Most common 1999 Audi A6 problems
Share of the 217 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A6 complaints by model year
Best A6 years: 2022, 2018, 2011. Years to avoid: 2019, 2012, 2016, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
1999 Audi A6 recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
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.
Electrical system
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.
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.
Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.8l, v6 5-valve engines, and automatic transmissions, while driving during extremely low ambient temperatures the throttle May freeze in an open position due to ice accumulating in the throttle body.
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.
Electrical system
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: 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…
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Sulfur in fuel interacts with certain additives found in widely available gasoline causing sulfur to become deposited on the contact points of three fuel sending units mounted inside the fuel tank.
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…
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Show 3 more recalls
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals May not seal properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold May not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with quattro drive system which employs a fuel and fuel vapor leak detection system. If the vehicle is refueled shortly after the engine is started, and is kept running while being refueled, the fuel vapor recovery system could produce sufficient back pressure to cause fuel to be…
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 8 possible defects involving the 1999 Audi A6:
Driver's side dash fire
Volkswagen of America, inc. (voa) conducted a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 04V133) to add a plastic cover to the top section of the knee bolster crossmember to prevent contact with the headlight switch wiring harness.the scope of the original recall covered model years 1998 through 2004 with vehicle production dates of August 1997 through December 2004.the office of defects investigation has received nine…
Fuel expulsion
By letter dated March 22, 1999, Volkswagen notified NHTSA that it would take safety recall action to correct the spitback problem on all the subject vehicles.based on the manufacturer's recall action (odi 99v-058), this investigation is closed.
Stuck-open throttle
Complaints received by odi and Audi allege that, in extreme cold weather, the throttle May unexpectedly fail to return to idle when the accelerator pedal is released, making it difficult to stop the vehicle.in March of 2004, Audi performed a series of tests to investigate the possible causes of throttle icing.Audi concluded that under certain driving conditions - only short distance trips over several weeks where…
Drivers side dashboard fire
Of the 22 total complaints, 11 were received for the 1999 model year and 11 for the 2000 model year. Audi is conducting testing to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Steering wheel heater overheats
This pe was opened based on four odi complaints that the steering wheel overheats. Vw has shown that moisture and prespiration permeate the steering wheel cover causing the heating element to corrode.this corrosion May cause a small, localized area of the steering wheel to experience a brief duration of overheating.there are no reports of the steering wheel sustaining combustion.
Brake and clutch pedal bracket
Stuck-open throttle
Vwoa has recalled approximately 28,300 my 1998-99 a6 vehicles in cold weather states that experienced the highest rate of throttle icing incidents in the subject vehicles (04v-495).the failure rate in the a4 and passat vehicles is much lower than in the recalled vehicles.odi will continue to monitor the experience in the a4 and passat vehicles.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA…
Drivers side dash fire
The subject vehicles are equipped with a knee bolster located under the dash, near the drivers knees.a wiring harness is also located in the dash, in that same area.Audi's analysis of 39 vehicles indicated that the knee bolster was rubbing against that wiring harness.over time the harness sheathing wears away and the wires come into contact with the metal knee bolster, resulting in a fire.
What 1999 Audi A6 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 39 →
Fuel leak from supply fuel line in an 1999 Audi A6 during very cold weather. When temperatures drop below 15-20 f the crimped end of the fuel supply line leaks fuel, which creates an intense fuel smell in the cabin, but only if not moving at high speeds. The fuel leaking from the hose travels towards the back of the engine and eventually drips onto the exhaust manifold creating intense smoke. Apparently the cold line intensified by super cooled gas streaming through it causes the metal part of the line to contract at a sufficient rate as to allow fuel to leak out. When the fule line warms up, the leaking stops. Dealer could not replicate the problem because the ambient temperature was 40f at the time of testing and hence refused to aknowledge the problem. Subsequently the problem re-occured and I took several close-up pictures showing the leak and the ambient temperature. …
I have recently experience the exact same sudden acceleration with my Audi A6 quattro. The temperature outdoors was very cold and I was traveling up a hill when the car kept accelerating on its own. While applying pressure to the brakes the car continued to accelerate. Luckily I was able to pull the car off the road and shifted into park. Upon placing the car in park the tachometer red lined. After taking it to the garage the technician determined he could not find anything wrong the automobile. The following week my husband drove the car and experienced the exact same thing. Again our car is in the garage and the technicians are trying to determine a cause. To date, they have been unsuccessful in finding the problem.
Brakes all 39 →
Two vehicles in front of my car on highway came to a stop; I applied brakes, pressing all the way to the floor of the car, and nothing happened - the car did not slow down and the ABS did not engage, despite there being loose sand and salt on the road surface. I rear-ended the vehicles resulting in substantial damage to my car (over $10,000 to repair) and the car I hit (unknown cost covered by my insurance company). My car spent 2 months in the shop having the accident damage repaired. When I picked it up, I tested the brakes and they were very "soft" - I had to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor to get the car to stop, even though I was going no more than 10 MPH. The ABS did not engage that time either. I returned the car to the dealer to fix the brakes. They kept it all day and told me that nothing needed to be done. …
All of a sudden my ABS light came on in my 1999 Audi A6, and the brake light started flashing. I had a full loss of my ABS brakes on icy winter roads. I eventually slid off the road and hit a fence. The ABS control module on my car had failed, and I've read posts of several hundreds other having the same problem. In my car it is a constant error, and no-one but Audi can fix the problem. I also contacted Audi, which claims that the ABS system disabling is not a safety concern. When there's a chance that your ABS (something you've relied on for years) suddenly shuts down because of a way too common error, it is a major safety concern. I was lucky I only got some dents to my car, but if Audi had recalled these I wouldn't have had to get repairs done to my car. Unfortunately someone will probably have to die before this safety concern is taken seriously and Audi will do a recall.
Electrical system all 37 →
While traveling home on the atlantic city expressway, my wife and I noticed a peculiar smell coming from the vents. As the odor got stronger, we decided to pull over and check underneath the hood. When I looked underneath the hood, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. A few seconds later, I heard my wife exiting the vehicle because the cabin began to fill with smoke. Upon closer review, I saw a small flame inside the driver s side vent. We worked frantically to put the small flame out however, we had no idea that the flame was much more intense than what was visible. Seconds later, the entire dash was completely on fire. Due to traffic conditions, it took the fire department 22 minutes to reach the fire consequently; the vehicle was completely demolished by the time they arrived. …
December 13, 2007 Audi of rochester hills 45441 dequindre road rochester hills, michigan 48307 attention: service manager subject: safety concern 1999 Audi A6 avant to whom it May concern: this evening, shortly after turning on the seat heater (which automatically turns on the steering wheel heater) I noticed a strong odor (burning plastic) & smoke being emitted from the steering wheel. The smoke was coming from behind the horn/airbag module. I turned off the seat heater, but that did not stop the steering wheel from continuing to heat-up and emit smoke. I had to roll down the windows and open the sunroof (very enjoyable in 30 degree temperature!) in order to be able to ventilate the cabin & be able to drive the vehicle home. After arriving home, I located the fuse related to the steering wheel heater and removed it so that I could drive the vehicle to your shop. …
1999 Audi A6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Audi A6 a good car?
Based on 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 A6 rates avoid: 5.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the A6 at the same age. It is one of the A6 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Audi A6?
The fuel & propulsion system — 39 complaints, 18% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the brakes (39) and electrical system (37).
How many recalls does the 1999 Audi A6 have?
There are 9 recalls for the 1999 Audi A6, the most recent from January 31, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2018 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2012, 2016, 1999 and 1998. See the full Audi A6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Audi A6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.