2011 Audi A6 Problems: Airbags (21 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2011 Audi A6 is Airbags (57% of 21 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 21 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2011 Audi A6?

12 of 21 filings named Airbags (57% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (2 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 2010 has 15 reports on file; this year has 21. 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 2011 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. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  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 12 complaints · 57.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 0
  • 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 12 of 21 owner complaints (57.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 12 complaints, 57.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 12 · 57.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 9.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 · 9.5% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 · 4.8% Steering (STEERING): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 · 4.8% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 4.8% Wheels (WHEELS): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 · 4.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 3 complaints, 14.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 · 14.3% 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) 12 57.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 9.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 14.3% 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 Jan 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 2016. 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2011 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 16V382000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V382000 Recall campaign 18V004000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V004000 Recall campaign 18V427000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V427000
  • Campaign 18V004000 was reported 499 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V427000 was reported 668 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 16V382000
Recall campaign 1 18V004000
Recall campaign 1 18V427000
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 18V004000

    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 will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Audi mailed an interim owner notification March 02, 2018. When parts to perform the recall repair become available, Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69U1. Note: This recall has been superseded by 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 9 of 21 complaints · page 1 of 1
2026-06-15Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11744229
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The car throw a EPC warning light which cause the car to go n limp mode. With doing research ot has to do with the transmission. This cause the car to drive sluggish unable to reverse at times unable to take the car out of park at times. It also cause the car to randomly shut off when reversing or at times when im sitting at a light n i begin to drive the car can randomly shut off at times. Which in my open is unsafe because what if the the person behind me isnt payimg attention and i get rear ended. Ive reached out to Audi dearlership is was told a part was discontiued and to bring it in for them to further diagnostic it. Ive had the codes read and im getting the symptoms of the code i pulled but told that part was discontiued. So i feel like if thats the case Audi should have did a recall on the car.
2026-02-13Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11717713
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2011 Audi A6 seems to be overlooked compared to the rest of the Audi’s yet the Audi has so many different issues such as timing chain such as water pump, such as brake issues, such as rack pinion yet there hasn’t been anyone investigating this in particular make a model it needs to be done for safety reasons. Additionally, I was never contacted for the airbags cars registered DMV and nobody has bothered to inform me of the New airbag issues. What other issues are there brought to one’s attention?
2020-09-29Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11361879
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN HE CRASHED (T-BONED) ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HIS 2 LOWER DISC AND REQUIRED SURGERY AND ALSO HAD BACK SURGERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSS. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER AUDI TACOMA LOCATED AT 1701-B ALEXANDER AVE E, FIFE, WA 98424, ([redacted] AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
2018-07-31Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11114935
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V004000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI GREENWICH, 181 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE, GREENWICH, CT 06830) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2018-07-12Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11110954
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI TACOMA (1701 ALEXANDER AVE E, FIFE, WA 98424, ([redacted]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-06-28Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11104558
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL- I WAS FIRST INFORMED OF THIS RECALL IN MARCH EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL FOR MY CAR STARTED IN JANUARY. SINCE, I HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM AUDI OF THE STATUS OF REPAIR. GIVEN THE DIRECTION OF AUDI, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH MAKES THE CAR UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPECIFIED PASSENGERS AND THE VALUE OF THE CAR HAS PLUNGED. IN ADDITION, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SELL MY CAR GIVEN THE ABOVE. HOW CAN I SELL A CAR THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF "METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG MATERIAL,WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS." NOW THAT I REREAD THE RECALL NOTICE, I REALIZE THAT THE RECALL SUGGESTS MULTIPLE PEOPLE COULD DIE WHICH MEANS OTHERS IN THE CAR ARE AT RISK. THERE NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATION FOR THE LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF VALUE AND INABILITY TO SELL THIS CAR.
2018-06-13Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11101598
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V004000 (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 CONTACT CALLED AUDI BELLEVUE (1533 120TH AVE NE, BELLEVUE, WA 98005, ([redacted]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
2017-08-17Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11016050
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL
2017-03-27Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10968594
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 156V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2011 Audi A6?

Owners named Airbags most often — 12 of 21 reports (57%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2011 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 2011 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