles, the tires needed to be replaced again. Pirelli, size# p225/55r17. The consumer noticed that the tires were nearly worn with hardly enough tread remaining. (model/allroad)
Lights
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, hazard flashing warning lights, brake lights.
Film has built up on inside of headlamp glasses resulting in reduced efficiency of lights and reduced light output creating possible safety hazard. Dealer has no known way of cleaning inside of headlamps.
Headlamps gradually developed a misting or fogging of lens which reduced light during night driving, required professional cleaning with special materials to restore light output. Problem started recurring more frequently and headlamps now require professsional restoration every 3 - 6 months, the misting of the lenses…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Audi A6 recalls
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will reinforce the nipple on the rollover valve to prevent leakage or repair the cracking at the nipple. The recall is expected to begin during june 2011. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 audi a6, model year 2002-2003 s6 and model year 2003 rs6 vehicles equipped with 4.2l engines and manufactured from june 19, 2001, through june 8, 2004. The aging of the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve combined with bending stress from the aluminum ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple may lead to cracking of the nipple. If this happens, a fuel leak may result.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will reinforce the nipple on the rollover valve to prevent leakage or repair the cracking at the nipple. The recall began on june 27, 2008. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling 68,240 my 2001-2004 audi a6 quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7l, 2.8l, or 3.0l engines and my 2001-2005 allroad quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7l or 4.2l engines. The aging of the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve combined with bending stress from the aluminum ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple may lead to cracking of the nipple. If this happens, a fuel leak may result.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: This condition could lead to overheating or fire.
Fix: Dealers will reroute the wiring harness by installing a jumper wiring harness. The recall began on december 16, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with halogen low beam headlights, certain connector pins in the headlight switch connector come into contact with each other causing a short circuit. Note: vehicles with xenon low beam headlights are not affected because the circuit in these vehicles contains a fuse, which precludes excessive current flow in the case of a short circuit. Audi s6 and s6 avant vehicles are all equipped with xenon low beam headlights and, therefore, are not longer affected by this recall.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: A fire could originate in the left dashboard area.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective covering on the knee bolster (crash element). In addition, the wiring harness as well as the felt protector on the left side of the dashboard carrier will be checked, and replaced if necessary. The recall began on july 26, 2004. Owners should contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, if a driver's knees push against the knee bolster (crash element) located under the dashboard, it can contact the headlight switch wiring harness, and an electrical short could occur.
Wheels and tires: tires
Fix: Dealers will replace all five tires. Owner notification began on september 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.7l engines fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the calculated "vehicle normal load" exceeds the allowable weight of the axle load with tire dimension 225/45r 17 91y by 19kg.
Visibility and wipers: windshield wiper/washer
Risk: If that happens, the wiper blades, because they overlap wiping areas, could become entangled with each other and cease functioning. This could impair the driver's visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the entire driver side wiper arm. Owner notification began june 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact audi at 1-866-892-2834.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles (allroad). When activating the windshield wiper under heavy load conditions such as freezing, snow or heavy rain, one wiper could be delayed behind the other wiper.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: Running out of fuel without warning while the fuel gauge indicates that there is sufficient fuel in the tank lead to safety problems.
Fix: Dealers will remove the existing fuel level sending units and replace them with fuel level sending units using a new alloy composed of gold, silver, and a small amount of nickel, which will not chemically react with sulfur. Vw/audi will also call back vehicles that were repaired under a previous recall last june in order to install the updated fuel sending units NHTSA 00v137/audi lb). Owner notification began may 1, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact audi at 1-866
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Sulfur in fuel interacts with certain additives found in widely available gasoline causing sulfur to become deposited on the contact points of three fuel sending units mounted inside the fuel tank. This could cause the fuel gauge to read full while the fuel tank may not in fact be full or could be empty.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel tank leak
Summary
Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the NHTSA recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the NHTSA recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v-157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may includ
Brake and clutch pedal bracket
Questions about the 2001 Audi A6
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Audi A6?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (20 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); fuel system (19 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); air bags (15 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Audi A6 have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 3, 2011 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Audi A6?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about A6 model year since 2000, with 113 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.