2013 Audi A6 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2013 Audi A6 most often report the passenger seat airbag sensor warning, where the airbag light stays on, flickers, or switches off with or without an occupant in the seat. Cooling system problems (coolant pump, thermostat, overheating) and steering warnings come next, and steering problems can appear suddenly, sometimes at low speed. Where mileage is given, the airbag reports fall between about 33,000 and 85,000 miles, while some steering reports come from the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger seat airbag sensor (PODS) warning light

   • 16 complaints (31%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the passenger airbag warning light staying on, flickering, or switching off when an adult sits in the front seat, and some report it flickering even with the seat empty. Some say the occupant detection module or seat sensor was replaced, but the warning came back. Other complaints say recall parts were unavailable for months, that the VIN was not listed in the recall even after the sensor failed, and that recall status made the car hard to sell or trade in. Where mileage is given, these reports fall between about 33,000 and 85,000 miles, and several describe the warning changing with an occupant present or absent.

   Recall 18V370000Recall 15V823000

   What to check: Ask whether the passenger seat sensor recall work and any later occupant detection repairs were completed, and check the VIN against the recall list before buying. With the engine running, watch whether the passenger airbag light changes when someone sits in the front seat and when the seat is empty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. It looks like there is an open recall for the 2013 Audi A6 awd passenger seat occupant detection system may fail I looked up my VIN and for my car vihicle is not listed but mine just failed. I would like to get this taken care and get listed part of the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11093454, filed 2018-05, 75,000 miles

   “Takata recall. While stationary, & still in park, with an adult in the front passenger seat, the airbag monitoring light comes on to alert me that the passenger seat airbag is off . Safety recall notice recd. July 2018. I have not been able to use the front passenger seat since then due to safety reasons. Audi USA still tells me today, 4 months later, that they have no solution for this issue, & no expected date to fix this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11151246, filed 2018-11, 33,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Coolant pump, thermostat and water pump problems

   • 11 complaints (21%)
   • median 69,633 mi at 5.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe overheating, coolant or temperature warnings, and coolant leaks, often linked to the coolant pump, water pump, or a sticking thermostat. Some say cooling parts were replaced or the system repaired, yet the problem returned or other symptoms followed, such as rough running, a check engine light, or smoke from the engine compartment. A complaint says parts for a cooling pump recall were unavailable for a long time, and another says the owner was charged for an engine replacement after a water pump had been replaced. Where mileage is given, these reports fall between about 60,000 and 115,000 miles, and some describe overheating while driving.

   Recall 18V229000Recall 17V002000

   What to check: Ask whether the electric coolant pump recall work has been completed, and check the coolant level and the area around the water pump and thermostat for leaks. Ask the seller for records of any coolant pump, water pump, or thermostat replacement, and watch the temperature gauge during a longer drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle began shaking, driving very rough and check engine light came and epc lights came on the dash. Car was not drivable. This happened less than two months after I had the water pump replaced for leakage and failure (which has now been recalled). I believe the two are connected, but Audi charged me a to replace the engine. I feel that the engine failure was a direct link to the issue with the pump.”

   NHTSA complaint #11144967, filed 2018-11, 63,267 miles

   “Over heating caused by thermostat sticking. This problem was common on the 2.0 Audi A6 which was recall. The car overheats every time I drive. Also, I had a spark plug end ip in the cylinder causing damage to the inner wall of the engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390122, filed 2021-01, 115,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering warnings and sudden steering faults

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 11,050 mi at 2.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe steering that feels loose or hard to keep straight, a wheel that seizes or moves on its own, and dash messages telling the driver not to drive. Some complaints say the steering rack or power steering module was replaced, and a software update reportedly did not clear the symptom. The symptom is reported as most noticeable in cold weather, and some describe the fault returning after repairs. Where mileage is given, reports range from a few miles to about 30,000 miles, including some in the first few thousand miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any steering or 'do not drive' warning has appeared and request the repair history for the steering rack or power steering module. Have an independent shop or dealer scan the steering system before buying, since some complaints describe warnings that return after repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got a message on my wash it said steering detective do not drive . My steering wheel gets hard and moves on its own sometimes. It does it intermittently in any condition or driving speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11080077, filed 2018-03, 3 miles

   “Steering Rack Assist has a recall for my car because my steering locked up. Audi replaced the recall part two times. the first didnt work after the second time it works but now they cant reset the check engine lights, TPMS, Steering Fault do not drive it says, ECS Fualt, Stability Fault, Child Safety Lock Fault etc. Dealer told they did everything they could even flew in an Audi Engineer still cant reset anything and that they exceeded the cars value in man hours to figure out what is the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11447242, filed 2022-01
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks and gasoline smell

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor in the cabin or garage and, in some cases, fuel leaking near the engine. Complaints point to a fuel hose that had deteriorated from the inside, a leaking fuel pump, and a fuel leak near the top of the engine. Some say the dealer proposed removing the fuel tank for diagnosis and quoted a large repair charge, and some say recall lookups did not list their VIN. Where mileage is given, these reports fall between about 49,000 and 84,000 miles, and the odor is described as worse when the tank is full.

   Recall 16V646000Recall 17V781000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel hose or fuel line recall work was completed and check the VIN for open recalls, since some complaints say recall lookups did not list their vehicle. Check the engine bay, fuel lines and tank area for fuel odor or damp spots, especially after the car has been parked for a while.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel hose appears to have deteriorated from the inside. Small pinhole leak appeared and allowed for gasoline to spill onto hot engine. Current volkswagen recall 24bz does not appear to include my VIN, although characteristics are exactly as described in recall. I believe the recall needs to be expanded to include my VIN. The vehicle was in motion and the strong smell of gasoline started to permeate through the cabin. As I investigated the cause, I found the crack in the fuel hose. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10954833, filed 2017-02, 49,000 miles

   “Start smelling gasoline and every day was worse. I bring the A6 for the recall but I just realize that Audi did the 20ar but I remember prior to this recall the car had the 24bz . I tried to call them and my vim soes noy show for this recall . The A6 is with Audi livermore they want me to pay to unmount the gas tank to procedure with a diagnostic. I just know that my car is leaking gas and no response that why tgis happend the car or the tank hasn't received a damaged at all so how this happend . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11139375, filed 2018-10, 84,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Oil leaks and high oil consumption

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe oil leaking onto the exhaust, transmission, and engine belly pan, and some report burning oil or smoke from the engine area. A complaint describes adding oil between services when the engine light came on, and another reports white smoke under moderate braking, with the vacuum pump leaking oil onto hot parts. Some complaints also describe rough running or a misfire alongside the leak. Where mileage is given, these reports fall between about 22,000 and 76,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for oil change and top-up records and check the oil level after a longer drive, comparing it with the owner's log. Look under the engine and around the exhaust and transmission for oil residue or wet spots before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was stationary and oil is leaking from the engine my fuel system is messing up. Also I'm having electrical problems cylinder 1 misfire open ground or short to ground circuit .”

   NHTSA complaint #11375329, filed 2020-11

   “Car is leaking & burning oil and is having electrical problems open short to ground I only had the car 2 months the fuel system is malfunctioning my engine light & my epic light is on smoke is coming coming from the engine & the engine is shaking roughly & these are some of the recalls but there saying the recalls have already been taking car of but seems like the problem is reoccurring. I was idled in a parking lot when this problem started. I feel like this is a safety issue and my car could possibly catch fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375555, filed 2020-11

Buying note. For this model year, ask for repair records on the passenger airbag sensor, coolant system, steering, and fuel lines, and check the VIN against recall records before buying. Complaints describe recall parts being unavailable for months and VINs missing from recall lists, so a pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop is a practical step.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.