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2005 Audi A6 problems

The most common problem on the 2005 Audi A6 is airbags, typically around 111,000 miles. It has 2.2 times the complaints of a typical A6 model year.

Year to avoid2.2x the typical complaints
Year score
45/100
Owner complaints
91
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
380
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
19mpg
Typical repair
$2,700

The worst 2005 Audi A6 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Airbags
    43
  • Electrical
    16
  • Brakes
    10
  • Steering
    8
  • Engine
    7
  • Driver assistance
    6
  • Lights
    6
  • Visibility
    5
  • Acceleration
    4
  • Body
    3
  • Transmission
    3
  • Seat belts
    2
  • Wheels
    2
  • Locks
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Audi A6

ABS 6Won't start 5

Recalls 3

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported June 22, 2018 · 237,947 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

Recall number 18V427000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 11, 2017 · 33,421 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

Recall number 17V032000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported June 1, 2016 · 194,453 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑822‑2834.

Recall number 16V382000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2005 Audi A6

Defect investigations

Fuel tank leakOpened January 31, 2008, closed May 30, 2008

Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the federal safety agency recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v‑156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the federal safety agency recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v‑157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may include duplicate reports to odi and the manufacturer. While the consequence (fuel leaks from the top of the tank) is similar for both the passat and audi subject vehicles, differences in design and construction require a different remedy for each vehicle.on the passats, the ventilation line could have been installed improperly with tension and with an incorrectly positioned cable tie.the tension could cause cracked or broken nipples on the fuel tank rollover valve.on the audi vehicles, a material change (effective june 2, 2001) with different aging characteristics used for the rollover valve and the use of an inflexible aluminum ventilation line could cause cracking of the nipple on the rollover valve.vw is recalling all vehicles subject to these defects.it will inspect passats to ensure that the vent line is tension free and correct the installation if tension is found.if a crack or fuel leak is found, vw will replace the fuel tank.audi will repair all subject vehicles by reinforcing the fuel tank rollover valve with an epoxy adhesive.this investigation is closed.

PE08008

Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Audi A6 380

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 380 bulletins for the 2005 Audi A6

2005 Audi A6 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.1L 6‑cyl4WD172419

What 2005 Audi A6 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 25, 2022 · Steering · NY

When this steering problem is occurring no communication between the steering and driver and accident happened and its very dangerous!!! DTC 00456 (Access/start control module -J518- no communication) is found in several control modules or the access/start authorization control module, J518 (address word 05), identifies itself with implausible data can be found through guided fault finding (GFF). If DTC 00288 (Steering column lock actuator-N360, faulty) is logged in the access/start authorization control module, J518

Filed Oct 27, 2019 · Airbags · 82,717 miles · OH

Audi of america sent me a flyer (attached) offering $100 in audi goods and services as an incentive to complete the replacement of a takata airbag recall. Since may 2nd, now almost 5 months later, audi has still failed to provide the offered incentive despite me contacting them and their promise it would be resolved. As this recall is under the federal safety agency jurisdiction I thought you would have interest in their behavior in regards to this serious matter.

Filed Jul 3, 2019 · Wheels · CA

Nov 17 2017 on my way to work , I got a flat tired so I had to pull over .. Right at the intersection of on clairemont going north on the 805. The

Filed Dec 3, 2018 · Airbags · NY

I have attempted to have the airbag recall repairs done many times over the last year,only told that they are waiting for parts at audi of rochester ny. I am concerned the I have hear nothing from them. I have not had the passenger airbag go off nor do I want to take the chance that it will.

Filed Nov 11, 2018 · Steering · 145,800 miles · CA

Vehicle wouldn't start after parking at a store parking lot. Steering column was locked no power to anything only mmi had power transmission was locked on parking position and electronic brake sistem was activated looking up online I found that there's to many customers with same problem they all stated that the problem was the start control module.

Filed Jul 30, 2018 · Airbags · CA

Takata recall I have contacted audi twice, they have told me they had to order the part and once they receive the part they would call me to set an appointment to repair the airbag. I have been waiting about 6 months (maybe longer). I have not heard back from them. After waiting a few months I decided to also fill out the form on the audi website regarding the takata recall on may 15, 2018 and still have not received a response.

Filed Jun 19, 2018 · Airbags · CO

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 audi a6. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The dealer (prestige porsche audi, 1‑877‑663‑9259) was called and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Apr 10, 2018 · Airbags · WA

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 audi a6. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v032000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (larson audi tacoma, 1701 alexander avenue, fife, washington 98424) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Jan 22, 2018 · Airbags · PR

Takata recall manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for my vehicle

Filed Dec 31, 2017 · Airbags · MN

"takata recall I have been getting the round around on replacement of the inflator for the past year. One excuse after another.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2005 Audi A6 before you buy

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Questions about the 2005 Audi A6

Is the 2005 Audi A6 reliable?

Owners have filed 91 complaints about the 2005 Audi A6, 2.2 times a typical A6 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2005 Audi A6 year score?

The 2005 Audi A6 scores 45 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Audi A6: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Audi A6?

Airbags, with 43 complaints, typically around 111,000 miles. Next is electrical (16).

How many recalls does the 2005 Audi A6 have?

3 recalls, covering air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Audi A6 get?

Official estimates for the 2005 Audi A6 range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.1L 6-cyl, 4WD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.

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