MODELYEARINDEX

Audi A6

314 complaints across 8 scored model years and 25 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Audi A6 Full report
F
Grade 2012–2021
2019 vs model median 6.2×
Model median3× median
Electrical 59
Engine 19
Driver Assist 15
Avoid

2019

Best

2014 · 2015

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2012
1.03× 26 C
2013
0.97× 15 C
2014
0.74× 18 B
2015
0.55× 15 B
2016
1.32× 32 C
2019
6.25× 125 F
2020
1.20× 30 C
2021
0.66× 14 C
2025 P
0.39× 11 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG25.5
City / Highway23 / 30.5
Engine2.5L, 5 cyl
DriveAll-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,975

Recalls

25 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
25V900000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2019–2025 356,894
18V229000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 2012–2015 342,867
17V002000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 2012–2015 342,867
22V742000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION 2021 170,296
18V370000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2012–2016 139,249
19V035000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL 2016 74,881
22V861000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2019–2021 50,883
17V781000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2012–2014 48,693

+ 17 further campaigns

Others in Full-Size Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura RLX
none flagged
C
Audi A7
2019
C
Audi A8
none flagged
C
BMW 5 Series
20112012
B
BMW 7 Series
2012
B
Buick Lacrosse
20112012
C
Cadillac XTS
2013
C
Chevrolet Impala
20112014
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 A6
Complaints in window
125
Severity-weighted
203
Model median (weighted)
33
vs model median
6.25×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
7
Open investigations
0
Score 10 F