2016 AUDI A6 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

There is a recall out for “2016 Audi A6 vehicles” the recalls are “fuel system rail” as well as “coolant pump”. Both recalls are vin specific and what I find to be devastating is that both recall risk pertains to possible fire! I have the exact issues with my vehicle I even have the epc light coming on and the code is “fuel rail system” I also have an ongoing issue with my coolant system. I have documentation that I’ve paid out of pocket to take care of these issues, however being that there is no current open recalls under my vin number I do not believe mechanics know exactly what to do to fix the issues. The vehicle is misfiring, shutting off and the EPC code is stating “fuel system rail” along with the coolant leaking. I have a [XXX] daughter and to be such an expensive vehicle, I thought I would feel safe and valued. I’ve worked as a service BDC manager for years and at other dealerships when a situation like this would occur, we still wanted them to bring the vehicle into the dealership and if it was in fact relatable to the recall we would take care of it, regardless to it being “vin specific”. There is a such thing as “silent recall”. I really hope that you all can take this as an emergency case and help with such terrible situation. Thank you so much. I can be reached at [XXX] my name is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I own a 2016 Audi A6 3.0T. After filling the fuel tank completely, the vehicle only traveled approximately 190–200 miles before the fuel gauge indicated empty. This represents a sudden and significant loss of fuel range compared to normal operation. There are no warning lights, check engine lights, fuel smells, visible leaks, rough idle, or abnormal noises. The vehicle operates normally otherwise. The issue appears to involve excessive fuel consumption or incorrect fuel management without any driver warning. This condition poses a potential safety risk because the vehicle may unexpectedly run out of fuel while driving, which could result in loss of power in traffic or on highways, increasing the risk of an accident. The issue has been observed repeatedly after refueling. At the time of this report, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer or independent repair facility, but diagnostic evaluation is planned. Based on owner research and symptoms, the issue may be related to a fuel system, engine management, or emissions-related component malfunction that does not trigger a warning indicator. No prior warning messages or lamps were displayed before or during the occurrence.

The water pump on my 2016 Audi A6 has failed multiple times prematurely. The first water pump failed at 36,965 miles in May 2019. That repair was covered under an extended warranty I purchased. The second water pump failed around 83,000 miles in September 2025, and Audi is now quoting me $2,350 out of pocket to replace it. I am now facing a third water pump replacement, which is far earlier than expected for this type of component. These repeated failures create a significant safety concern, as sudden coolant loss can cause the engine to overheat, potentially leading to engine failure or loss of power while driving. Each problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Audi service center. The vehicle was inspected by Audi technicians, and repairs were recommended both times. The repeated failure of this critical component strongly suggests a systemic defect with the water pump design on this model. Despite a recent Audi water pump settlement, my vehicle was excluded, even though it has now experienced two failures and is requiring a third replacement.

This vehicle had a claim for water pump replacement and the 3.0 model has a recall for the turbo charger. This vehicle is experiencing the same issues and went from 70 mph to 0 and stalled on the freeway. Thankfully the semi and other vehicles were able to avoid me or my family would be reaching out instead of me. Currently the vehicle is parked in my garage because it is unsafe to drive. Can you please advise Audi to take responsibility and offer the same recalls on the 2.0 vehicles for the water pump and turbo charger because they have the same internal parts as the 3.0 vehicles that failed and these parts were covered.

Engine area of car caught fire with ignition off

Fire

Engine area of car caught fire with ignition off

Fire

Engine area of car caught fire with ignition off

Fire

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced a loss of motive power and stalled. During the failure, the message Electric Power Control "EPC" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the electric wiring harness located in the engine compartment had failed due to moisture intrusion and the harness along with an internal computer needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 49,000.

I took the vehicle into a repair shop because the check engine light is on. I was advised that the water pump is leaking and it needs to be replaced along with the thermostat. The turbo charger assembly also needs to be replaced. Both of these items appear to be deficient and were listed under recent recalls on similar Audi vehicles and this VIN was not included in either recall. However, it appears to be a similar concern and should be resolved by the Manufacturer.

