1998 Audi A6 Problems and Recalls (129 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 1998 Audi A6 is Fuel system (26% of 129 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 129 complaints · 10 recalls
What problems show up on the 1998 Audi A6?
34 of 129 filings named Fuel system (26% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Brakes (17 reports).
There are 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Airbags, Engine, Brakes, and Steering. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 1997 has 19 reports on file; this year has 129. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Fuel system 34 complaints · 26.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 6
- Fires 7
- Injuries 4
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 34 | 26.4% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 17 | 13.2% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 15 | 11.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 12 | 9.3% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 10 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 9 | 7.0% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 7 | 5.4% | 0 crashes · 5 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 5 | 3.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 4 | 3.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 103 | 79.8% | 5 crashes · 3 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 99V058000 was reported 119 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 99V131001 was reported 110 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 01V157000 was reported 892 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V056000 was reported 5,777 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 1998-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 1999-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 1999-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 1999-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 1999-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2000-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2000-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2000-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2000-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2001-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2002-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 97V160000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V134000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 99V058000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 99V131001 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 99V248000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 01V157000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V133000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V495000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06V198000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V056000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE99001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE02008 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE03019 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE04023 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA04017 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ06003 |
Safety Recalls (10)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Airbags, Engine, Brakes, and Steering.
-
Recall campaign 01V157000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANK LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNITS AND REPLACE THEM WITH FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNITS USING A NEW ALLOY COMPOSED OF GOLD, SILVER, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF NICKEL, WHICH WILL NOT CHEMICALLY REACT WITH SULFUR. VW/AUDI WILL ALSO CALL BACK VEHICLES THAT WERE REPAIRED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL LAST JUNE IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE UPDATED FUEL SENDING UNITS NHTSA 00V137/AUDI LB). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-866-892-2834.
-
Recall campaign 04V133000
Safety recall 04V133000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A FIRE COULD ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT DASHBOARD AREA.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVERING ON THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT). IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS THE FELT PROTECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD CARRIER WILL BE CHECKED, AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
-
Recall campaign 04V495000
Safety recall 04V495000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy:
- AUDI WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY KIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THE COLD-WEATHER STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING, WILL BE NOTIFIED OF A SERVICE ACTION, UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE PROVIDED THE FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST.
-
Recall campaign 06V198000
Safety recall 06V198000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING OR FIRE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS BY INSTALLING A JUMPER WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
-
Recall campaign 20V056000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
-
Recall campaign 97V160000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW FUEL TO ESCAPE AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE FILLER NECKS.
-
Recall campaign 98V134000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- SCREEN PIECES COULD ENTER THE INTAKE AIR FLOW SYSTEM AND PREVENT THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING RING TO HOLD THE AIR SCREEN IN PLACE.
-
Recall campaign 99V058000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL SPRAY COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy:
- VW IS PROVIDING A NEW PAGE FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO REQUESTING OWNERS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE A LABEL CONTAINING IMPORTANT REFUELING INSTRUCTIONS INSTALLED INSIDE OF THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. DEALERS WILL ALSO REMOVE THE TIRE PRESSURE LABEL AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FENDER WELL AT THE RIGHT REAR DOOR.
-
Recall campaign 99V131001
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
-
Recall campaign 99V248000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 9 of 129 complaints · page 1 of 6
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated the parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FUEL WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE ON THE FUEL TANK. THIS NIPPLE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CRACK WHEN THE METAL VENTILATION LINE LINE ADDS STRESS TO THE PLASTIC NIPPLE. GASOLINE WAS FOUND IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR AT THE LEFT/ REAR OF THE CAR. AUDI HAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED THIS DEFECT ON LATER YEAR A6S BUT AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. REFUSED TO REPAIR THE 1998 A6. THE GAS TANK ON THE 98 A6 IS IDENTICAL TO THE GAS TANK ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY DETERMINED THAT THESE FUEL TANKS PRESENT A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD AND PARTICIPATED IN A RECALL. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL A6 VEHICLES WITH THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC NIPPLE INCLUDING THE 1998 AUDI A6 IN QUESTION.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DASHBOARD WIRES HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A6. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 5/7/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED ONE MONTH PRIOR, WHILE TURNING OFF A ROAD, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO 25 MPH, THERE WAS LOSS OF BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. UPDATED 05/30/10
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I AM EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE THAT WAS RECALLED BY THE FACTORY AUDI AG BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID OF GETTING STRANDED DUE TO AN IMPROPER FUEL READING. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ACCORDINGLY, THANK YOU. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DEAR DOT, I'VE A 1998 AUDI A6 QUATTRO. MY ABS SYSTEM SHOWS WARNING YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND RED FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AT ALL TIME. I'VE TAKEN MY TWO SHOPS AND THEY BOTH INDICATED THAT THE ABS UNIT IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THEY TESTED ALL 4 WHEEL SENSORS ON THE CAR AND ALSO MAPPED OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCLUSION WAS A DEFECTIVE ABS UNIT. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND OTHER AUDI OWNER FROM 1998 - 2001 ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. IF THIS SYSTEM IS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED IN ALL FAIRNESS. I AM PRETTY HAPPY WITH THIS CAR, BUT THE ABS IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE. IT COST ABOUT $2000 TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT AND AUDI DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM. REFERENCES: HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/AUDI_A4_AVANT_COMMENTS_AND_COMPLAINTS_65-34245-1.HTML
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FIRE HAZARD DUE TO OIL LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE AN 1998 AUDI A6, 2.8L, V6, QUATTRO, AVANT WITH A 115000 MLS AND MY CARS'S REAR SEAT, SEAT BELT IN (THE MIDDLE PASSENGER "BELT SHAPE, ONE") SEAT STOP WORKING AND IT IS STUCK IN ITS OPEN POSITION ABOUT 15"-16" OUT. AFTER TALKING TO THE AUDI DEALER NEAR HOME THEY SAID, YEAH NOT WORKING BUT SORRY OUT OF WARRANTY, I ASKED IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THIS CAR? THEY SAID NO! ITS NOT! I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. IS THAT OK A SEAT BELT IN REAR SEAT HARDLY USED BY ME BREAK SO EASY?! I HAVE SEEN MANY PARENTS USE THIS SEAT BELT TO SECURE THERE CHILD'S CAR SEAT TO THE CAR'S SEAT? THANK YOU. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I PURCHASED A USED 98 AUDI A6 PN 4/28/07. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE ONLY ISSUES WITH THE CAR WERE THIS GASSY SMELL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEAT, AND A SMOKE COMING FROM THE SOME PIPE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BREATHER WAS CUT, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED . AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. COULD NOT DO THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I STARTED WHILE DRIVING I HEAR THIS BEEPING SOUND. THE FUEL NEEDLE IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO EMPTY, AND BACK UP AGAIN SHOWING THAT I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS. I WENT TO CHECK IT AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. IN THE MEAN TIME, I DECIDED TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED A GAS SMELL COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC ON MY WAY HOME, TO FIND OUT THAT MY GAS TANK WAS LEAKING BECAUSE THERE IS A CRACK AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN SET ON FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. *TR
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 1998 Audi A6?
Owners named Fuel system most often — 34 of 129 reports (26%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 1998 Audi A6?
NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Airbags, Engine, Brakes, and Steering. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 1998 Audi A6?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.