- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
Vehicle safety record
2000 Audi A6 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 148 complaints about the 2000 Audi A6 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (35) and the brakes (29). Those complaints describe 4 crashes, 8 fires and 6 injuries. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in January 2020 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 1999 has 217 and the 2001 has 113.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical A6 year, for its age
#68 most complained-about 2000 vehicle
- Complaints
- 148
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2000 Audi A6 problems
Share of all 148 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2000 Audi A6 recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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 1-800-822-2834.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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 recall last june in order to install the updated fuel sending units nhtsa 00v137/audi lb). Owner notification began may 1, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact audi at 1-866-892-2834.
What owners say
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148 complaints about the 2000 Audi A6
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 6.
Gas is pouring out from the top of the gas tank
Each time I fill the gas tank there is a strong smell of leaking gas. Not clearly identified the source but feel this is a significant safety risk.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 audi a6. The contact noticed strong fumes entering the vents, which affected the contact's breathing. The contact was not able to use the heater or air conditioner. A week later, while driving, a fire erupted near the dashboard and smoke consumed the inside of the vehicle. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and a fire inspector extinguished the flames. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 06v198000 (electrical system), but the contact did not receive a notification. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was towed and parked. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
The first time this car had any problems with anything leaking was a couple days ago when we woke up in middle of the night to house and garage smelling like gas. On driver's side rear by passenger door there was a small leak looked like oil but smelled of gas and underneath car you can see wear a small crack is at in fuel system. I see many recalls for same thing for different years and complaints filed for this same problem and year. No recall notices was ever received by myself or previous two owners who was...
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friends or it would have been fixed. I am upset because now it won't be fixed under recall because it's been so long however there was no close date on reports it shows several thousand cars never got the repair and was not notified. This is a huge safety issue that not only can start car on fire but house on fire if parked in garage. Now I am suppose to pay for the cost on something that was not put together correctly and is a safety hazzard because I was not warned about it by mail or when car was serviced and never had trouble till now and there are tons of customers you are not helping with same problem year make and model of car. If this results in death than it will become a more serious problem on your hand for not fixing a recall that has been known to be problems on several years of audi's and not all audi owners was reach or repairs done and now when we are finding out we are being turned away. If this was not something hazardous or life threatening that's one thing but something so dangerous that can take a life you should make sure every recall that is safety related and hazardous fix regardless of when notice if found. I am expecting the recalls for all fuel related problems on all audi be fixed when customers call to inquire and not be turned away after we are sent to dealer to have it looked at.
First the car ran hot no temp have came on had to replace motor .....The cooling fan broke made of plastic and cut my serpentine belt into ......Then the car flooded and ruined the comfort control module had to replace this now the front axel is broke and the boots fell apart and the ball joints are no good......
Hello! Today I was at the sams club gas station to fill up my vehicle, 2000 audi a6 with the 4.2 Engine. When I finished, I went over to the driver side, where ive seen a huge amount of gas on the ground. The fuel was leaking really bad from my car. The sam's club even called the fired department and the police there too. It leaked out a lot couple gallons from my vehicle. Thanks god the gas station had a small incline so I could notice it right before I would drive away. Just thinking that I would...
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drive away and something serious would happen it scares me. As I understand a lot of audis are recalled because of this issue. Mine is not under the recall. What can I do to get mine under the recall too? Please help me. [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
After filling gas tank, gas began leaking as a steady stream from left front side of gas tank, near the rear driver's wheel well. Owner contacted audi dealership and audi of america. Owner paid for dealer inspection to diagnose leaking gas issue. Dealer stated the tank was leaking and needed to be replaced. Audi of america contacted owner on 3/20/2014 and stated the service manager of audi of ann arbor, mi had decided they would not cover the repair due to vehicle "mileage and age." Audi of america stated since...
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vehicle was outside of recall range (2001-2005 my), they would not assist with repairs. Independent owner research shows multiple leaking gas tank issues (broken rollover valve nipple) with this vehicle, and matching part numbers between 2001-2005 my gas tanks and 2000 my gas tank. *Tr
First incident march 2006 leaky gas tank had to be replaced, cost to us $2,249.27, Audi denied responsibility. Requested audi to report this issue to authorities. Second incident, 7/30/13 (mileage 163,016): very strong gasoline odor. The mechanic removed rear seat and found fuel staining all around the sending unit. Fuel tank must again be replaced. This will be our third tank counting the original one installed at the factory. In 2008 audi issued safety recall circular code: 2ol8/jy revised in january 2009. ...
