The most-reported A6 run is WAUBA24B3XN (1999 builds) with 12 complaints, 6.7× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 28% of reports; 2019 is the worst model year at 3.6 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns for A6 model years 1995–2025.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Audi A6 has 702 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 4% of every A6 complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAUBA24B3XN•••••• | 1999 | 1 | 2 | |
| WAUL2AF27KN•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| WAUM2AF28KN•••••• | 2019 | 1 | 1 | |
| WAUBA24B0XN•••••• | 1999 | 1 | 4 | |
| WAUBA24B2XN•••••• | 1999 | — | 2 | |
| WAUBA24B7WN•••••• | 1998 | — | 1 | |
| WAUM2AF2XKN•••••• | 2019 | 1 | — | |
| WAUBA24B1XN•••••• | 1999 | 1 | — | |
| WAUBA24B8XN•••••• | 1999 | — | 1 | |
| WAUL2AF29KN•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| WAUBA34B4XN•••••• | 1999 | — | — | |
| WAUBA24B1WN•••••• | 1998 | — | — |
Each of the other 690 A6 runs has 8 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 132 A6 VINs so far, most often 2016, 2019, 2023 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Audi A6 the gap between build years is 3.3×: a 2019 car draws 3.6 complaints per run, a 2011 one 1.1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| 2021 | 15 | 13 | — | |
| 2020 | 26 | 19 | — | |
| 2019 | 114 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 19 | 16 | — | |
| 2016 | 50 | 31 | — | |
| 2015 | 21 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 37 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 51 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 56 | 32 | — | |
| 2011 | 18 | 17 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 15 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 21 | 15 | — | |
| 2008 | 65 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 65 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 30 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 58 | 32 | — | |
| 2002 | 72 | 42 | 3 | |
| 2001 | 87 | 52 | 9 | |
| 2000 | 119 | 74 | 4 |
Heaviest year here is 2019 at 3.6 complaints per run; lightest is 2026 at 1. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 28% of everything Audi A6 owners report: Electrical System, 329 of 1,283 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 44 | |
| Air Bags | 24 | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 9 | — | |
| Fuel System | — | 1 | |
| Engine | 3 | 6 | |
| Gasoline | — | 1 | |
| Steering | — | 2 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 4 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 54 recall campaigns on the Audi A6; the 6 below cover build years 1998 to 2025. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 25V900000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 2019–2025 |
| 18V370000 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification | 2012–2018 |
| 18V427000 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module | 2005–2011 |
| 16V382000 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module | 2005–2011 |
| 04V133000 | Electrical System | 1998–2004 |
| 06V198000 | Electrical System | 1998–2004 |
25V900000 was opened in 2025 on cars built from 2019: 6 years on the road before the recall.
The A6 against its rivals
The A6 draws 1.8 complaints per production run; the Toyota Camry 5.7, the Honda Accord 4 and the Hyundai Elantra 6. That is the lowest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A6 | 1,283 | 702 | 3.7% | |
| Toyota Camry | 15,758 | 2,788 | 15.3% | |
| Honda Accord | 20,581 | 5,117 | 7.8% | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 7,813 | 1,304 | 9.4% |
How serious were they
Of the 1,283 reports on the Audi A6, 3.7% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.
| Outcome | Audi A6 | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 1,283 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 47 (3.7%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 57 (4.4%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 52 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 36% below the all-vehicle rate.
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Audi A6 share of that is 1,283 complaints over 702 runs, 0.11% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Audi A6 VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,283 NHTSA complaints from 702 A6 runs and 54 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which A6 production run has the most complaints?
WAUBA24B3XN, a 1999 build, with 12 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical A6 run has 1.8.
Which A6 years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2019 is heaviest at 3.6 complaints per run and 2026 lightest at 1.
Does the A6 get more complaints than the Toyota Camry?
No: 1.8 complaints per production run for the A6 against 5.7 for the Toyota Camry.
How many A6 complaints involve a crash?
3.7% of 1,283 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 57 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.