Audi A6 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 113 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Audi A6 across 23 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (19). The words owners use most often: “tie rods” (12% of reports).
- 113steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $4,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tie rods: mentioned in 14 of 113 complaints (12%)
- Heated steering wheel: mentioned in 6 of 113 complaints (5%)
- Rod end: mentioned in 6 of 113 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Audi A6 at $4,850, and half of them between $2,350 and $5,850.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 60 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 113 complaints, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
Audi A6 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 A6 | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2021 A6 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2020 A6 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2019 A6 | 12 | 11% | 500 |
| 2017 A6 | 5 | 25% | — |
| 2016 A6 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2015 A6 | 2 | 9% | 46,000 |
| 2014 A6 | 8 | 20% | 62,200 |
| 2013 A6 | 7 | 13% | 11,050 |
| 2012 A6 | 6 | 10% | 124,000 |
| 2011 A6 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2007 A6 | 3 | 6% | 111,500 |
| 2006 A6 | 4 | 6% | 108,070 |
| 2005 A6 | 8 | 9% | 126,948 |
| 2004 A6 | 1 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2003 A6 | 2 | 3% | 68,575 |
| 2002 A6 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2001 A6 | 1 | 1% | 5 |
| 2000 A6 | 11 | 7% | 49,500 |
| 1999 A6 | 19 | 9% | 62,153 |
| 1998 A6 | 13 | 10% | 71,552 |
| 1996 A6 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1995 A6 | 2 | 13% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Model years: 1999
Problem: 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.
Risk: If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Model years: 1998, 1999
Problem: 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.
Risk: If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My power steering went out & then all of a suffen I was driving & my steering wheel would not move my wheels
We are reporting serious safety-related faults involving my leased 2026 Audi A6, VIN [XXX] , and a same-model 2026 Audi A6 loaner provided by Audi Central Houston. Core safety issues: 1. My vehicle previously displayed a Park/rollaway warning indicating Park could not be engaged. 2. My vehicle has…
Yellow battery indicator light came on while driving car in 35 degree weather after a week of sitting in garage (holidays). I pulled over, read the manual and it said this could cause battery light to illuminate. I called the dealership service to ask them, they said possible reason. I decided to…
After heavy down pour, the car was driven while the streets were still very wet. The car was driven through a 2 - 3 inch puddle of water that lasted less than 1 second, which caused a splash to the passenger side of the car, (the middle of the street did not have an accumulation of water) and…
Car flashed several warning signs, electrical system malfunction, steering malfunction, lane assist malfunction, and finally powertrain system malfunction where car was barely driveable at very slow speed, died and I luckily was able to pull over and coast into a parking spot.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi A6s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 113 owner complaints about steering for the Audi A6. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Audi A6 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Audi A6?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,850 (half paid between $2,350 and $5,850), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Audi A6?
The most frequent phrase is “tie rods”, in 14 of 113 complaints, followed by “heated steering wheel” (6).
Other Audi A6 problems
See all Audi A6 problems.