I am the original owner of my vehicle and have had my vehicle maintenance done at Niello Audi in Sacramento, CA. In May 2023, the forward facing camera on my 2016 Audi A6 stopped working. The dashboard error message was "ACC and Audi braking guard Unavailable". As a result, the automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and cruise control stopped working. In June of 2023 I took the vehicle in to the above named dealer and they indicated that the front facing camera would need to be replaced but they could not do so because the part in on back order. The part number is 4H0907217FX. Ever since June 2023, the dealer has indicated that the part is still on back order and unavailable. Today March 28, 2024, I contacted AUDI USA and was informed that Audi stopped making that part and it is no longer available. I have been waiting almost a year for Audi to correct this to no avail. The part in question is tied to several safety systems (emergency braking, collision warnings, etc.) and I feel that my vehicle is unsafe to drive. Obviously, this concerning safety issue affects all Audi owners in the United States and I think Audi should immediately be required to fix this safety issue.

The camera associated with the adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems thought there was an object in the road multiple times while on active cruise control. This resulted in the brakes being engaged - could have been rear ended very easily causing an accident. The camera system has now stopped working all together resulting in the safety systems being disabled entirely as well as the cruise control. After researching the issue and talking to the dealership I have found the camera to be a very common part failure with all Audi's. I can't even get the part there is such a large demand for repairs.

While driving the car, the steering column failed, making the car unable to steer. Mileage 81,312. The error message was Steering Malfunction, do not drive. and you could not turn the wheel. The independent service center confirmed and replaced the steering column. They stated they are doing 1-2 a week and Audi knows it's an issue as they are stocking the column. The repair cost me $5,000.00. There was no warning until it didn't work.

During annual oil change inspection the mechanic found that the coolant was leaking and that the water pump needed to be replaced. The car has under 48000 miles.

At high speeds (around 65 or more), when I apply the brakes I can sense some vibration in the brakes. I mentioned to the dealer that the brakes are not smooth as in my other cars. I was told, it is because Audi is a "performance car." Now I know that it is just poorly built.

The dealer inspection found that the fluid was leaking from engine motor mount. The car has 47,700 miles.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated while having routine maintenance on the vehicle, the independent mechanic became aware that the water pump was leaking. The contact was informed that the water pump, the thermostat assembly, and the upper coolant pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 26,205.

I left a gas station located one mile from my house. All seemed well. I drove into my garage, shut the engine off, and saw steam coming from under the hood. Inspection showed coolant below minimum level. I had the car towed to a garage. The water pump seal and water pump had failed. The thermostat also failed. I had no warning that anything was about to happen. No warning lamps or alarms were presented. Had this happened on the freeway, the engine would have overheated and locked up before I knew that there was a problem. I would have lost control of the car. The mechanic said that this failure at such low mileage, 51, 803, was unusual. My experience is that a failed water pump should not be expected before at least 150,000 miles of use.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that while refueling, the gas nozzle would frequently stop, causing gasoline to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that the fuel tank sensor needed to be moved to another location on the vehicle. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair; however, the contact declined to seek a second opinion. The contact was assured by the dealer that the vehicle was safe to be driven. A few days after leaving the dealer, the vehicle stalled while driving at a slow speed, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer who discovered that fuel had filled up in the evaporation canister sensor which caused the fuel tank and the fuel pump to become defective. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but informed him that his vehicle was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

I’ve stated to dealer I’ve been having ongoing problems with my vehicle and they failed to fix the issue , while refueling the fuel nozzle stops and fuel spills. They said it’s safe to drive it’s just a sensor that needs to be moved

Water pump and engine thermostat malfunction, check engine light is on.

