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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
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 …

Read full complaint

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

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED IGNITION SWITCH. (NAR) *LAB LIGHTS, HEAD LAMPS, HEATER & AC FUNCTIONS, WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL UNPREDICTABLY. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10059474

59,800 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY RAIN THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE CAME LOOSE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10042943

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility

SOME ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS: HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND CLIMATE CONTROL, DO NOT FUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

NHTSA ODI #752882

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE HORN, DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIED WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. AUDI (BOTH THE DEALER AND NATIONAL) DOES NOT THINK IT IS A PROBLEM TO HAVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT DID NOT FEEL THEY NEEDED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS. …

Read full complaint

THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE HORN, DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIED WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. AUDI (BOTH THE DEALER AND NATIONAL) DOES NOT THINK IT IS A PROBLEM TO HAVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT DID NOT FEEL THEY NEEDED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS. THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #747155

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.