2017 Audi A6 Problems and Recalls (20 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2017 Audi A6 is Airbags (30% of 20 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 20 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2017 Audi A6?

6 of 20 filings named Airbags (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (4 reports).

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

The 2016 has 50 reports on file; this year has 20. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2017 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. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  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 6 complaints · 30.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • 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.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 6 of 20 owner complaints (30.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 6 complaints, 30.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 6 · 30.0% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 20.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 20.0% Steering (STEERING): 4 complaints, 20.0% of reports Steering (STEERING) 4 · 20.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 5.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 5.0% Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE): 1 complaints, 5.0% of reports Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 1 · 5.0% Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE): 1 complaints, 5.0% of reports Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 1 · 5.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 5.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 5.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 6 complaints, 30.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 · 30.0% 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) 6 30.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 4 20.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 5.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 1 5.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 1 5.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 5.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 30.0% 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 Apr 2017; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2016. 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Dec 2016 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 16V955000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V955000 Recall campaign 18V370000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V370000 Recall campaign 19V035000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V035000
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 2
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 16V955000
Recall campaign 1 18V370000
Recall campaign 1 19V035000
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 and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 16V955000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 18V370000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 19V035000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.
    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 7 of 20 complaints · page 1 of 1
2026-06-27Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11746966
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My power steering went out & then all of a suffen I was driving & my steering wheel would not move my wheels
2024-12-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11632423
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Frequent motor mounts failure, and leakage of hydraulic fluid from both left and right mounts. Motor mounts failure have occurred about three times in the last four years. After some online research and reading, found out that other newer Audi owners are having a similar issues with their mount amounts at low mileage just like myself.
2024-06-25Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11596583
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine mounts failed. They are fluid damped and the seals failed and leaked and now the motor is sitting loose in a metal on metal condition with the mounts collapsed. Additionally the manifold and timing chain cover leaks. Additionally the water pump failed. This is all on a car with <75k miles. Problems have been noted by mechanics including Audi dealership. No warning lamps except during pump failure causing engine to over heat
2023-10-10Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11549295
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There is an issue with the power steering control module that causes a lot of error codes to populate. Many of the codes are generic and hard to diagnose, even with Audi certified diagnostic equipment/tools. When this code initially presented, ~9 months ago, there was a red steering wheel light on the dash. I found a company that repairs these modules with these specific codes (I’d imagine good business since this is a common issue); while I got power steering to work, there are codes that still recommend full replacement of the power steering module (Audi certified diagnostic equipment). This error in the module causes complete loss of power steering, with serious risk to safety of all passengers and other drivers, on and off the road. Because this module may communicate with other modules and systems, it may render other codes and faults with the abs and start/stop systems for example. I’ve taken this issue to an Audi dealer and they say I have to pay out of pocket for a whole replacement of the module and rack&pinion. I understand how to maintain a vehicle but this is a known issue for many other models/trims and years. I’ve read some reports that Audi had de-escalated this issue in other models (2012-2016) to avoid a larger number of vehicles being affected. While my vehicle is 2017, it’s out of the “covered recall” but I’m experiencing similar issues to the very same issue. PS. My car has been sitting for 9 months due to this issue.
2023-09-09Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11543568
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Passengers side blind spot warning system is intermittent working. Vehicle fails to register tractor trailer and cars on a random basis. Dealer states no codes, however it won’t show codes or an issue if it isn’t aware there is a vehicle present. Offered video proof of sensor not working properly, dealer still refused to repair.
2023-05-15Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11522083
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Air bags deployed
2023-03-19Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11512676
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The steering rack for my 2017 Audi A6 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro has failed at roughly 54000 miles. This is the same exact OEM part (OEM Part # 4G1423055EA) that is used in the 2016 A6, which has an extended warranty from Audi due to a lawsuit of 10 years and 125000 miles. My VIN is not included in this extended warranty even though the 2017 Audi A6 and 2016 Audi A6 are the same engines, use the same OEM steering rack parts, and are the same vehicle outside of minor exterior updates in the facelift model (2017). This part has failed and now I'm being charged $6323.77 by the Audi dealership to fix this issue. I am sure this is simply the same issue as it is the same exact part in the same engine. This extended warranty must include all future Audi vehicles that use the same steering rack that is problematic and was given an extended warranty to cover the replacement.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2017 Audi A6?

Owners named Airbags most often — 6 of 20 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2017 Audi A6?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags and Fuel system. 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 2017 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