The electronic steering control module failed while the vehicle was stopped. A light came on the dash which stated something like ~"Do Not Drive Major Steering Malfunction" and the steering became almost impossible to turn. The vehicle was towed to an Audi Dealer and repaired at my significant cost. I am suspicious that there is a known defect which has not been acknowledged by Audi. I also own a 2014 Audi Q5 which I received a letter to extend the warranty for this specific issue (see uploaded information). The cover letter states this applies to Certain 2011-2016 Model Year Audi B8 (Q5) and C7 (A6) & D4 Vehicles. I contacted Audi Customer Care and they were unwilling to tell me any distinguishing attributes for why some 2016 A6 vehicles are included and my 2016 A6 is not. Audi told me that the VINs, PNs, Date of Manufacturer for covered vehicles is proprietary. My A6 has been babied and has never been in an accident or experienced any pothole or similar trauma, yet I had a major steering failure at ~48000 miles 6 months beyond my warranty period. And there is apparently a known defect in other similar Audi vehicles. Audi was very reluctant to discuss this issue with me and told me there is nothing I can do about it. As a minimum, I deserve an explanation on why my A6 with a known steering system defect in similar vehicles is not addressed in their safety and warranty campaign.

I purchased 4 new tires from Tire Choice Auto Service in St. Peters, MO on 6/29/2021. They recommended Blackline Champoints and installed them that day. I noticed a few weeks ago when I drove a couple hours away to visit a college with my daughter, my traction just didn't seem great. I didn't think much at the time or after because my tires were practically brand new. I work from home and maybe have about 4-5k miles on them. I took my car in on Monday this week to my auto shop for my regular oil change, which coincidentally enough it was the month before I got these new tires. The mechanic asked me if I knew my tires were bald, I laughed telling him I got those after my last oil change, no way they could be bald. Sure enough, the front tires are slicker than anything I have ever seen on a tire and the back has hardly any tread at all. How is this even possible when I haven't even put 5,000 miles on them! I don't drive off road, mostly highway and have not been in any accidents. Which leads me to my next and biggest concern... I was driving in the rain last week with my son and we started hydroplaning out of control, again didn't think it was the tires, just that the road must've been extra slick. We could've been seriously injured and I am beyond frustrated to know this was the culprit. I would like something done to rectify this immediately and am giving this company the chance to make this right before I proceed with next steps. I contacted the company who installed them and they said they are having trouble getting in touch with Blacklion or Blackhawk, whichever it is and it could take weeks to fix this. I have one car and do not have weeks. I would like someone to get in touch with me asap to get this fixed, and I do not want anything close to this same tire if they last under 5,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that the vehicle had shuddered and failed to accelerate on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle emitted an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs and the fuel rails needed to be replaced. The spark plugs were replaced. However, the fuel rails were not replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The dealer also informed the contact of prior recall repairs that had been completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 70,240.

1. Vehicle airbag indicator has illumated. I haven't received a recall letter from manufacturer. Have concerns about driving with airbag light on. 2. There is a recall for electrical wiring. 3. Fuel system/ fuel rail is being recalled.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was overheating and the thermostat needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated the emergency lights were illuminated. The vehicle loss coolant and overheated. The stop immediately message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine coolant housing assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

The engine caught fire without being used for 24 hours before

Fire

OK PURCHASED THE CAR OCTOBER 2019, IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, IN THE CAR. TOOK OUT TO AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES ASK IF THERE WAS A LEAK, BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY SAID NO, NOW A YEAR LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. ONE DIAGNOSTIC DONE AT JIFFY LUBE READ A CODE THAT SAYS IT IS THE COMPUTER AUXILIARY OUTPUT. TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI TO DO A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC, THEY SAID ITS THE THERMOSTAT, AND COOLANT PUMP. MY CAR IS NOT EVER HEATING AND THE HEAT AND AIR WORK FINE. HOW IS IT NOW THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY NOTICE THE LEAK IN THE COOLANT PUMP, WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL OF BURNING WATER WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF A LEAK ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED ME 1683.00 THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME PARTS. A YEAR AGO WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THERE WERE FAULTY ISSUES WITH THE COMPUTER. AUDI DID REPLACE THIS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT A MONTH AGO THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT COME ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM IT WAS ON AND OFF THEY SAID TO BRING IN IF IT CONTINUES. SOON AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN ITS A LEAK IN THE COOLANT PUMP ALLEGEDLY. I REPEATEDLY ASKED THEM IF THE CA HAD A LEAK WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT ONLY BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS GIVING OFF THE BURNT SMELL. THEY WAITED UNTIL THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TO AGREE WITH ME. THERE IS A RECALL TO FIX THE COOLANT PUMPS ON THE AUDI BUT THEY ARE WANTING TO CHARGE ME TO REPAIR MINE. RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME TONIGHT AND THE EPC LIGHT IS ON. CAR WILL NOT START, NOR WOULD THE ENGINE RECEIVE THE GAS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR, I SHOULD NOT HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH IT AS OF NOW.

