2001 Audi A6: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2001 Audi A6: 7 recalls, 113 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #01V157000 · 2001 · 70,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. This could cause the fuel gauge to read full while the fuel tank May not in fact be full or could be empty.
Why it matters: Running out of fuel without warning while the fuel gauge indicates that there is sufficient fuel in the tank lead to safety problems.
The fix: 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 sulfur. Vw/Audi will also call back vehicles that were repaired under a previous…
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #01V202000 · 2001 · 2,837 vehicles
What's wrong: When activating the windshield wiper under heavy load conditions such as freezing, snow or heavy rain, one wiper could be delayed behind the other wiper.
Why it matters: If that happens, the wiper blades, because they overlap wiping areas, could become entangled with each other and cease functioning. This could impair the driver's visibility.
The fix: Dealers will replace the entire driver side wiper arm. Owner notification began June 22, 2001.
Tires Vehicle recall #03V143000 · 2003 · 1,360 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.7l engines fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the calculated "vehicle normal load" exceeds the allowable weight of the axle load with tire dimension 225/45r 17 91y by 19kg.
Why it matters:
The fix: Dealers will replace all five tires. Owner notification began on September 19, 2003.
Electrical Vehicle recall #04V133000 · 2004 · 172,866 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fire could originate in the left dashboard area.
The fix: 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…
Electrical Vehicle recall #06V198000 · 2006 · 70,512 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: This condition could lead to overheating or fire.
The fix: Dealers will reroute the wiring harness by installing a jumper wiring harness. The recall began on December 16, 2006.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #08V157000 · 2008 · 68,240 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire.
The fix: 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.
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #11V267000 · 2011 · 5,992 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 10 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (18): the most common themes are leaks (7), stalls / loses power (4), warning light on (4).
- Airbags (15): the most common themes are fails to deploy (4), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (3).
- Transmission & drivetrain (14): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (7).
- Electrical (14): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), fire / smoke (5), stalls / loses power (3).
The 2001 Audi A6 has 113 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 33 A6 model years for complaints (2.2× the average A6 year). Complaints peaked in 2003 (18 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 78,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2000 (148 complaints, 4 recalls), 2002 (88 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2001 Audi A6.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2001 Audi A6 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2001 Audi A6. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2001 Audi A6 problems?
Owners have filed 113 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (18), airbags (15), transmission & drivetrain (14).
What gas mileage does the 2001 Audi A6 get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (2.8 L, Automatic (S5)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2001 Audi A6 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.