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Audi A6 adaptive cruise problems

25 of the 1,664 owner complaints about the Audi A6 describe adaptive cruise control problems, most of them for the 1999 model year.

owner complaints
25
worst model year
1999
typical mileage
94,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2026
    1
  • 2025
    2
  • 2021
    1
  • 2019
    6
  • 2016
    3
  • 2000
    1
  • 1999
    9
  • 1998
    1
  • 1996
    1

What owners say

Filed Apr 18, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

On 04/16/2026 at 10:19 my car became unsafe to drive and I had multiple safety errors including: Active front assist unavailable Adaptive cruise assist unavailable Emergency assist unavailable Traffic sign recognition unavailable Adaptive light malfunction High beam assistant malfunction

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NJ

While driving yesterday, the MMI reset and included the dashboard. The dash completely froze for a couple minutes(including the speedometer), and then the whole system blacked out and restarted. There has been a check engine light on since I got the car in December. Havent been able to get a service appointment with a loaner. Also since new, adaptive cruise control works intermittently with a warning that a door is open(when all doors are completely closed).

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · CA

The passenger doors fail to open from the outside. The only way to access them is through the driver's door and to use the inside door handles. The dealer is aware of the issue and it was caused by a software update and Audi/VW have no confirmed fix for it. The cruise control does not always operate and gives an erroneous error stating "door open." The dealer has confirmed this error and states there is no repair available. The issue was caused by a software update and Audi has no confirmed fix at the moment. The trunk will not always latch. When closing the trunk goes to the first latch but then fails to fully close. The dealer has made multiple repair attempts and the issue still exists.

Filed Mar 28, 2024 · Driver assistance · CA

I am the original owner of my vehicle and have had my vehicle maintenance done at Niello Audi in Sacramento, CA. In May 2023, the forward facing camera on my 2016 Audi A6 stopped working. The dashboard error message was "ACC and Audi braking guard Unavailable". As a result, the automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and cruise control stopped working. In June of 2023 I took the vehicle in to the above named dealer and they indicated that the front facing camera would need to be replaced but they could not do so because the part in on back order. The part number is 4H0907217FX. Ever since June 2023, the dealer has indicated that the part is still on back order and unavailable. Today March 28, 2024, I contacted AUDI USA and was informed that Audi stopped making that part and it is no longer available. I have been waiting almost a year for Audi to correct this to no avail. The part in question is tied to several safety systems (emergency braking, collision warnings, etc.) and I feel that my vehicle is unsafe to drive. Obviously, this concerning safety issue affects all Audi owners in the United States and I think Audi should immediately be required to fix this safety issue.

Filed Jan 12, 2024 · Driver assistance · GA

The camera associated with the adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems thought there was an object in the road multiple times while on active cruise control. This resulted in the brakes being engaged - could have been rear ended very easily causing an accident. The camera system has now stopped working all together resulting in the safety systems being disabled entirely as well as the cruise control. After researching the issue and talking to the dealership I have found the camera to be a very common part failure with all Audi's. I can't even get the part there is such a large demand for repairs.

Filed Sep 22, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NY

Received a message for "Electrical System Failure" and drove ok at first but began receiving failure messages for various systems including but not limited to Start/Stop system, transmission, power steering, and crash avoidance systems. Soon after the entertainment and comfort system screens went blank followed by the dash screen and the car eventually just turned off as I was trying to find a safe place to pull over. Safety was put a risk as I was stranded on a busy road with no shoulder and because the battery was impacted my hazard lights only lasted a short time which left me and my vehicle exposed on the side of the road. The car was towed to the dealer (Audi of Albany) who inspected determined the failure was related to a faulty ignition generator. The car is currently at Audi of Albany and will be for at least 2 weeks so I am assuming it would be available for inspection. Many different warning lights appeared in the short time leading to total shutdown of the car. I recall a start/stop failure message, batter charge low, transmission failure light, power steering failure warning, adaptive cruise control, frontal collision avoidance among others. As stated above all screens in the car eventually turned off and the car fully failed on a main road and required a tow to the dealer.

Filed May 26, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

Starter warning followed by electrical system malfunction, these were followed by Multiple warning lights (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, etc) then 1 minute later transmission failure and engine failure imminent.... pull over immediately and contact dealer. I turned into a road off main highway within a minute of the last two warnings and as I turned, my center MMI went blank then my electronic dash went blank, transmission went into neutral and the engine died all within a few seconds. Fortunately I was able to coast to a stop.

Filed Feb 11, 2023 · Electrical · MI

I had a failure with the vehicle electrical system malfunction. I had multiple warnings from ABS, Power steering, Adaptive cruise control. I was on the highway doing about 70 when this happened. After about 5 mins of driving, everything powered down in the vehicle. From the dashboard to the center instrument panel. Then after that, the car cut off. Lucky I was in the right lane to pull over to the shoulder. Car never started back up. Nervous about what the dealership is going to tell me.

Filed Feb 8, 2023 · Electrical · NY

I suffered a complete failure of the vehicle's electrical system. First, I received a warning that the electrical system malfunctioned. This warning went away after two power cycles. Two days later the warning came back and a warning that the battery level was low. I was driving the vehicle approximately 1 mile on the highway when the warning became progressively dire. First the Adaptive cruise control systems became failing one by one, adaptive lane keep, lane departure etc. Then I got yellow warnings about failures in the transmission and the engine. Finally those errors became dire that I must stop the vehicle. I next lost all electrical screens within 2-3 minutes of the cascading dire warnings just as I was pulling off the highway onto side streets. Within 30 seconds I lost power steering and most braking force. I was able to pull over into a bus stop, but with difficulty. I lost all hazard lights, all vehicle lights. I lost the ability to unlock the doors temporarily but this recovered. I could not turn the car back on, I could just hear the started struggling to turn over. None of the screens in the vehicle worked. No lights or horn worked. Thankfully this happened in the late afternoon while the sun was still out. The extreme danger posed by not having emergency lights, power steering and minimal braking capability made this an extremely scary situation. I was advised by Audi Queens that this was confirmed alternator/generator failure.

Filed Jan 17, 2023 · Electrical · KY

Multiple warnings indicating to contact dealer (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, electrical system, start/stop, etc) then 1 minute later transmission failure and engine failure imminent. After a minute or two my center MMI went blank then my electronic dash went blank, transmission went into neutral and the engine died all within a few seconds. Fortunately I was able to coast to a stop in the center median of an expressway and contacted the dealer. Flatbed towed to dealer who stated most likely the generator between the lithium battery bank and gas engine failed. They have seen several in this year for A6 and A7's with mild hybrid engines. I was lucky to be in low volume traffic as there was no power to indicate to drivers around me that my engine quit and not even turn signals worked. After having car towed to Audi dealer, they proceeded to tell me it was the starter/generator and the part was on back order for two to three months.

Related recalls

Lane departure: softwareReported March 4, 2026 · 1,620 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8, Audi A7, and Audi A6 vehicles previously repaired under recall number 25V900. Due to a software error, the lane departure warning system may be deactivated.
Risk
The driver may be unaware that the lane departure warning system is deactivated and rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on March 6, 2026.

Recall number 26V125000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported December 19, 2025 · 356,894 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on December 23, 2025.

Recall number 25V900000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: display functionReported October 5, 2022 · 170,296 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.

Recall number 22V742000 · Recall details

Questions about the Audi A6 adaptive cruise

Which Audi A6 years have adaptive cruise control problems problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1999 (9 complaints), 2019 (6 complaints) and 2016 (3 complaints).

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