Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Audi A6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Audi A6. The contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who reset the codes but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer who indicated that the engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. In addition, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, smoke started to emit from the engine complartment. The contact mentioned that the fire had consumed and burned through the hood around to the front drivers side of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. No injuries had been sustained. …
Check engine light on, vehicle will not pass emissions testing. Audi determined that it was due to a fuel leak from a crack in the passenger side rear rollover valve. Vehicle had been recalled in past for similar issue (performed). Tank has 4 rollover valves, only one (front driver) included in prior recall. Initial quoted $3,300 to replace tank. Audi offered to pay for replacement tank with the exception of ~$600 (repair order attached). Repair completed on 2/23/2017, car passes state inspection. As you can see by the "staining" in the attached photo, the leak was significant dealer then calls to say that car needs to be returned to perform prior recall on the newly installed tank. Recall to be performed on only the one rollover valve (driver front) that can be accessed with out removing fuel tank. Not the valve that was leaking and necessitated the replacement. …
The gas tank or components of the tank are leaking gas when more than a small amount of gas is put into the tank. Gas leaks all over the ground from the tank and the cabin fills with gas fumes. My 18 son has been driving this car and I will not allow him or anyone else to drive the car now. After reading online that many people have this same problem, I am shocked that this is not a recall when it could be potentially life threatening and that Audi wants to charge 3K to lower the tank and repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Audi A6. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a puddle of fuel in the driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rollover valve had a crack, causing the fuel tank to leak. The vehicle was repaired per a recall, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The recall information was not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Audi A6. Approximately one year ago, the contact smelled a strong odor of gasoline whenever he placed fuel in the vehicle. He also noticed fuel leaking on the garage floor. He assumed that he was placing too much fuel into the vehicle. In the beginning of June of 2008, the contact made sure to fill the vehicle to the correct amount to avoid any fuel leakage. Within half an hour of parking the vehicle, the contact smelled a strong gasoline odor and noticed a much larger puddle of gasoline underneath the vehicle. He called the dealer and was advised to have the vehicle towed; however, the contact refused and drove the vehicle to the dealer. A diagnosis was performed and they stated that there was a crack in the check valve of the fuel tank that could not be repaired. The entire fuel tank needed to be replaced. …
Tl contact owns 2003 Audi A6, 2.7 quattro. The contact stated that a fuel leak occurred on November 22, 1999. The contact also observed fuel leaking from the vehicle while driving 60 MPH. The contact parked the vehicle and the fuel began leaking out of the vehicle excessively. The rear bumper was hanging off of the vehicle when he returned clean up the fuel that was leaking. The contact notified the bank management of the fuel leak on their property. The police and fire truck were anonymously notified of the fuel leak. The weather was not a factor. The vehicle was towed to his residence, then it was towed to the local dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer was not sympathetic to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,600 and the current mileage was 84,610.
My 2003 Audi A6 quattro sputtered, choked and died as I tried to pull into traffic. The vehicle did restart and then did the same thing as I tried to pull out onto another road, and completely failed. Vehicle had to pushed out of traffic and to the side of the road with assistance, then towed to nearby garage. Diagnosed that fuel pump was cause of failure. Mechanic said they could tap on the fuel pump to get it to run, which confirmed that it was the cause of failure. I was also advised by the garage that my vehicle had been subject of fuel pump recalls, although Audi denied that my vehicle fell under that particular recall. Very dangerous situation as I failed twice as I was entering traffic. In my opinion, fuel pumps should not fail by 66,000 miles.
Failure to accelerate. I experience major delays in any acceleration immediately after I have depressed the brake (at any speed) and then try to reaccelerate. I understand that this is a common complaint among all Audi tiptronic owners regardless of engine type. It is not, as Audi tries to say, "turbo lag." in almost every failure to date, I have almost been involved in an accident due to this problem. Had other drivers been less attentive, I most surely would have been struck. I am hesitant to pull out into any volume of traffic with this persistent problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Audi A6. The contact was driving 55 MPH when the vehicle started to shudder decelerated abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who advised the contact that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 07V375000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump) but was advised by the dealer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000. ...update 01/20/12 updated 02/03/12
With no incident to my Audi (accident, impact, dis-repair) fuel and gas fumes leak. Vehicle now spills fuel/fumes when tank is full to 3/4. Visual inspection shows fuel stains starting from the top of the fuel tank on the driver side just under the rear seat. Vehicle is now not being driven to determine what is the best course of action for repair.
Related recalls
Fuel system, other › Storage › Tank assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
On certain vehicles equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on September 28, 20007. Owners May contact vw at 1-800-222-8987 or Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
On certain vehicles produced from September 2002 - March 2003, equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2006. Owners May contact vw at 1-800-222-8987 or Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel tank leak
Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and Audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from November 22, 2000 through May 31, 2005 and Audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from June 2, 2001 to June 1, 2005.the NHTSA recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and…
Fuel System complaints in other A6 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2003 Audi A6?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2003 Audi A6, 32% of the model year's 66 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Audi A6 fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-267 (tank assembly, May 3, 2011); NHTSA recall 08V-157 (tank assembly, Apr 8, 2008); NHTSA recall 07V-375 (fuel pump, Aug 28, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Audi A6 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.