NHTSA has 9 owner complaints on file for this Audi[1]. The electrical system is the biggest group, with 5 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups, biggest first. These are unverified owner reports, and one report can name several parts.
- Electrical System. 5 complaints[2]. Owners describe screens and dashboards freezing, then restarting. Some describe warning lights and messages after the car lost power to the wheels on the road. One owner describes an air bag that did not deploy after another car backed into theirs.
- Forward Collision Avoidance. 3 complaints[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe driver assistance warnings that keep showing up on a new car. One owner describes the car braking hard on a freeway with no warning.
- Lane Departure. 2 complaints[7]. Owners describe the lane assist and high beam assist features going unavailable, along with a general driver assistance warning.
- Power Train. 2 complaints[8]. In the stories we read, one owner describes a rear differential that was replaced and still did not fix the trouble. Another describes losing power to the wheels on a highway.
- Fuel/Propulsion System. 2 complaints[9].
- Tires. 1 complaint[10].
- Steering. 1 complaint[11].
- Engine. 1 complaint[12].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2026 A6 is necessarily included.
- Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera (25V900), December 2025. About 356,894 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW AWD[5] | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8.9% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2026 Audi A6 with 3.0L 6-cylinder[15] | 335 to 362 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2026 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 16 | 2 |
| 1996 | 51 | 2 |
| 1997 | 20 | 2 |
| 1998 | 130 | 10 |
| 1999 | 217 | 9 |
| 2000 | 148 | 4 |
| 2001 | 113 | 7 |
| 2002 | 88 | 4 |
| 2003 | 66 | 7 |
| 2004 | 35 | 4 |
| 2005 | 91 | 3 |
| 2006 | 67 | 4 |
| 2007 | 53 | 4 |
| 2008 | 71 | 4 |
| 2009 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010 | 17 | 3 |
| 2011 | 21 | 3 |
| 2012 | 60 | 8 |
| 2013 | 52 | 6 |
| 2014 | 41 | 4 |
| 2015 | 22 | 4 |
| 2016 | 51 | 3 |
| 2017 | 20 | 3 |
| 2018 | 11 | 2 |
| 2019 | 114 | 7 |
| 2020 | 34 | 9 |
| 2021 | 27 | 12 |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 |
| 2026 | 9 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the A6 show 9 complaints and 1 recalls for 2026[3]. Among the 32 model years listed, 3 have fewer complaints than 2026 and 27 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2023 (3) and the most are for 1999 (217)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2026 A6?
The record for this car is small, with 9 complaints on file[1]. The electrical system and driver assistance features show up most often in the stories we read[2][6][7]. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales, so they say little about how common any trouble is. A recall exists for this model year, so check the Recalls section on this page[3]. If you are shopping, ask the seller about warning lights and driver assistance messages, and read the sections below before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
- What problems do owners report with the 2026 Audi A6?
- Owners report electrical trouble most often, followed by forward collision avoidance and lane departure issues[1][2][6][7]. The Common problems section lists every group.
- Is there a recall on the 2026 Audi A6?
- Yes, the by-year facts show a recall for this model year[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists it.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2026 Audi A6?
- See the Fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
- Is the 2026 Audi A6 reliable?
- The record is small, with 9 complaints on file[1]. These are unverified reports and not adjusted for sales, so read the Common problems section and the by-year comparison for context.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Audi A6
Compare all model years of the Audi A6
Similar cars from 2026: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 9 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Audi A6 (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Audi A6 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for A6 Allroad quattro, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SW AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 8.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 25V900, filed December 19, 2025: Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for A6 Sedan, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S7), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2026 Audi A6 with 3.0L 6-cylinder: rated 335 to 362 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A6 4DR SEDAN: length 197 in, width 74 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 115 in, curb weight 4,319 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A6 ALLROAD 4DR WAGON: length 195 in, width 75 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 115 in, curb weight 4,495 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A6 E-TRON 4DR SEDAN: length 194 in, width 76 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 5,203 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov