RecallMyCar

1996 Audi A6 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1996 Audi A6, and owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
51
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
19
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1996 Audi A6

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 97V175000 Reported 39,300 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The discharge of static electricity under low humidity conditions can activate the driver side air bag when the driver enters or exits the vehicle and forms an electrical circuit by touching certain areas of the steering wheel.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.

  2. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 96V017000 Reported 24,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Defective ignition switches were improperly manufactured and can cause some electrical accessories to malfunction.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Audi A6 have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 96,485 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 12 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Takata recall notice to say AIRBAG unsafe”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 5, 2018 · Air bags

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the ignition switch became inoperable in various positions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA c”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 5, 2016 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Audi A6 (A6 Wagon, A6 quattro, A6 quattro Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19 mpg
City / Highway17 / 22–23
FuelPremium
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine6 cyl, 2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Audi A6 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A6 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Audi A612
1995 Audi A6216
1996 Audi A6251
1997 Audi A6220
1998 Audi A610130
1999 Audi A69217
2000 Audi A64148
2001 Audi A67113
2002 Audi A6488
2003 Audi A6766
2004 Audi A6435
2005 Audi A6391
2006 Audi A6467
2007 Audi A6453
2008 Audi A6471
2009 Audi A6421
2010 Audi A6317
2011 Audi A6321
2012 Audi A6859
2013 Audi A6652
2014 Audi A6441
2015 Audi A6422
2016 Audi A6351
2017 Audi A6320
2018 Audi A6211
2019 Audi A67114
2020 Audi A6925
2021 Audi A61117
2022 Audi A652
2023 Audi A612
2024 Audi A613
2025 Audi A626
2026 Audi A606

Checking a specific 1996 Audi A6

How do I know if my 1996 Audi A6 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Audi A6; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V017000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Audi models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.