1997 Audi A6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A6 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi A6. That ranks 22nd out of 32 A6 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints, 70%), typically at around 102,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 fires. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 20owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Audi A6 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 | 70% | 102,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 10% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% | 197,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | 85,200 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% | 67,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Audi A6 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The discharge of static electricity under low humidity conditions can activate the driver side air bag when the driver enters or exits the vehicle and forms an electrical circuit by touching certain areas of the steering wheel.
Risk: Activation of the air bag under these conditions can cause personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may not lock properly when engaged, or not remain locked after being engaged.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an improperly locking seat belt could cause injury to an occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear seat belt assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1997 audi a6 quattro. Filled up with gas at 8pm, parked car in driveway in front of garage. By 2pm next day there was a large puddle of gas (nearly 1/2 tank) located under the entire rear end of the car past the wheels more then 2 ft on both sides. The fumes could smelt over 5 ft away. I'm positive…
Ignition switch stopped working causing the headlights, turn signals, and wipers to stop working. Car still operates and is a danger if driving without turn signals or wipers without knowing. I have noticed this issue has occurred several times with this model and understand the a4 had a recall for…
The rear seat was shifted by the occupant to attach a child's car seat to the passenger side rear seatbelt mounting brackets. The spring wires under the rear seat contacted both posts of the battery under the seat, igniting a fire, which spread through the entire rear seat of the car. The…
I'm having a problem with the ignition switch on my car - a 97/audi/audi a6 white rco129. The key turns too far and you have to shift it back to get the gauges/electrical accessories (wipers, air conditioner, headlights, etc.) to function properly again. Could this be related to the 1994-1996 a6…
1997 audi a6, vehicle caught fire. *bf according to the police report, the fire appeared to have started in the battery compartment located underneath the right seat of the vehicle. Ohio traffic report # 10-0327-89
Other Audi A6 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 A6 | 6 | 2 |
| 2024 A6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 A6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 A6 | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 A6 | 17 | 11 |
| 2020 A6 | 26 | 9 |
| 2019 A6 | 114 | 7 |
| 2018 A6 | 11 | 2 |
| 2017 A6 | 20 | 3 |
| 2016 A6 | 51 | 3 |
| 2015 A6 | 22 | 4 |
| 2014 A6 | 41 | 4 |
| 2013 A6 | 52 | 6 |
| 2012 A6 | 60 | 8 |
| 2011 A6 | 21 | 3 |
| 2010 A6 | 17 | 3 |
| 2009 A6 | 21 | 4 |
| 2008 A6 | 71 | 4 |
| 2007 A6 | 53 | 4 |
| 2006 A6 | 67 | 4 |
| 2005 A6 | 91 | 3 |
| 2004 A6 | 35 | 4 |
| 2003 A6 | 66 | 7 |
| 2002 A6 | 88 | 4 |
| 2001 A6 | 113 | 7 |
| 2000 A6 | 148 | 4 |
| 1999 A6 | 217 | 9 |
| 1998 A6 | 130 | 10 |
| 1997 | 20 | 2 |
| 1996 A6 | 51 | 2 |
| 1995 A6 | 16 | 2 |
See all Audi A6 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Audi A6?
Owners most often report electrical system, equipment, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Audi A6?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Audi A6 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A6 model years, the 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.