2008 Audi A6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 8, 2026 · 71 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other A6 years
Far more complaints than other years 8th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Audi A6. That ranks 8th out of 32 A6 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (49 complaints, 69%), typically at around 102,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

Audi A6
Audi_A6_C9_IAA_2025 at IAA 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2008 Audi A6 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags49 · ~102,000 mi
Electrical System7 · ~63,500 mi
Exterior Lighting6 · ~63,500 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling3 · ~8,446 mi
Power Train3 · ~5,636 mi
Engine2 · ~28,650 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline2 · ~31,650 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~12,938 mi
Service Brakes2 · ~67,500 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1 · ~70,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags4969%102,000——
Electrical System710%63,500——
Exterior Lighting68%63,500——
Engine and Engine Cooling34%8,446——
Power Train34%5,636——
Engine23%28,650——
Fuel System, Gasoline23%31,650——
Seat Belts23%12,938——
Service Brakes23%67,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)11%70,000——
Fuel System, Other11%9,892——
Vehicle Speed Control11%95,111——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2017, with 25 complaints
2008: 2200822009: 2200922010: 6201062011: 2201122013: 4201342015: 1201512016: 142016142017: 252017252018: 9201892019: 3201932022: 1202212025: 1202512026: 120261

n = 71 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2008 Audi A6 recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJun 22, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V427000 · 237,947 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 11, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V032000 · 33,421 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJun 1, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V382000 · 194,453 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.

Structure:body:trunk lidAug 1, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V334000 · 23,898 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the automatic rear lid includes an electric motor and clutch that work in conjunction with two gas struts to open and close the rear lid, including a manual close function. If one of the struts has a total loss of pressure, the resultant slow movement of the rear lid is interpreted by the software as an intended manual close and the motor clutch releases to close the rear lid immediately.

Risk: This can result in an unintended rapid closing of the rear lid with a risk of personal injury.

Fix: Dealers will install new software free of charge. The recall began on september 14, 2007. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.

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.

On August 3, 2026, a 2008 Audi A6 was traveling on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia when the driver encountered a large tree branch in the roadway and swerved to avoid it. The vehicle struck a curb, became airborne, rolled, and went down an embankment before coming to rest. The driver was…

Air Bags · received Aug 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11755588

The contact owns a 2008 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was…

Air Bags · received Jan 24, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11638293

TCM is defective will not allow car to shift into gear causing car to stop in traffic with no warnings

Power Train · received Sep 11, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11483866

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI FAIRFIELD (435 COMMERCE DR, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825…

Air Bags · received Feb 27, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11182782

Audi periodically sends out a provocative safety warning to 'schedule your repair immediately' stating that (my) 'safety and satisfaction are their top priorities'. When i call a dealer, i'm told that i already have the (temporary and only) fix (as takata went bankrupt). Please encourage corp audi…

Air Bags · received Feb 11, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11176190

Other Audi A6 years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Audi A6?

Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 49 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Audi A6?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2008 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 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.