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My first fuel tank failure occurred 2 years before the recall. The audi recall covers model years 2001 through 2005. My car is 2000 with the same defect as in later models. 2000 Model should have been included in the recall. I find it incredible that audi did not know that the identical safety defect was in the 2000 model. The 2006 fuel tank and parts were purchased new from audi and should be the newer design fuel tank (if there had been any redesign by then). Also, as a 2006 fuel tank, repairs should be covered by the 2008 recall. Audi does not appear to have publicly recognized its design failure, and was not explicit about the problem details and the fix for the fuel tank safety problem until the 2008 recall. Using a copy of the 2008 recall notice I telephoned customer relations at audi of america in rochester hills, mi (1-800-253-2834). Audi assigned me a case no. #130535300, And told me to take the car to an audi dealer. Since the car was unsafe to drive it was towed to a dealer on 8/9/13. I have spent $871.25 At my mechanic's to identify the defect and to tow the car to audi. On 8/19/13 the audi dealer called to state that audi was not responsible for the repair and replacement of the fuel tank. I am the original owner with same address and car registration, yet never received a recall notice. We have been driving a molotov cocktail.
Last month I filled up my tank & after doing so had a very strong smell of gas in the cabin. I took it to an independent mechanic & he told me that I have a broken rollover valve. To replace the tank costs $2500. This is potentially a very serious issue given leaking gas! After research I found there is a recall to reinforce the valve with epoxy. Unfortunately the recall is for 2001-2004 models & mine is a 2000. The issue on my 2000 is the exact same tank/valve. I next contacted audi customer service to get a case...
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# hoping they'd take responsibility. They created the case but told me until the issue is verified by an audi dealer they can't do anything. Doing so would come with no guarantees. I called the dealer & they said the cost of a diagnostic is $109. So I took it to the dealer for a diagnostic to validate the independent mechanic?S analysis. The dealership called today & confirmed the issue from the independent. Cost to patch is $452+tax (rather than completely replace the tank for $2500). This is the same resolution as the recall which is to epoxy the valve. They told me to expect a call from aoa as they just got off the phone with them & aoa would not be paying for the fix (which again is identical to the recall resolution). Aoa called & said the main reason for not paying was that the car has 169k miles & a secondary reason that I had stopped taking it to the audi dealership. Why should mileage matter on a known safety issue? If my car was a 2001 with 300k miles would they not have sent the recall notice? Regardless of mileage this is a known design fault that audi has acknowledged. My 2000 has the exact same issue to a t that they are addressing with the 2001-2004 models. I believe that since audi has acknowledged this, that it is a major safety issue & it?S exactly the same issue with the 2001-2004 models that they should pay for the repair. *Tr
When moving the steering column up or down smoke comes out of the steering column and get a burning smell on the passenger side. *Tr
Strong fuel fumes are present inside the car's cabin while driving or stationary with the engine both on and off. Upon inspection by an automotive tech, fuel is dripping from the fuel tank area on the driver's side under the rear seats. Fuel will continue to drip out until the fuel tank is at about 1/2 full. The rear seat bench was removed to gain access to part of the fuel tank and there is visible wet spots from fuel spilling out the tank. The tech found a hose that connects to a plastic valve on the fuel...
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tank. The plastic valve is cracked and is leaking fuel. There is a recall from the manufacturer to repair this problem for the vehicles made in 2001 and newer but not 2000. The 2000 a6 is identical to the 2001 a6, why isn't a 2000 covered in this recall? Please amend the recall to cover 2000 a6 cars. *Tr
Drivers side vents of the vehicle started to smoke, it then ignited causing a vehicle fire. The drivers side completely engulfed in flames. *Tr
Hi audi refuses to fix this problem because my car is 2000 model , but it has 6 in the vin as for recall requirements in recall yup guys issued , I think 2000 models should be included also as I have same problem as for recall for 2001 models also as said before have that 6 in my vin number . Can you please guys review this problem , as 2000 models should be covered . If that model has a 6 in its designation, you might want to have a look at its valve... Nipples, because the national highway traffic safety...
