1998 Audi A6 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1998 Audi A6 most often describe two patterns: sudden, uncommanded acceleration in cold weather traced to a sticking throttle body, and repeated fuel-tank or fuel-sending-unit problems that leave a strong fuel smell or make the gauge read incorrectly. A third common theme is the ABS warning light and brake warning chime, which owners describe as intermittent at first and then constant, with dealers quoting high replacement costs for the ABS module. Most complaints in the sample were filed between roughly 60,000 and 110,000 miles, on cars that were already several years old.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration / throttle sticking open

   • 15 complaints (12%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2007

   Owners describe the engine revving and the car gaining speed with the accelerator released, most often when letting off the gas on the highway or coming to an exit. In several accounts the throttle stayed open after braking, and drivers report shutting the engine off, shifting to neutral, or forcing the car into park to stop it. Dealers reportedly cleaned or replaced the throttle body, and some owners say the throttle body or a related part that had already been replaced under a recall failed again. Mostly reported on cars between about 45,000 and 110,000 miles, and repeatedly in cold weather (temperatures in the teens and twenties).

   Recall 04V4950002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been cleaned or replaced and whether recall 04V495000 work was performed. A cold-weather test drive and a scan for stored throttle codes are worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1998 Audi A6 quattro (2.8 liter engine). Last winter during a cold spell some part in the pcv valve froze suddenly while driving. This caused the throttle to be stuck at about 4,000 RPM and the car turned into a rocket. Fortunately, I could bring the car to a stop and nobody was hurt. It was quite an experience though, especially since the roads were snowy and icy that day. When I brought the car to the Audi dealer I was told that it may take a week because we are swamped with many other Audi A6, all with the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10097980, filed 2004-10, 72,000 miles

   “I was rear-ended at a stop light on a limited access highway by a 1998 Audi A6. The person driving the car stated that her car was accelerating even when she took her foot off the gas and stepped on the brakes. She had managed to stop the car about 15 feet behind me, but, when she took her foot off the brake, she hit me at about 10 MPH”

   NHTSA complaint #10005404, filed 2003-02
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and brake warning lights with chime

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 103,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2009

   Owners describe the ABS and brake warning lights coming on together, sometimes intermittently and sometimes at every start, often with a loud warning tone. Several say a shop or dealer traced it to the ABS control unit and quoted replacement costs from about $1,000 to over $2,000, and in some cases were told no fault code was stored. A service bulletin addresses ABS activation during light braking and control noises at low speed. Reported from about 8,000 miles upward, with most complaints clustered between 70,000 and 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Watch the dash at startup for ABS and brake lights and listen for the warning chime, and ask whether the ABS module has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1998 Audi A6. This vehicle has been driven approx 75 000 miles. Several months ago the ABS control unit (brakes) failed. I was quoted a price of $1085 by the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. There are no used parts available. When I made an appoitment to have the unit replaced I was informed that Audi no longer manufactures the origional replacement part at a cost of $1085. Rather, Audi has remanufactured the replacement part and the new cost is approx $2000.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10100104, filed 2004-11, 70,000 miles

   “1998 Audi A6 with 130,000 miles; ABS/brake lights on dash illuminate with piercing tones, first intermittently, now upon startup and drive off. Manual states this is an emergency situation, and driver could possibly lose control of vehicle. Dealer states repairs $1500.00+ for complete ABS replacement...Audi owner forums include many others with identical problems...no other repair options were offered by the dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144564, filed 2005-12, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Loose or worn tie rods

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2006

   Owners describe worn tie rods that let dust into the mechanism, with some reporting the problem returned after recall repairs. Complaints note that dealers repaired the car under recall on some vehicles but said the owner's vehicle was not covered, and in other cases refused a second free repair. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 90,000 miles, with some owners describing recurring problems years after the recall work.

   Recall 99V2480001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for proof that recall 99V248000 was completed and have the tie rod ends checked for play during a pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tie rods in the steering systems are damaged. Audi claims they had a recall on these rods and that the previous owner of the car had the service completed back in 2000. Yet, I still have problems now in 2006. I wonder if the fix Audi implemented is really effective or not.”

   NHTSA complaint #10159422, filed 2006-06, 85,000 miles

   “Tie rods are loose and worn out, allowing dust to enter into mechanism. A recall has been issued on vehicle's make and model; however, this vehicle is not included due to VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10005341, filed 2003-02, 61,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front control arm and ball joint wear

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe front suspension noise and looseness traced to worn control arms and ball joints, with one report of a control arm separating from the subframe and causing collateral damage. Dealers are described as calling it wear and tear; service bulletins describe checking or replacing front lower control arms when wear is present even if the rubber boots look intact. Reported from about 30,000 miles up to 150,000 miles, with most accounts in the 65,000 to 90,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for clunks over bumps and have the lower control arms and ball joints inspected for play or cracked boots, and ask whether the service action was carried out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Audi A6 quattro.both front track arms had to be replaced at 67000 miles. Vehicle was undriveable. Dealer said cause was wear and tear. I don't think that a major component of the suspension should have to be replaced at this mileage. Dealer also said that they had more than a few cases on the same vehicle with similar mileage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020615, filed 2003-05, 67,000 miles

   “Lower left control arm bolts broke free from subframe, damaging both front axles, bending subframe and flattening the front left tire. I was fortunate to get the vehicle from the travel lane without causing an accident. This is not a wear and tear part and should not have failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10062655, filed 2004-03, 73,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank leaks and fuel smell

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 8.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2020

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell after refueling or while the car sits, with fuel found dripping underneath and puddles forming near the left rear. Complaints attribute the leak to seams in the plastic tank or to a cracked rollover-valve nipple, and one describes fuel loss from a fuel pump O-ring. According to the complaints, dealers and Audi declined repairs on some cars that owners say share the same tank as recalled vehicles. Reported from roughly 74,000 to well past 200,000 miles, often noticed after a fill-up and while parked.

   Recall 01V157000Recall 99V058000Recall 97V160000

   What to check: Inspect the tank and lines at the left rear for seepage or a fresh fuel smell after filling up, and ask whether any fuel-system recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel was found leaking from the rollover valve nipple on the fuel tank. This nipple has been known to crack when the metal ventilation line line adds stress to the plastic nipple. Gasoline was found in a puddle on the floor at the left/ rear of the car. Audi has recalled and repaired this defect on later year a6s but Audi of america, inc. Refused to repair the 1998 A6. The gas tank on the 98 A6 is identical to the gas tank on the recalled vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11355251, filed 2020-09, 224,580 miles

   “1998 Audi A6 fuel tank started leaking at the seams. The independent mechanic found no damage to the tank. Garage full of gas fumes and fuel was dripping under the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10038807, filed 2003-09, 75,000 miles

Buying note. A 1998 A6 is an old car where maintenance history matters more than mileage: confirm the throttle-body and tie-rod recall work was done, check for fuel smells around the tank, and budget for ABS module and front suspension wear. Have any candidate inspected by a shop familiar with the model before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.