Complaints
158
Crashes
12
Fires
7
Injuries
12
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 1998 Audi A6 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#118 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Avg mileage:75,000 mi
#211 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:90,000 mi
Crash-related:1
#37 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:75,133 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Audi A6.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 18 | — | — | 75,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | 1 | — | 90,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 2 | — | 75,133 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 7 | — | — | 99,333 mi | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 6 | — | — | 78,750 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 5 | — | — | 68,500 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | — | — | 95,500 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 2 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,000
Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,133
Suspension:Front:Control Arm
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,333
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,750
Structure:Body:Bumpers
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,500
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,500
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Audi A6. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Audi A6
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~106,857 vehicles.
20V056000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~106,857 affectedVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Other Audi A6 Years
1998 Audi A6 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Audi A6 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Audi A6 has 158 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly with 18 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Audi A6?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (18 complaints, avg 75,000 mi); Unintended Acceleration (11 complaints, avg 90,000 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (7 complaints, avg 75,133 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Audi A6?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,267 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Audi A6?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Audi A6 include 12 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Audi A6 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 106,857 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Audi A6?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Audi A6 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Audi A6
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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