2018 Audi A6 Problems & Complaints

Better than average55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A6 at the same age

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2018 Audi A6 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 55% fewer than a typical A6 model year at the same age, making the 2018 one of the better A6 years. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (7 complaints, typically around 12,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

11complaints
2recalls
0crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2018 Audi A6 problems

  • Engine & cooling~12,000 miles
    764%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~12,000 miles
    436%
  • Other / not specified
    218%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~8,000 miles
    19%
  • Electrical system
    19%
  • Air bags
    19%

Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Audi A6 complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’25’2616512013021714811388663591675371211721605241225120111142618267
Owner complaints per model year, Audi A6. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best A6 years: 2022, 2018, 2011. Years to avoid: 2019, 2012, 2016, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →

2018 Audi A6 recalls (2)

Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel rail

NHTSA recall 19V-035 · Jan 16, 2019 · 74,881 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.

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.

Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification

NHTSA recall 18V-370 · Jun 4, 2018 · 139,249 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating).

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.

What 2018 Audi A6 owners say

Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Audi A6. The contact stated that the EPC and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was notified of an unstated recall. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed about a buyback, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

52,000 miles · Oct 2023

2018 Audi A6 3.0T, VIN [redacted] At 38,637 miles, Audi dealership diagnosed that vehicle requires water pump replacement due to water pump failure, causing vehicle to leak coolant. The vehicle has previously displayed a low coolant warning light prior to water pump failure diagnosis. My research has found that in October 2022, a class action suit was filed for over water pump defects. See: https://www.classaction.org/news/audi-defective-water-pump-class-action-includes-2021-2022-vehicle-models-with-3.0t-engines The suit looks to cover all persons or entities in the United States who are current or former owners and/or lessees of a 2013-2022 Audi S4, Q5, S5, SQ5, A6, A7, Q7 and A8 vehicles with a 3.0T engine.

Jun 2023

Fuel & propulsion system

February 27, at approximately 1:20am my vehicle caught fire while parked in the driveway after sitting for about 9 hours. The fire originated near the gas tank. The fire department was called, there is a fire report being conducted. Audi was notified.

Feb 2026 · fire

The EPC light came on in my vehicle and I noticed I started to lose gas faster than normal. Took it to a shop to get diagnosed, they stated that my vehicle was under a recall (Recall #24DP). I called Audi and they said I do not fall under the warranty even though the website said 2016-2018 Audi A6 were under recall. They would not provide any help for me. My vehicle is showing all the signs of the recall. Sometimes the car will accelerate too fast and it is a risk for not only other drivers but me as well. It is just ironic that the same same problem for that recall is happening to my vehicle.

Oct 2023

2018 Audi A6 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.0L 4-cyl turbo7-speed dual-clutchFWD25 / 34 / 28
2.0L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticAWD22 / 31 / 26
3.0L 6-cyl supercharged8-speed automaticAWD20 / 29 / 23

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Audi A6 a good car?

Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 A6 rates better than average: 55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A6 at the same age. It is one of the best A6 years by this measure. 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 2018 Audi A6?

The engine & cooling — 7 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (4) and transmission & drivetrain (1).

How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A6 have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2018 Audi A6, the most recent from January 16, 2019 (fuel rail). 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 2018 Audi A6 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 miles; 67% 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.