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1996 Audi A6

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Audi A6 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

38 reports
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125,000 miles · Aug 5, 2016
Electrical System

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 CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY…

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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 CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10893605

40,000 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE ON POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE KEY REMAINED IN THE STARTING POSITION, CAUSING SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE ON POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE KEY REMAINED IN THE STARTING POSITION, CAUSING SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACK MANUALLY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE FROM THE STARTING POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10462253

149,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER WOULD DISENGAGE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR I…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER WOULD DISENGAGE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,063.

NHTSA ODI #10263872

155,000 miles · Dec 29, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. HE ASKED FOR THE REPAIR RECORDS, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. HE ASKED FOR THE REPAIR RECORDS, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V017000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS DO NOT ILLUMINATE, AND THERE IS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 02/10/09 *BF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION DIDN'T SPRING BACK. THE STARTER MADE A CRACKING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10253058

125,000 miles · Nov 23, 2008
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK IN ON POSITION CAUSING LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. STARTER ALSO REMAINS ON CAUSING BURN OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249580

100,000 miles · Aug 13, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS. BASED ON THE VIN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 096V17000 …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS. BASED ON THE VIN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 096V17000 IN 1996. THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ONLY ONCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10238063

112,000 miles · Oct 15, 2007
Electrical System

1996 AUDI A6 IGNITION GETS STUCK AND STARTER STAYS ON. LIGHTS, AIR, WIPERS, ETC, WILL NOT WORK. THIS PROBLEM WAS A MAJOR RECALL ON OTHER AUDIS OF THE SAME YEAR BUT MY VIN # DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR SOME REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10205648

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2006
Electrical System

1996 A4 HEADLAMPS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. ***NAR*** *TS RECALL 06V403 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE HEADLAMP AND WIPER FAILURES. THE 1996 A4 HAS BEEN RECALL BUT NOT THE A6. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177482

142,000 miles · Dec 12, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, THE COMPONENTS WERE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. A NHTSA RECALL, #96V017000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE YEARS AGO CONCERNING, THE IGNITION SWITCH HOWEVER; THE PROBLEM HAS RECUR…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, THE COMPONENTS WERE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. A NHTSA RECALL, #96V017000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE YEARS AGO CONCERNING, THE IGNITION SWITCH HOWEVER; THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10175945

107,445 miles · Oct 27, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RETURN AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TWIST THE IGNITION CYLINDER BACK INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA RECALL # 96V017000, WHI…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RETURN AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TWIST THE IGNITION CYLINDER BACK INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA RECALL # 96V017000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN A DIFFERENT STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10171989

Official recalls

2

97V175000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 8, 1997

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

96V017000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 29, 1996

DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.