Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Audi A6, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline29
- Vehicle speed control18
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Steering13
- Suspension11
- Structure9
- Electrical system8
- Fuel system, other6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Visibility5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Audi A6 failed the safety check 5.93% of the time — 246% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,958 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Audi A6 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (121 kW, 162 hp) and 2.8 petrol (142 kW, 190 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 121 kW 162 hp | 51 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 28 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
114 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 35% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen54
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde40
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm37
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af29
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm28
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld24
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af23
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect22
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
49 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 369 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
74 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 352,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
18 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 44% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.4–13.0 L/100 km (about 18–19 mpg US), CO₂ 285–299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 9.3 | 12.4 |
| A6 quattro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.4 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Audi A6.
| 2020032 29 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. Safety Risk: In a cra… |
| 2006152 15 Jun 2006 | Electrical On certain vehicles, if a plastic cover is not securely installed to the drivers-side support crossmember, the headlight switch wiring harness could short out o… |
| 2004369 8 Oct 2004 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.8L V6 5-valve engine and automatic transmission, while driving for a considerable period of time at a steady rate of speed… |
| 2004095 16 Mar 2004 | Electrical On certain Audi S6, A6 and A6 Allroad Quattro, contact between the left driver's side crash element and the headlight switch wiring harness could eventually res… |
| 2000132 16 Jun 2000 | Fuel System On certain Audi A6 Quattro, sulphur in the fuel interacting with certain additives found in widely available fuel can become deposited on certain contact points… |
| 1999195 29 Oct 1999 | Steering On certain vehicles, the steering assembly tie rod seals do not seal properly. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel… |
| 1999095 19 May 1999 | Brakes On certain vehicles, a control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4… |
| 1998126 22 Jun 1998 | Engine IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE BACKFIRE DURING COLD START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER COULD BECOME DAMAGED. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, SCR… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
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 EQUIPPED WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND, THEREFORE, ARE NOT LONGER AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH QUATTRO DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH EMPLOYS A FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM. IF THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, AND IS KEPT RUNNING WHILE BEING REFUELED, THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT BACK PRESSURE TO CAUSE FUEL TO BE EJECTED AFTER A COMPLETE FILL-UP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE IS REMOVED FROM THE FILLER NECK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE BACKFIRES DURING A COLD-START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER CAN BECOME DAMAGED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PRE-ASSEMBLY OF THE FUEL TANKS, AN INCORRECT FILLER NECK WAS INSTALLED CAUSING THE FILLER NECK TO NOT "MATCH" THE FUEL CAP.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 1998 Audi A6: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627106 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DRIVER'S INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES. *JG |
| 627068 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DRIVER'S INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES. *JG |
| 621505 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. *TT |
| 612524 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE FRONT DOOR WINDOW(S) BIND OR DO NOT OPERATE WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. *TT |
| 610574 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING DAMAGE FASTENERS WHEN A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE REAR LICENSE PLATE FASTENERS MAY BE BROKEN, LOOSE OR FALLEN BEHIND THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER / LENS ASSEMBLY. |
| 610273 | REVISED INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING AN INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE READING. *TT |
| 610267 | SUBJECT REGARDING AN INCORRECT FUEL READING ON FUEL GAUGE (ERRATIC, STUCK ON FULL OR EMPTY). *TT |
| 610265 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE FRONT DOOR WINDOW(S) BINDS OR DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. *TT |
| 605477 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPAIR MANUAL BOOKLET. *AK |
| 603964 | SUBJECT ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, FUNCTION OPTIONS. *YC |
| 603332 | SUBJECT ON FLOOR MAT FASTENER VARIATIONS. *YC |
| 603331 | EXPERIENCING CREAKING / POPPING NOISES FROM REAR WINDOW. *YC |
| 603329 | CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS. *YC |
| 603327 | SUBJECT ON OPEN CONDTION AT FUSE S14. *YC |
| 603326 | SUBJECT ON LUGGAGE COVER HANDLE, REPLACING. *YC |
| 602345 | SUBJECT REGARDING CELLULAR TELEPHONE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT INSULATED GLASS AND / OR WITHOUT FENDER MOUNTED ANTENNA. *TT |
| 601883 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. *YC |
| 601535 | REVISIONS ON REPAIR MANUAL UPDATES. *YC |
| 601075 | DEACTIVATING AND ACTIVATING REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. *YC |
| 600915 | INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON CELLULAR TELEPHONE FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT INSULATED GLASS. *YC |
| 600912 | SUBJECT ON ELECTRICAL WIRING DIAGRAMS, TROUBLESHOOTING & COMPONENT LOCATIONS TECHNICAL BULLETING NO. 3. *YC |
| 600740 | REPAIR MANUAL UPDATES / REVISIONS ON THE CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR. *YC |
| 600621 | CONDITION WITH WINDSHIELD WATER LEAK. *YC |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DRIVER'S SIDE DASH FIRE
STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
STEERING WHEEL HEATER OVERHEATS
BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET
FUEL EXPULSION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation