1997 AUDI A6 Problems, Recalls & Safety Ratings

Jan 25, 2017 Fuel/propulsion System

1997 AUDI A6 QUATTRO. FILLED UP WITH GAS AT 8PM, PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF GARAGE. BY 2PM NEXT DAY THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS (NEARLY 1/2 TANK) LOCATED UNDER THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE CAR PAST THE WHEELS MORE THEN 2 FT ON BOTH SIDES. THE FUMES COULD SMELT OVER 5 FT AWAY. I'M POSITIVE ...

Mileage: 197,000

Dec 24, 2013 Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. CAR STILL OPERATES AND IS A DANGER IF DRIVING WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS OR WIPERS WITHOUT KNOWING. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MODEL AND UNDERSTAND THE A4 HAD A RECALL FOR ...

Mileage: 90,000

Jun 28, 2013 Electrical System Fire

THE REAR SEAT WAS SHIFTED BY THE OCCUPANT TO ATTACH A CHILD'S CAR SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT MOUNTING BRACKETS. THE SPRING WIRES UNDER THE REAR SEAT CONTACTED BOTH POSTS OF THE BATTERY UNDER THE SEAT, IGNITING A FIRE, WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSI...

Jun 28, 2013 Seats Fire

THE REAR SEAT WAS SHIFTED BY THE OCCUPANT TO ATTACH A CHILD'S CAR SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT MOUNTING BRACKETS. THE SPRING WIRES UNDER THE REAR SEAT CONTACTED BOTH POSTS OF THE BATTERY UNDER THE SEAT, IGNITING A FIRE, WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSI...

Aug 15, 2010 Electrical System

I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY CAR - A 97/AUDI/AUDI A6 WHITE RCO129. THE KEY TURNS TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO GET THE GAUGES/ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES (WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.) TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AGAIN. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE 1994-1996 A6 R...

Mileage: 100,000

Aug 15, 2010 Equipment

I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY CAR - A 97/AUDI/AUDI A6 WHITE RCO129. THE KEY TURNS TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO GET THE GAUGES/ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES (WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.) TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AGAIN. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE 1994-1996 A6 R...

Mileage: 100,000

Mar 22, 2010 Electrical System Fire

1997 AUDI A6, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0327-89

Feb 8, 2007 Vehicle Speed Control

1997 AUDI A6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - STUCK THROTTLE. ONLY WAY TO STOP CAR FROM MOVING WAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION. AUDI DEALER (SUDS - NORMAL, ILLINOIS) FOUND ICE IN THROTTLE HOUSING AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE-MODEL AUDIS. IF I DID NOT HAVE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN OFF ENGINE I WOULD...

Mileage: 85,200

Jul 20, 2006 Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE CLOUDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE MIRRORS WAS PEELING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE DEALER REFUSED TO RE...

Mileage: 67,000

Nov 22, 2005 Electrical System Fire

ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLAINT ID 345606/RECALL ID#00V317000 AUDI 1997 A6 WAGON WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD STAY ENGAGED AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PARTICULAR TIME THE CAR WAS BEING STARTED AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES. THE FIRE ...

Nov 21, 2005 Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED MANY TIMES, CAUSING HEADLAMPS TO FLICKER OR SIMPLY NOT FUNCTION. THE SWITCH NOW HAS MALFUNCTIONED TO THE POINT OF NO LONGER ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS TO FUNCTION. *NM

Jul 15, 2004 Electrical System

I HAVE A "STICKY" IGNITION SWITCH, YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT BACK TO RUN OR THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM YET. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE AND WAS A RECALL ITEM ON OTHER MODELS. *LA

Mileage: 116,000

Apr 26, 2004 Engine And Engine Cooling

I DRIVE A 1997, A6 AUDI QUATTRO STATION WAGON. OVER THE PAST 2 WINTERS, I HAVE HAD 2 VERY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. ON EXTREMELY COLD MORNINGS WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. EACH TIME I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THROW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT TO CAR OFF. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

Feb 16, 2004 Electrical System

97 AUDI A6 AVANT HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT RESULTS IN FAILURE OF MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS . *AK

Mileage: 105,000

Aug 27, 2003 Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT'S A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. GO TO HTTP://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/SEARCH/ AND PUT 'IGNITION SWITCH' IN AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND YET THERE'S A RECALL ON THE A4, BUT NOT THE A6.*AK

Apr 25, 2002 Electrical System

AUDI OF AMERICA REPLACED IGNITION SWITCHES ON 1997 A4 MODEL CARS AS PART OF A RECALL PROGRAM. THE 1997 AUDI A6 USES THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH AS THE AUDI A4, BUT THE A6 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WITH THE A4. THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FAILING SWITCH ARE THE SAME WITH BOTH A4 AND A6 MODELS. IT WOULD SEE...

Apr 24, 2002 Electrical System

PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH BREAKS AND KEY WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS, LIGHTS, WIPERS. ATTEMPTED RESET MY TURN CAR OFF WHILE MOVING.*AK

Oct 3, 2001 Electrical System Fire

BATTERY UNDER REAR SEAT SHORTED DUE TO MALFUNCTION OR CONTACT WITH WIRES ON BOTTOM OF SEAT CUSHION DUE TO INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BATTERY AND CUSHION. FIRE PRECEEDED BY LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND MOON ROOF OPENING AND CLOSING. SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER REAR SEAT WHERE MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHT...

Aug 29, 2001 Electrical System

KEY DID NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

Jan 24, 2001 Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE.*AK

Feb 7, 2000 Electrical System