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2013 Audi A6

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 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

28 reports with mileage · 24 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2025
Air BagsEngineFuel/propulsion System

IT WAS RECENTLY BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THEN THE WHOLE CABIN SPECIALLY IN THE FRONT WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO HAVE BAD VIBRATION DURING REVERSED, AND IDLE, ALSO WHEN THE AC IS ON. THEN THERES THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER, THE LIGHT IS ON, IT USED TO SAY '"OFF" THEN WHEN THE …

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IT WAS RECENTLY BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THEN THE WHOLE CABIN SPECIALLY IN THE FRONT WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO HAVE BAD VIBRATION DURING REVERSED, AND IDLE, ALSO WHEN THE AC IS ON. THEN THERES THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER, THE LIGHT IS ON, IT USED TO SAY '"OFF" THEN WHEN THE SEAT IS USED IT WILL SHUT OFF. NOW IT JUST STAYS ON. LAST IS THE AC COMPRESSOR SEEMS TO BE RATTLING LIKE A BOLT IS LOOSE. ALL THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WITH MY AUDI AND STILL MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #11690179

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2023
EngineLane DepartureService Brakes

I had my coolant system repaired before I found out there was a recall now my thermostat went bad. My brakes need to be replaced too much and my screw for my radio and system display stopped working every time you change fees it pops

NHTSA ODI #11521861

115,000 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Engine

OVER HEATING CAUSED BY THERMOSTAT STICKING. THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON ON THE 2.0 AUDI A6 WHICH WAS RECALL. THE CAR OVERHEATS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. ALSO, I HAD A SPARK PLUG END IP IN THE CYLINDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE INNER WALL OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11390122

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR IS LEAKING & BURNING OIL AND IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OPEN SHORT TO GROUND I ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 MONTHS THE FUEL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING MY ENGINE LIGHT & MY EPIC LIGHT IS ON SMOKE IS COMING COMING FROM THE ENGINE & THE ENGINE IS SHAKING ROUGHLY & THESE ARE SOME OF THE RECALLS BUT THERE SAYING THE RECALLS HAVE ALREADY B…

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CAR IS LEAKING & BURNING OIL AND IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OPEN SHORT TO GROUND I ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 MONTHS THE FUEL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING MY ENGINE LIGHT & MY EPIC LIGHT IS ON SMOKE IS COMING COMING FROM THE ENGINE & THE ENGINE IS SHAKING ROUGHLY & THESE ARE SOME OF THE RECALLS BUT THERE SAYING THE RECALLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKING CAR OF BUT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. I WAS IDLED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR COULD POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11375555

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE MY FUEL SYSTEM IS MESSING UP. ALSO I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CYLINDER 1 MISFIRE OPEN GROUND OR SHORT TO GROUND CIRCUIT .

NHTSA ODI #11375329

77,600 miles · Sep 23, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I OWN A 2013 AUDI A6 AROUND 77K MILES. I GOT THE CEL AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THERE IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALUE THAT IS PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT COMPONENT ALSO HELPS KEEP THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IN CHECK. THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS THE VALVE MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING COOLANT …

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I OWN A 2013 AUDI A6 AROUND 77K MILES. I GOT THE CEL AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THERE IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALUE THAT IS PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT COMPONENT ALSO HELPS KEEP THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IN CHECK. THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS THE VALVE MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND FROM THERE INTO THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS A CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTION OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. WATER AND ELECTRICAL DO NOT MIX WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11360807

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL CABLES MORE THAN ONCE, ALSO FUEL EXHAUST ISSUE AND COOLING SYSTEM. VEHICLE STATIONARY AND OR DRIVING UNDER 50 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11280529

60,000 miles · Jan 18, 2019
Engine

IN LATE DECEMBER 2017 OUT OF NOWHERE, MY CAR BEGAN TO DISPLAY THE WARNING, 'TURN OFF ENGINE AND CHECK COOLANT LEVEL' (PHOTO ATTACHED) ; THIS WAS VERY ALARMING AS I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED AT THE DEAL…

