KnownCarProblems2004 Audi A6 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Audi A6, most often about the fuel system (26% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 A6 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2004 Audi A6 problems
Fuel system
9 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6. The contact stated that when refueling the vehicle over the three quarter capacity level, a substantial amount of fuel would leak underneath the vehicle near the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing and stated that the fuel tank rollover…
2004 Audi A6 sedan, 3.0 engine developed a sudden loss of power just before vehicle stalled while driving on highway at 65 MPH. Vehicle was towed to repair shop where it was determined that the fuel pump had failed.
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: rim, sidewall.
During the first 18 months, I have experienced 4 flat tires on my Audi A6 2.7t s line. One on the rear passenger side and 3 on the front driver's side. I have driven for over 25 years and have only experienced about 3 flat tires in that entire period before the purchase of this vehicle. The flat tires were replaced…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6. While driving on a gravel road, the gravel was lodged into the rims. The contact washed the vehicle; however, the gravel remained in the rims. The dealer stated that power washing the rims would remove the gravel or manually wash them by hand. The manufacturer stated that this will not…
Brakes
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: foundation components.
Dt: the contact stated vehicle had a design flaw on the service brakes. He suspected that heat and weight balance on the brakes was calculated incorrectly. The front brake calipers became discolored and overheated. He took the vehicle to a dealer for repairs. The dealer replaced the rear brakes due to discoloration.…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6 avant. The contact stated that the check engine light had been illuminating intermittently. The dealer stated that the contact should not worry about the light. While driving 65 MPH, the contact swerved to miss a deer and lost control of the vehicle. It began to rock back and forth and…
Engine
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: exhaust system.
I am writing about my 2004 A6 avant, which has 78,000 miles. At a recent oil service at an independent garage, it was suggested that there was a problem with the catalytic converters. Exhaust was leaking from both sides, I was told. I took the car to my Audi dealer, where they checked the exhaust system. The mechanic…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6 avant. The contact stated that the check engine light had been illuminating intermittently. The dealer stated that the contact should not worry about the light. While driving 65 MPH, the contact swerved to miss a deer and lost control of the vehicle. It began to rock back and forth and…
Seats
3 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: front assembly.
I had purchased a 2004 Audi A6 quattro with 55,900 miles on it from a nissan dealer in nj on 1/16/09. I had the car for 9 days and I was driving on the massachusetts turnpike when I began to smell something odd in the car. I pulled off at the next rest area. I went to the back seat to get a jacket. I picked up the…
I have a 2004 Audi A6 quattro 3.0 l. This weekend my grown son was sitting in the back seat and had his suit in a garment bag next to him. The heated seats were both on in the back. They smelled something burning and it turned out it was the heated seat. It burned the garment bag right into his suit and ruined the…
Electrical
3 complaints · 9%Upon turning the key in the ignition, a loud "pop" was heard and smoke began to escape from under the hood. After opening the hood it appeared that the battery had in some way exploded.
The contact owns a 2004 Audi A6. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, that there was a failure in the electric harness under the passenger seat. The contact stated that he noticed a burning odor and then the power failed to move the seat. Upon further review, the contact discovered that the carpet under the…
Air bags
3 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: frontal.
Passenger air bag failure 2004 Audi a-6. Car has not been in an accident and air bag has never been activated.dealer said it needs complete replacement.
My Audi dealer informed me of a failure in the passenger side airbag and it had to be replaced at a cost of $931.99, I have owned this car since new and it is accident fee. This is failure of a major safety item and should be looked at.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 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.
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
Questions about the 2004 Audi A6
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Audi A6?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (9 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); wheels and tires (5 complaints); brakes (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Audi A6 have?
- 4 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 2004 a bad year for the Audi A6?
- It is 14th of 27 A6 model years by number of complaints, with 35 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.