AI Damage2021 Audi A6: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Audi A6 filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 1,321 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 18
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 1,321
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 61% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (61% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 471.
- Engine: 3 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 49.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 66.
- Forward collision avoidance: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Structure: 1 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 115.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 18 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 471 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 49 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 66 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 115 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 68 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 62 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 306 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 17 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Both daytime running lights have progressively changed from white to yellow and lost intensity. The discoloration began on one side and later appeared on the other, concentrated at the lower angled section of the daytime running light. There are no warning lamps, messages, or stored fault codes.
Simultaneously, the vehicle's primary safety and convenience systems dropped completely offline, displaying synchronized, consecutive malfunction alerts for the Central Locking System, Audi Pre Sense (Distance Monitoring), Cross Traffic Assist, and Lane Change/Blind Spot Warning systems.
Also, the door handles would not work me and my daughter had to climb out of the car windows to get out. So like, you know what? And then we had to try to access the battery compartment to do a hard reset. The vehicle is scheduled to go back to the manufacturer dealer to look at it again next week.
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated. The engine overheating and the low coolant warning light illuminated. In addition, the engine seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a failed coolant pump vacuum.
Thermostat housing and oil cooler bracket leaking coolant with only 56k miles on the car
I was driving my vehicle when the engine surged and then a transmission warning light came on and there was an immediate and complete loss of drive power. After the vehicle glided to a stop, there was no drive transmission in either forward or reverse.
The Audi Pre-sense is activated by weather. I was driving during a thunderstorm and Audi Presence activated causing the car to come to a hard stop due to precipitation. It happened again backing out of my driveway the Audi Pre-sense was activated and the car came to a hard stop.
The car has had multiple issues with warning lights and malfunctioning systems. Including : 1.Child locks 2.Every single component of the ADAS 3. Emergency services being activated at least a few times a month - this is an SOS for emergency 911 service.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,291 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 39% least complained about).
On average one model year of the A6 has 19 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 18, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off
- This bulletin provides information when there is a warning message in the instrument cluster about…
- This bulletin provides information when there is an abnormal knocking noise from the engine compartment;…
- This bulletin provides information regarding various complaints about front or rear door locks
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information regarding driver assist systems; Audi adaptive light, Audi pre sense…
This bulletin provides information regarding driver assist systems; Audi adaptive light, Audi pre sense system fault, adaptive cruise assist inop (DTC C12D5FA).
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This bulletin provides general information about SOS Emergency Assist
- This bulletin provides information when there are stails/marks on the sill panel trim
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
NHTSA lists 1,321 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Audi A6?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 18. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (33%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (17%), windows, sunroof (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Audi A6?
NHTSA lists 1,321 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Audi A6 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.