2001 Audi A6 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Audi A6 most often write about fuel leaking from the top of the fuel tank, a recurring brake and ABS problem, and oil leaks from the engine, including an oil-burning and cold-weather crankcase-pressure pattern. Many reports come from cars in the 65,000-140,000 mile range, some from vehicles with far lower mileage, and several owners say the dealer found the fault but described it as normal or declined assistance.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leak from top of fuel tank

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2023

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline odor, a puddle or drip under the rear of the car, and fuel leaking from the top of the plastic tank after filling up or while parked. Several owners say a dealer or independent mechanic traced it to the tank's rollover valve nipple or check valve, and some were told their car was not covered by the tank recall despite matching symptoms; quoted tank replacement costs were high. Some also received evaporative-leak check-engine codes before the leak was found. Reported from about 35,000 to 138,000 miles, often noticed right after refueling or while the car sat parked.

   Recall 11V267000Recall 08V157000Recall 01V1570001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank recall work (11V267000 or 08V157000) was completed for this exact car, and check for a fuel smell around the left rear wheel arch and under the tank after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Audi A6 is experiencing symptoms of a documented and open recall at Audi, and Audi USA and the dealer are refusing to even evaluate the vehicle for recall status. The recall is a rollover valve nipple, with age and stress cracking can develop on the plastic fuel tank, causing a leak to occur. My car is experiencing just such a symptom, and has been confirmed by two independent mechanics.”

   NHTSA complaint #11520957, filed 2023-05

   “Gas leaking on the floor of garage from roll-over nipple. The dealer refused to apply recall (not covered VIN) for this issue. The vehicle was repaired with Audi parts as listed in DOT recall documents. The repair failed in april 2015. The 3m material used in the repair had deteriorated.”

   NHTSA complaint #10706443, filed 2015-04, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and brake warning lights, soft or long pedal

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe the ABS, brake and traction-control lights coming on, at first intermittently and later staying on, sometimes with a soft or low brake pedal and longer stopping distance. Mechanics commonly diagnosed the ABS control module or wheel speed sensors, and repairs were often quoted in the hundreds to a couple thousand dollars. Complaints also mention rotors warping or needing resurfacing repeatedly. Appears from very low mileage on rotors (under 30,000 miles) up to roughly 110,000 miles for the warning-light and module complaints.

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the ABS and brake lights go out and stay out, ask for any ABS module or wheel-sensor repair records, and have the pedal feel checked on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since I bought my car in 2001, I've had numerous problems with the brakes. Within the first 4 months, my rotors warped. They've warped twice since that time. Also, every 4 months or so, I have to take my car in to have the brakes resurfaced. I've been told that I have to brake aggressively rather than slow to a stop. So, I've tried that. The breaks still warp and need resurfacing more often than they should. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086881, filed 2004-08, 3,000 miles

   “Was driving in my 2001 Audi A6 to work, at about 45 MPH, and when apply my brake, it suddenly went soft and the ABS light came on, also the brake light on dash starts flashing. I performed a brake service but and it did not correct the problem, I then took the vehicle for a diagnosis and found out it had a faulty ABS circuit and would cost around $2000 to repair. I later did a research and learned that these vehicles has a common ABS problem, which the Audi dealers would not answer to. I also learned this device were recall on the vw. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461096, filed 2012-06, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil leaks and oil burning

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe oil dripping onto the exhaust or ground, low oil between changes, and burning-oil smells, with cam adjuster seals, valve cover gaskets and cam seals named repeatedly. Owners of the 2.7T mention oil pump failure attributed to coked oil from the turbos, and several report very high consumption, with the dealer calling it normal. Reported from about 14,000 to 170,000 miles, most commonly in the 50,000-120,000 mile range.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for fresh oil residue around the valve covers, cam area and under the front of the engine, and ask whether the correct Audi-spec oil has been used at each service.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Audi A6 quattp with twin turbo, oil pump failure due to coking from turbos. Exact same problem as the recall on the 1.8 turbo engine. I feel that my engine should be included even though it is a 2.7 litre engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #10374844, filed 2011-01, 117,000 miles

   “There appears to be a possible design defect that I believe merits reporting and possible investigation. I have 2001 Audi A6. The replacement of the oil filter at a jiffy lube resulted in damage to the oil cooler which cause me to suffer a $800 plus repair bill at the dealer. The dealer technician advised jiffy lube that they are aware of the potentiality of problems in replacement of the oil filter and as result have one mechanic secure the cooler with channel locks while the other removes the oil filter. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10066292, filed 2004-04, 28,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and non-deployment

   • 14 complaints (12%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2021

   Complaints describe the airbag light flashing or staying on, in some cases only in cold weather, with dealers unable to find a fault or declining to replace parts. Other owners report airbags that did not deploy in a collision, and a few describe a side airbag deploying without an impact. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 140,000 miles, with some non-deployment reports at lower mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light illuminates briefly then goes out on startup and stays out, and ask for any stored airbag fault codes or prior airbag-related repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in very cold snowy weather my airbag light flashed then stayed on. This occurred 3 times during the winter months and has not reoccurred during warmer months. After turning off the car the light went off. According to the drivers manual the airbags will not deploy with light on. According to odi 756137 with same symptoms indicates no airbag will function even with airbag light out after the intermittent light flashing. I took it to the dealer 2 times, but could not determine problem and would not replace anything. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10078908, filed 2004-06, 46,700 miles

   “I was driving about 67 on the open highway and was struck from behind by another vehicle. I lost control of my car and careened into a guard rail. I went unconscious and when I woke I was badly injured. All the air bags in car had deployed except for the driver's airbag. As a consequence, I sustained severe damages to my ribs and neck. I am lucky to be alive.”

   NHTSA complaint #11428121, filed 2021-08

Buying note. Look closely at fuel-tank condition and recall coverage, ABS function and warning lights, and oil leaks before buying; a pre-purchase inspection that includes fault-code scanning and a cold start is worth the cost on this model year.

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.