Audi · A6 · 2004
4
Recalls
35
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2004 Audi A6 has 4 recalls and 35 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: fuel system, gasoline (4 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2004 Audi A6 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is fuel system, gasoline with 4 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 68,240 MY 2001-2004 AUDI A6 QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L, 2.8L, OR 3.0L ENGINES AND MY 2001-2005 ALLROAD QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L OR 4.2L ENGINES. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 27, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HALOGEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, CERTAIN CONNECTOR PINS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. NOTE: VEHICLES WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT IN THESE VEHICLES CONTAINS A FUSE, WHICH PRECLUDES EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW IN THE CASE OF A SHORT CIRCUIT. AUDI S6 AND S6 AVANT VEHICLES ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND, THEREFORE, ARE NOT LONGER AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.
Remedy Status
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy Status
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.
- ABS Module has intermittent failures, available for inspection - Anti-lock brakes will not work - Yes, the problem reoccurs and the module loses power and then errors out - Others - VCDS - ABS lights come on and BRAKE light stays illuminated
RE: SAFETY RECALL 20L8/JY; 08V157000: FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE MODIFICATION; VIN: (XX); 2004 AUDI A6 3.0L QUATTRO AT5 ATTACHED DOCS: 1. 20L8/JY RECALL NOTICE. 2. 7.14.2008 & 11.18.18 AUDI N. SCOTTSDALE, AZ DEALER INVOICES 3. AUDI A6 GAS TANK DIAGRAM. AUDI CORP EMAIL RESP...
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AFTERMARKET RADIO: PIONEER ELECTRONICS AVH-4100 NEX BACKUP CAMERA FAILS AND DISTRACTS DRIVER SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE ATTACHED A SCAN OF THE COMPLAINT TO PIONEER ELECTRONICS. THE RADIO LIKELY HAS SOFTWARE DEFECT THAT CAUSES VERY DISTRACTING FAILURES WHEN OPERATING THE BACK-UP CA...
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WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, USUALLY BELOW 0 DEGREES FUEL SPRAYS FROM INJECTORS. THIS COULD IGNITE ON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS CAUSING CAR FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: ...
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WITH THE ELEC STABILITY CONTROL BEING INTERMITTENT THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY THE ABS MODULE GOING BAD/INTERMITTENT THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE CHANGES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH MY 2002 RAM 1500 (4X4) AS WELL. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM IN ALL CARS AND TRUCKS. THE COST THE FIX FOR AN...
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED INSIDE AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE...
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THE FIRST THROTTLE VALVE MALFUNCTION HAPPENED ON JULY 2013. COST TO REPAIR 1557.95 PART COST 878.00 MILEAGE 66784 THE SECOND MALFUNCTION HAPPENED ON OCT. 14, 2014 TO REPAIR 1200.00 PART COST 913.00, MILEAGE 69202 WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. THERE COU...
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SIGNIFICANT GAS LEAK CAUSED BY BROKEN GAS "IN TANK SENDING UNITS" HOUSING AND SEAL. GAS WILL LEAK AND FILL THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WITH FUMS AS WELL AS UNDER THE CAR. REPLACEMENT REQUIRED BUYING A REVISED DESIGN SENDING UNITS THAT INCLUDE ALL THREE SENDING UNITS. THE PRICE IS HIGH...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRIC HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND THEN THE POWER FAILED TO MOVE THE SEAT. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE CON...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 35 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2004 Audi models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2004 Audi A6 has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 35 owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Audi A6.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2004 Audi A6.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2004 Audi A6 are fuel system, gasoline (4 reports), fuel/propulsion system (3 reports), electrical system (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2004 Audi A6. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.