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES HEAVILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKES ROTORS REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 15K MILES VEHICLE APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND HAS CONFIRMS BY AUDI DEALER BUT REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES... ROTORS REPLACED AT 25K MILES AND VEHICLE NOW HAS 40K MILES AND NEED ROTORS REPLACE AGAIN

PROBLEM#1 FUEL DOOR CLIP SUDDENLY STOPPED CLOSING, THEREFORE I COULDN'T FULLY CLOSE IT. PROBLEM #2 TRUNK LATCH STUCK, THEREFORE I HAVE TO GET INTO THE TRUNK USING THE REAR SEATS, THEN RELEASING THE LATCH FROM INSIDE. ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 1 YEAR OF FINANCING THE VEHICLE.

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES HEAVILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT IS OF GREAT CONCERN

AUDI RECALLED 2012-2015 A6 CARS WITH THE 2.0L TFSI ENGINE, ALONG WITH OTHER AUDI MODELS, DUE TO FAULTY COOLANT/WATER PUMP (NHTSA RECALL # 18V-229 MFG RECALL #19N3/19N4). FOR THE A6, THE BRACKETING WAS FOR CARS BUILT FROM 4/4/2011 - 12/22/2014. THE BRACKETING FOR OTHER MODELS IMPACTED BY THE RECALLED VARIED FROM 2012-2017. MY A6 2.0 WAS BUILT IN FEB 2015, BUT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A 2016 MODEL. ON 8/28/2019 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY AUDI DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT I HAD A DEFECTIVE COOLANT/WATER PUMP, AND THAT THE PUMP WAS ABOUT TO BURST AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. I WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL, AND ASKED IF THE PUMP ON MY CAR WAS SIMILAR TO THE PUMPS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, WHICH THEY CONFIRMED THE PUMP PART NUMBER ON MY CAR MATCHED THE PUMP PART NUMBER THAT WAS BEING RECALLED. HOWEVER, SINCE MY CAR WAS CLASSIFIED AS A 2016, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRACKETING THAT WAS USED TO DETERMINE WHICH CARS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH FOR THE A6 MODELS, AS IT APPEARS THAT THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS WERE ALSO USED ON SOME 2016 A6 MODELS OR CARS BUILT AFTER 12/22/2014.

IN FEBRUARY 2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, NHTSA 19V035, FROM AUDI TELLING ME MY CAR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FUEL RAILS WHICH COULD LEAK FUEL CAUSING A FIRE! I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY DEALER AUDI OF WALLINGFORD CT AND PUT MY NAME ON A WAITING LIST FOR REPAIR. I HAVE NOW BEEN WAITING SEVEN MONTHS AND DESPITE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPT, IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY TELL ME THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE PARTS FROM AUDI. TODAY THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NEEDED PARTS IN MONTHS! THIS IS FOR A DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IS THIS PERMISSIBLE? WHAT CAN BE DONE?

SEVERE LEAK NOTICED BY TECHNICIAN. DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. SKID PAN FULL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOT AN ISSUE IN PREVIOUS INSPECTIONS. AUDI DEALERSHIP LOOKING FOR CAUSE. NO PERFORMANCE ISSUES NOTICED

2016 AUDI A6. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL RAILS SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS