2005 Audi A6 Problems: Airbags (91 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2005 Audi A6 is Airbags (44% of 91 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 91 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2005 Audi A6?

40 of 91 filings named Airbags (44% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (8 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2004 has 32 reports on file; this year has 91. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2005 Audi A6

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 40 complaints · 44.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
All Audi A6 years →
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.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 40 of 91 owner complaints (44.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 40 complaints, 44.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 40 · 44.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 8 complaints, 8.8% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 8 · 8.8% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 6 complaints, 6.6% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 fire reports 6 · 6.6% Steering (STEERING): 6 complaints, 6.6% of reports Steering (STEERING) 6 · 6.6% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 4.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 4.4% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 4 complaints, 4.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 4 · 4.4% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 4 complaints, 4.4% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 · 4.4% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 4 complaints, 4.4% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 · 4.4% Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE): 3 complaints, 3.3% of reports Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 3 · 3.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 12 complaints, 13.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 12 · 13.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“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)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 40 44.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 8 8.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 6 6.6% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Steering (STEERING) 6 6.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 4 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 3 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 12 13.2% 0 crashes · 0 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.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2005; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 2016. 2005-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2005 Jan 2022 Recall campaign 16V382000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V382000 Recall campaign 17V032000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V032000 Recall campaign 18V427000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V427000 Investigation PE08008 ● Investigation PE08008
  • Campaign 16V382000 was reported 3,748 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V032000 was reported 3,972 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V427000 was reported 4,499 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2005-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 3
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 2
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q4 Owner reports 4
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 2
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 7
2017-Q1 Owner reports 9
2017-Q2 Owner reports 9
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 16V382000
Recall campaign 1 17V032000
Recall campaign 1 18V427000
Defect investigation 1 PE08008
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 16V382000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 17V032000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 18V427000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints 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.

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
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 91 complaints · page 1 of 4
2022-01-25Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11448802
CrashFireInjuryDeath
When this steering problem is occurring no communication between the steering and driver and accident happened and its very dangerous!!! DTC 00456 (Access/start control module -J518- no communication) is found in several control modules or the access/start authorization control module, J518 (address word 05), identifies itself with implausible data can be found through guided fault finding (GFF). If DTC 00288 (Steering column lock actuator-N360, faulty) is logged in the access/start authorization control module, J518
2019-10-27Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11271402
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AUDI OF AMERICA SENT ME A FLYER (ATTACHED) OFFERING $100 IN AUDI GOODS AND SERVICES AS AN INCENTIVE TO COMPLETE THE REPLACEMENT OF A TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. SINCE MAY 2ND, NOW ALMOST 5 MONTHS LATER, AUDI HAS STILL FAILED TO PROVIDE THE OFFERED INCENTIVE DESPITE ME CONTACTING THEM AND THEIR PROMISE IT WOULD BE RESOLVED. AS THIS RECALL IS UNDER NHTSA JURISDICTION I THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN THEIR BEHAVIOR IN REGARDS TO THIS SERIOUS MATTER.
2019-07-03WHEELS
NHTSA ODI 11229132
CrashFireInjuryDeath
NOV 17 2017 ON MY WAY TO WORK , I GOT A FLAT TIRED SO I HAD TO PULL OVER .. RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF ON CLAIREMONT GOING NORTH ON THE 805. THE
2018-12-03Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11155630
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE AIRBAG RECALL REPAIRS DONE MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR,ONLY TOLD THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS AT AUDI OF ROCHESTER NY. I AM CONCERNED THE I HAVE HEAR NOTHING FROM THEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG GO OFF NOR DO I WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE THAT IT WILL.
2018-11-11Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11150870
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AFTER PARKING AT A STORE PARKING LOT. STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED NO POWER TO ANYTHING ONLY MMI HAD POWER TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED ON PARKING POSITION AND ELECTRONIC BRAKE SISTEM WAS ACTIVATED LOOKING UP ONLINE I FOUND THAT THERE'S TO MANY CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM THEY ALL STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE START CONTROL MODULE.
2018-07-30Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11114696
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI TWICE, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND ONCE THEY RECEIVE THE PART THEY WOULD CALL ME TO SET AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ABOUT 6 MONTHS (MAYBE LONGER). I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. AFTER WAITING A FEW MONTHS I DECIDED TO ALSO FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE AUDI WEBSITE REGARDING THE TAKATA RECALL ON MAY 15, 2018 AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
2018-06-19Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11102615
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V382000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (PRESTIGE PORSCHE AUDI, [redacted]) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-04-10Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11084416
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V032000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LARSON AUDI TACOMA, 1701 ALEXANDER AVENUE, FIFE, WASHINGTON 98424) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-01-22Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11064253
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE
2017-12-31Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11057762
CrashFireInjuryDeath
"TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE ROUND AROUND ON REPLACEMENT OF THE INFLATOR FOR THE PAST YEAR. ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2005 Audi A6?

Owners named Airbags most often — 40 of 91 reports (44%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Audi A6?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags. 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 2005 Audi A6?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. 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.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints 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.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources