On August 3, 2026, a 2008 Audi A6 was traveling on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia when the driver encountered a large tree branch in the roadway and swerved to avoid it. The vehicle struck a curb, became airborne, rolled, and went down an embankment before coming to rest. The driver was wearing a seat belt. The driver’s frontal airbag in the steering wheel deployed, but none of the side or curtain airbags deployed during the crash. Given the severity and multiple-impact sequence of the accident, I am reporting the non-deployment so the federal safety agency can evaluate whether the side and curtain airbag systems operated as designed. The vehicle sustained significant damage and was declared a total loss. It remains intact and available for inspection, and we have requested that it be preserved.The vehicle has been in the same family since it was purchased new in 2008, with two owners within the family. It had never been involved in an accident before this crash, and to our knowledge there had been no previous airbag deployments or repairs to the airbag or restraint systems. There were no airbag warning lights, messages, or other indications of a problem before the crash.Police responded to the accident, and the vehicle has been inspected by the insurance company. It has not yet been inspected by Audi or an independent engineer specifically regarding the side and curtain airbag non-deployment. I understand a rollover alone does not necessarily require these airbags to deploy. My concern is that the driver’s frontal airbag deployed during a serious, multiple-impact crash while the side and curtain airbags did not, and I would like the non-deployment evaluated while the vehicle remains available for inspection. the federal safety agency previously conducted a Special Crash Investigation involving side-airbag non-deployment in another 2008 Audi A6 (the federal safety agency Publication 813261). the federal safety agency determined that vehicle’s airbags operated as intended. I am referencing it because it involved the same model year
The worst 2008 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.
- Airbags49
- Electrical7
- Lights6
- Engine5
- Fuel system3
- Transmission3
- Brakes2
- Seat belts2
- Acceleration1
- Driver assistance1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Audi A6
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- 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 module
- 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 module
- 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
Structure: body: trunk lid
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the automatic rear lid includes an electric motor and clutch that work in conjunction with two gas struts to open and close the rear lid, including a manual close function. If one of the struts has a total loss of pressure, the resultant slow movement of the rear lid is interpreted by the software as an intended manual close and the motor clutch releases to close the rear lid immediately.
- Risk
- This can result in an unintended rapid closing of the rear lid with a risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new software free of charge. The recall began on september 14, 2007. Owners may contact audi at 1‑800‑822‑2834.
Recall number 07V334000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Audi A6 495
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides information pertaining to MMI Navigation database concerns.
- This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings.
- This bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading.
- This bulletin provides information on the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool for professional noise analysis.
- This bulletin provides information pertaining to when there are foreign objects inside of a headlight or...
- This bulletin provides damage assessment guidelines for textile seat covers.
- This bulletin provides information for when unauthorized/unjustified DTC memory entries are captured in...
- This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
- This bulletin provides information on professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO NVH Tool.
- This bulletin provides information for when the customer has concerns about the navigation route guidance.
2008 Audi A6 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 27 | 21 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 17 | 25 | 20 |
| 4.2L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 23 | 18 |
What 2008 Audi A6 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2008 Audi A6. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V427000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TCM is defective will not allow car to shift into gear causing car to stop in traffic with no warnings
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 audi a6. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Audi fairfield (435 commerce dr, fairfield, ct 06825, (203)-951-6570) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Audi periodically sends out a provocative safety warning to 'schedule your repair immediately' stating that (my) 'safety and satisfaction are their top priorities'. When I call a dealer, I'm told that I already have the (temporary and only) fix (as takata went bankrupt). Please encourage corp audi to get their story strait. The only fact I know for certain is that neither I or anyone one I know will ever buy another audi.
Takata recall I have contacted the audi dealer and audi USA several times to get a repair scheduled without any success. This has now been going on for more than 2 years. Every time I get the same story. We have not received any parts, one time they told me the repair had just been revoked and that they were waiting new information. I feel very unsafe with the situation.
2008 audi a6 quattro. Consumer writes in regard to dealership failing to replace faulty components in a timely manner; airbag safety recall no. 69r7. *as
Takata recall - airbag replaced per recall but airbag light remains lit due to faulty seatbelt in rear center passenger seat. Faulty seat belt needs to be put under recall as this seems to be a common issue in the audi.
I was involved in a passenger side impact accident where the passenger side curtain did not deploy. The impacting vehicle was traveling above 35mph when it struck. There were no skid marks nor any attempt to slow the vehicle before impact. Both vehicles were totaled in the collision. All passengers in both vehicles (1 driver/ 1 passenger) were transported to the hospital for injuries. The vehicle is currently located at iaai in baltimore. Https://www.iaai.com​/vehicle?itemid=2884​8576&rownumber=16&lo​adrecent=true
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 audi a6. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Paul miller audi (179 us-46, parsippany, nj 07054, (973) 575-7750) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Compare the 2008 Audi A6
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Questions about the 2008 Audi A6
Is the 2008 Audi A6 reliable?
Owners have filed 71 complaints about the 2008 Audi A6, 1.7 times a typical A6 model year.
What is the 2008 Audi A6 year score?
The 2008 Audi A6 scores 53 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 2008 Audi A6?
Airbags, with 49 complaints. Next is electrical (7).
How many recalls does the 2008 Audi A6 have?
4 recalls, covering air bags and structure.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Audi A6 get?
Official estimates for the 2008 Audi A6 range from 18 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.1L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 27 highway.
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