17 of the
26 complaints about the 1997 Audi A6 are about the
electrical system — 65% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
102,500 miles.
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 THIS PROBLEM THE SAME YEAR. IN WHICH THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE FAILED SWITCH IN THE A6 HOWEVER AUDI DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE A6.
NHTSA complaint #10557136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder, COFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 SUSPENSION WIRES OF THE REAR SEAT WERE BURNED AWAY BY THE ARC. BASED UPON THE POSITION OF THE REAR SEAT REPORTED BY THE WITNESS, THE SEAT WIRES LINED UP RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY INSULATING MEANS BETWEEN THE TERMINALS OF THE BATTERY AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SUSPENSION.
NHTSA complaint #10522252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesSAN Ramon, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10349494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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
NHTSA complaint #10321958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roswell, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLAINT ID 345606/RECALL ID#00V317000 AUDI 1997 A6 WAGON WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD STAY ENGAGED AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE CAR WAS BEING STARTED AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. STARTER WAS BURNED UP AND SO IS THE MOTORMOUNT IS AS MUCH AS I KNOW FOR NOW, IAM SURE THERE'S MORE. CAR IS STILL AT DEALER AND AUDI OF AMERICA (HQ) SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROMISE ME ANYTHING. MADE IT KNOWN THAT I WAS AFRAID TO HAVE A CAR THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE WITH MY TWO KIDS AND I. WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT MY CAR DIDNT HAVE A RECALL ON IT BY THE DEALER AND THAT THE SAME PART WAS NOT BEING USED AS IN AUDI A4, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED THE AUDI 1997 EARLIER COMPLAINT. AUDI IS BEING VERY INSENSITIVE TO THE SITUATION AND THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING VERY FAST. I RECEIVE SEVERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT THE SAME INFO OVER AND OVER AS IF THE DEALER AND HQ ARE NOT CONNECTING. THE INSURANCE AGENT AND MYSELF ARE NOT RECEIVING TIMELY CALL BACKS FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. I AM VERY AFRAID OF THIS CAR, PLEASE HELP!!! I KNOW THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE AT HQ SO I REALLY NEED THEIR HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10143460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HOT Springs, AR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED MANY TIMES, CAUSING HEADLAMPS TO FLICKER OR SIMPLY NOT FUNCTION. THE SWITCH NOW HAS MALFUNCTIONED TO THE POINT OF NO LONGER ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO FUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10143400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,000 milesFreeland, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A "STICKY" IGNITION SWITCH, YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT BACK TO RUN OR THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM YET. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE AND WAS A RECALL ITEM ON OTHER MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10081110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesCatonsville, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
97 AUDI A6 AVANT HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT RESULTS IN FAILURE OF MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS .
NHTSA complaint #10058251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ballwin, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT'S A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. GO TO HTTP://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/SEARCH/ AND PUT 'IGNITION SWITCH' IN AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND YET THERE'S A RECALL ON THE A4, BUT NOT THE A6.
NHTSA complaint #10036702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Provo, UT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH BREAKS AND KEY WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS, LIGHTS, WIPERS. ATTEMPTED RESET MY TURN CAR OFF WHILE MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #761163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hagerstown, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AUDI OF AMERICA REPLACED IGNITION SWITCHES ON 1997 A4 MODEL CARS AS PART OF A RECALL PROGRAM. THE 1997 AUDI A6 USES THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH AS THE AUDI A4, BUT THE A6 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WITH THE A4. THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FAILING SWITCH ARE THE SAME WITH BOTH A4 AND A6 MODELS. IT WOULD SEEM PRUDENT BY AUDI TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCHES ON THE A6 MODEL CARS AS PART OF THE SAME RECALL PROGRAM AS THEY DID WITH THE A4 MODEL, ESPECIALLY SCINCE THE IGNITION SWITCHES ARE THE SAME PART NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #761179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY UNDER REAR SEAT SHORTED DUE TO MALFUNCTION OR CONTACT WITH WIRES ON BOTTOM OF SEAT CUSHION DUE TO INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BATTERY AND CUSHION. FIRE PRECEEDED BY LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND MOON ROOF OPENING AND CLOSING. SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER REAR SEAT WHERE MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SEATED. FIRE EXTINGUISHED PROBABLY DUE TO LACK OF 0XYGEN. DEALER REPORTS MECHANIC HAS SEEN PRIOR CASE SIMILAR.
NHTSA complaint #752895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minot, ND
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY DID NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #895412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH, 2 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, A/C FAN RELAYS AND FANS, NUMEROUS WIRING "REROUTES"; PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. CAR LOOSES ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. CANNOT BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #718426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH, 2 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, A/C FAN RELAYS AND FANS, NUMEROUS WIRING "REROUTES"; PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. CAR LOOSES ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. CANNOT BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #718426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH, 2 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, A/C FAN RELAYS AND FANS, NUMEROUS WIRING "REROUTES"; PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. CAR LOOSES ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. CANNOT BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #718426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH, 2 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, A/C FAN RELAYS AND FANS, NUMEROUS WIRING "REROUTES"; PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. CAR LOOSES ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. CANNOT BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #718426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.