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administration (nhtsa) says there is something wrong with them. Silly jokes aside, the safety organization has just released a recall notice for certain model year 2001-2004 audi a6, 2002-2003 model year s6 and 2003 model year rs6 vehicles, all equipped with 4.2-Liter v8 engines and manufactured from june 19th, 2001, until june 8th, 2004. A total of 5,992 audis bearing the number 6 in their title are affected and will be recalled in the states over a potential problem described as the rollover valve nipple. ?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,? The official nhtsa press release reads. As a result, a fuel leak may happen according to audi, which could eventually lead to a fire if an ignition source is nearby. It?S nice to know that the german carmakers make mistakes too - it lets us now that they are human as well. The recall is expected to begin during june 2011. To fix the problem, dealers will reinforce the nipple on the rollover valve to prevent leakage or repair the nipple crack. It's highly recommended that you leave your cracked nipples to be inspected by a professional and not do it yourself. *Tr
The center instument cluster has been in and out for as long as I have owned the car. Some days, when the planets align correctly, the display will be mostly visible. On most days, however, most pixels are not visible, some are faded, and certain critical warnings cannot be seen...You can hear the beeping, but have no clue what is failing! If this were a plug and play part I would have replaced it by now...But the whole thought of having to solder the lcd in discourages a fix. This is an inherent issue with the c5 line...Cannot believe audi has never recalled for this issue! Clearly this is a problem. *Js
The instrument cluster has gone out and there is no way to read the important messages that come across it. I.E. Low fuel, temp or coolant or engine, brake problems, washer fluid .... I feel something needs to be done on this part!! *Js
Our audi a6 was taken to audi rector on 12/20/11 due to an electrical burning smell coming through the air vents. Audi rector repaired the rack and pinion steering and a transmission leak. They said the smell was due to the transmission leak and would dissipate. On the trip home from audi rector on 12/23/11, the car caught fire starting inside the driver side air vent and burned. It was completely destroyed. *Tr
Fuel vapor detected in cabin. Gasoline detected on floor surface under driver side rear passenger location. Also observe fuel dripping from driver side fuel tank. Suspect defective rollover valve nipple. Addendum requested to include year 2000 a6 audi c5 car year is 04/2000 a6 quattro c5. See; recall campaign 08v157000 nhtsa action number: pe08008. *Tr
The car had the abs and brake light display (brake light if flashing), causing the car to sometimes not stop properly. Checked out to be abs module failure. *Tt
Fuel tank rollover nipple cracked and began leaking fuel on the catalytic converter. Causing a major fire risk, leaving me to have the car towed and repaired. Audi has recalled 2001 and up cars for this problem but left out my model year, even though it has the same tank. *Tr
Abs module failure. Blinking abs light and flashing dash brake light indicating failure. It apparently is not uncommon on 1998-2002 audi vehicles, a4 & a6 models alike. *Tr
2000 Audi a6 abs failure. With an car accident car was totaled. Fall of 2010. Daughter sustained head trama. *Tr
On 1/30/11, this vehicle, a 2000 audi a6, had an electrical fire. The vehicle was turned off while listening to the radio. A plastic/rubber burning smell emanated from within the vehicle, followed by black smoke, and flames coming out of the air vents, primarily in the driver's side. A fire had ignited within the electrical board beneath the dashboard/gauge cluster area in the driver's side. The windshield wipers and headlights turned on by themselves during the incident.
The abs light comes on steady, the hand brake light flashed constantly, and three warning beeps are heard. A computer reading says there is no connection with the abs unit. The abs doesn't work at all. It sometimes occurs when I first start the car, and sometimes after driving for a while. The consumer stated someone else was driving her vehicle and he/she rear ended another person. The consumer stated the abs did not function as designed. Updated 12/16/10 *tr
2000 Audi a6 4.2L v8 quattro engine cooling system failure. The plastic coolant pipe between the oil cooler housing and the engine block fails causing potential catastrophic coolant loss, overheated engine and potential fire. *Tr the plastic pipe hardens/crumbles with age, approximately 10 years and 135k miles. I replaced the pipe...It takes about 10 manhours. The replacement audi part is maybe $20 but it is still plastic. I replaced it with a billet aluminum part with double o-rings. Dealer wanted $2900.00 To repair!! I understand this part is on every 4.2L v8 on both a6 and a8 cars from 1998 to current 2010.
The abs light comes on steady, the hand brake light flashed constantly, and three warning beeps are heard. A computer reading says there is no connection with the abs unit. The abs doesn't work at all. It sometimes occurs when I first start the car, and sometimes after driving for a while. Audi says my car is too far out of warranty (2000 w/ 77,000 mi). They won't cover any costs. *Tr
Audi A6: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 35 | 4 | C |
| 2003 | 71 | 7 | D |
| 2002 | 96 | 4 | F |
| 2001 | 113 | 7 | F |
| 2000 | 148 | 4 | F |
| 1999 | 217 | 9 | F |
| 1998 | 130 | 10 | F |
| 1997 | 21 | 2 | B |
| 1996 | 54 | 2 | C |
2000 Audi A6 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Audi A6 | 148 | 4 | F | |
| 2000 Audi A4 | 96 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 88 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2000 Volvo S60 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2000 BMW 330I | 0 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 2000 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 2000 BMW 530I | 0 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus IS | 0 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2000 Audi S4 | 143 | 1 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2000 Audi A6
Does the 2000 Audi A6 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2000 Audi A6: inflator module (January 2020); electrical system (June 2006); electrical system (March 2004); tank assembly (May 2001). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Audi A6?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (35), brakes (29), fuel system (23).
How many complaints has the 2000 Audi A6 had?
148 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 2, 2000 and the latest on May 21, 2022. Of these, 4 describe a crash and 8 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2000 Audi A6 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 13 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Audi A6 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Audi A6 years have the most complaints?
1999 (217), 2000 (148), 1998 (130). See every Audi A6 year compared.
What should I do if my 2000 Audi A6 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data