Most common 2004 Audi A6 problems
Share of the 35 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 →
2004 Audi A6 recalls (4)
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.
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Audi A6:
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…
What 2004 Audi A6 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl 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 dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank collapse and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,569.
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 response: "at this time we have identified that the 20l8 repair was specific to the driver's side of the vehicle. The dealership is indicating this current recommended repair is specific to the passenger side of the vehicle." "since we are showing the 20l8 completed in July of 2008 and the original 20l8 repair is specific to driver's side rollover nipple valves, according to the dealership this current repair is unrelated to the recall." "currently per the NHTSA website, the 20l8 is not showing as an open recall, so I would be unable to speak to how they would react to information regarding a closed recall." 'we have no …
Wheels & tires
During the first 18 months, I have experienced 4 flat tires on my Audi A6 2.7t s line. One on the rear passenger side and 3 on the front driver's side. I have driven for over 25 years and have only experienced about 3 flat tires in that entire period before the purchase of this vehicle. The flat tires were replaced with three different brands. Regardless of the tire manufacturer, there continues to be flats. This is a very serious problem and the public should be made aware of this problem.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6. While driving on a gravel road, the gravel was lodged into the rims. The contact washed the vehicle; however, the gravel remained in the rims. The dealer stated that power washing the rims would remove the gravel or manually wash them by hand. The manufacturer stated that this will not occur if the contact is driving on a paved road. The current and failure mileage were 30,000.
Brakes
- 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
Tl contact owns a 2004 Audi A6 avant. The contact stated that the check engine light had been illuminating intermittently. The dealer stated that the contact should not worry about the light. While driving 65 MPH, the contact swerved to miss a deer and lost control of the vehicle. It began to rock back and forth and the brakes were inoperative. The contact hit guardrails on both the driver and passenger sides. The vehicle then tipped on its side and went into a ravine. The engine was still running and the wheels were still spinning. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the collar bone, ribs, a concussion, and lost teeth. The dealer stated that there could have been a problem with the computer. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 190,000. Updated 04/08/11
2004 Audi A6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Audi A6 a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 A6 rates average: 25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A6 at the same age. 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 2004 Audi A6?
The fuel & propulsion system — 9 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the wheels & tires (5) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2004 Audi A6 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2004 Audi A6, the most recent from May 3, 2011 (tank assembly). 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 2004 Audi A6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 33% 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.