SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

About this comparison →
51Owner complaints

Model-year median: 35

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
199416
199551
199620
1997130
1998217
1999
Compare all A6 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
38Visibility
5Equipment
4Exterior Lighting
4Air Bags
3
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
2Power Train
2Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Seats
1Steering
1Tires
1

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

Tires complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2007
Tires

I WAS DRIVING AN 1996 AUDI A6 ON HIGHWAY 95 IN FLORIDA AT ABOUT 7PM ON THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2007. TRAVELING ABOUT 73 MPH. THE LEFT FRONT TIRES TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE ITSELF. THIS CAUSED ME TO DANGEROUSLY SWERVE IN TRAFFIC. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE …

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING AN 1996 AUDI A6 ON HIGHWAY 95 IN FLORIDA AT ABOUT 7PM ON THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2007. TRAVELING ABOUT 73 MPH. THE LEFT FRONT TIRES TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE ITSELF. THIS CAUSED ME TO DANGEROUSLY SWERVE IN TRAFFIC. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, THE BUMPER AND SIDE PANELING. I CALLED THE POLICE BUT THEY WERE NOT COOPERATIVE AND DID NOT WRITE AN ACCIDENT REPORT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY OWN CAR BY MY OWN CAR. BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING ABOUT $150 ALSO THERE IS AN ESTIMATED $4000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184854

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.