The Audi A6 is a comfortable executive car made by the well-known German manufacturer with a focus on comfort and ride quality. It is the evolution of the famous Audi 100, a popular car with businessmen in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Offering 4 wheel drive as standard, this is a powerful vehicle that is good for both long distance motoring and city sprints.
If you are thinking of purchasing a second hand Audi A6, you should be aware of a number of issue have been reported with this car.
Gearbox Problems
Is the CVT, automatic or multitronic gearbox on the Audi A6 hesitant or clunky when driving around town? If so then the chances are you have a software problem causing the fault in the rapid gear shifting in the vehicle. This could mean you need to get the gearbox reprogrammed at an Audi specialist, or in the case of high mileage cars, the gearbox may need a full replacement.
Excessive Oil Usage
The Audi A6 is known to be rather thirsty when it comes to oil. Make sure that the vehicle is properly stocked up with regular checks using the dipstick, ensuring that the oil level is well above the halfway mark to ensure the engine is well lubricated.
Dual Mass Flywheel Vibration
When you’re driving in the Audi A6, can you hear an excessive vibration coming from the engine when you increase the throttle in neutral? If this is the case then it is possible there is a problem originating in the dual mass flywheel. Get the vehicle checked out by a pro as this is an expensive part to replace.
Air Con Smells
Around 25% of all Audi A6s on the road suffer from some kind of issues with the air conditioning on the car. This can manifest in a couple of different ways; either as a very cold icy blast coming from the air outlets or as a musty or damp smell. Make sure you test this system fully before committing to buy a second hand vehicle.
Faulty Electrics
Electrics are also a known problem in the Audi A6 with particular issues occurring with the regulators in the electric window units. Be sure to check all the in car systems to ensure that there are no wiring issues in the vehicle, from the internal passenger lighting through to the stereo.
Rear Wheel Arch Rubbing
If you are considering purchasing an S-line Audi A6 then be sure to check the car under load. It is possible that the tyres will chafe against the wheel arches when the car is stocked up with luggage and passengers, which could cause damage to the rather expensive tyres. One way of looking for this problem is checking for marks in the centre of the rubber.
Timing Chain Tensioner Failures
A6s that feature V6 and V8 engines use a complex system of chains to keep the 4 valves per cylinder in time. These chains have plastic guides linking to the hydraulic pistons, which have been known to fail, causing misfiring and stalling in the engine. If you do not catch this problem early enough, it could lead to you needing a complete new engine.
Potential Airbag Failure
There have been a very small number of early A6s recalled due to a curtain airbag failure, where the airbags on the sides of the car fail to inflate properly due to a gas leak in the vehicle.
Parking Brake Leaks
Be sure to check the brakes on any Audi A6 that was built between 2012 and August 2014 as the vehicle may be leaking oil into the brake system that could cause problems when parking the vehicle. Whilst driving ensure you are achieving the correct stopping distances.
You should have no difficulty finding a used Audi A6 without any of the above problems on today’s second hand market and there are plenty of used Audi A6 parts available. This car makes an excellent choice for a quality car that still has the ability to turn heads and provide some serious pedal to the metal power.
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