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IN LATE DECEMBER 2017 OUT OF NOWHERE, MY CAR BEGAN TO DISPLAY THE WARNING, 'TURN OFF ENGINE AND CHECK COOLANT LEVEL' (PHOTO ATTACHED) ; THIS WAS VERY ALARMING AS I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED AT THE DEALER. JUST A FEW DAYS LATER ON JANUARY 5, 2018 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER/COOLANT PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ATTACHED). UNFORTUNATELY, I FELT THAT THE COST WAS TOO MUCH AT THE DEALER AND I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC IN THE AREA WHO REPLACED THE WATER/COOLANT PUMP. TO MY SURPRISE IN SEPTEMBER 2018, AUDI ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR THE WATER/COOLANT PUMP. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGED PUMP. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD ASSUME THAT ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE PUMP SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. AS NOTED ON MY SERVICE MEMO FROM THE AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED FOR THE WARNING 'IF NOT REPLACED, THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM WILL NOT BE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND AT THE PROPER TEMPERATURE RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE.' IN FEBRUARY 2018, A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AFTER HAVING MY CAR'S WATER/COOLANT PUMP REPAIRED, THE CAR STARTED TO IDLE WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. NOT EVEN A BLOCK AWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF AND THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I WAS SO SCARED, BUT RELIEVED THAT I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO MY HOME WHERE I IMMEDIATELY HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DIDN'T HAVE HIM DO THE REPAIRS, BUT I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE SAME THING, TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11170758

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI SHREWSBURY (780 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI SHREWSBURY (780 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA 01545, (508) 581-5800) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11151798

76,000 miles · Nov 11, 2018
EngineService Brakes

VACUUM PUMP OIL LEAK (06J145100G). 76K MI, FOUND VIA MULTI POINT INSPECTION ON 10/25/18 (AUDI OF HONOLULU). VEHICLE PROD DATE: 07/2012, ENGINE CODE: CAEB, TRANSMISSION: 0BK, QUATTRO AWD. THE VACUUM PUMP, LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE IS LEAKING MOTOR OIL. EITHER THE INTERNAL SEALS OF THE PUMP OR GASKET IS FAULTY. MOTOR O…

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VACUUM PUMP OIL LEAK (06J145100G). 76K MI, FOUND VIA MULTI POINT INSPECTION ON 10/25/18 (AUDI OF HONOLULU). VEHICLE PROD DATE: 07/2012, ENGINE CODE: CAEB, TRANSMISSION: 0BK, QUATTRO AWD. THE VACUUM PUMP, LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE IS LEAKING MOTOR OIL. EITHER THE INTERNAL SEALS OF THE PUMP OR GASKET IS FAULTY. MOTOR OIL IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST, TRANSMISSION, FIREWALL INSULATION, ENGINE BELLY PAN, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS/CROSSMEMBER, TRANSMISSION BELLY PAN, AND LOWER REAR OF ENGINE. UNDER MODERATE BRAKING, WHITE SMOKE WOULD APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD (PRESSURE FORCING THE OIL THROUGH THE PUMP SEALS, WHICH THEN LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST.) BRAKING POWER IS SOMETIMES DIMINISHED DUE TO LACK OF VACUUM POWER TO BRAKE BOOSTER (AIR LEAK). AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE (AFTER NORMAL DRIVING), A BURNT SMELL WOULD APPEAR (WHOLE CARPORT WOULD SMELL). EST COST OF PARTS + LABOR, $1K(AUDI OF HONOLULU). VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #11150834

Official recalls

6

18V370000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 4, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

18V229000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Apr 11, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

17V781000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 6, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.

17V002000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Jan 3, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

16V646000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 7, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BZ.

15V823000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 8, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), used to enable the front passenger air bags, may malfunction and prevent the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D1.

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.