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1998 Audi A6 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

10 safety recalls list the 1998 Audi A6, and owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

10
safety recalls
130
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 7
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–19
MPG combined (EPA)

10 safety recalls for the 1998 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. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V056000 Reported 106,857 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi…

  2. Electrical system

    NHTSA 06V198000 Reported 70,512 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

  3. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 04V495000 Reported 28,300 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.8l, v6 5-valve engines, and automatic transmissions, while driving during extremely low ambient temperatures the throttle may freeze in an open position due to ice accumulating in the throttle body.

    Remedy: Audi will install a replacement throttle body kit free of charge. The recall began on october 29, 2004. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834. Owners of vehicles which are not registered in the cold-weather states…

  4. Electrical system

    NHTSA 04V133000 Reported 172,866 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    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.

    Remedy: 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…

  5. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 01V157000 Reported 70,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  6. Connecting (steering)

    NHTSA 99V248000 Reported 51,900 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals may not seal properly.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.

  7. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V131001 Reported 88,121 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.

  8. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V058000 Reported 27,964 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with quattro drive system which employs a fuel and fuel vapor leak detection system. If the vehicle is refueled shortly after the engine is started, and is kept running while being refueled, the fuel vapor recovery system could produce sufficient back pressure to cause fuel to be ejected…

    Remedy: VW is providing a new page for the owner's manual and also requesting owners to make an appointment with their dealers to have a label containing important refueling instructions installed inside of the fuel filler…

  9. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V134000 Reported 19,800 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.

  10. Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)

    NHTSA 97V160000 Reported 31 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. During pre-assembly of the fuel tanks, an incorrect filler neck was installed causing the filler neck to not "match" the fuel cap.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these filler necks.

130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Audi A6 have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,282 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 27 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The ve”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 6, 2021 · Air bags

“Fuel was found leaking from the rollover valve nipple on the fuel tank. This nipple has been known to crack when the metal ventilation line line adds stress to the plastic nipple. Gasoline was found i”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 15, 2020 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Audi A6 (A6 Wagon quattro, A6 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–19 mpg
City / Highway15–17 / 22–25
FuelPremium
EPA classMidsize Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine6 cyl, 2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-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 1998 Audi A6

How do I know if my 1998 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. 10 campaigns currently list the 1998 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 01V157000).

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.