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2013 Audi A6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
57% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Audi A6 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 17 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).
Does the 2013 Audi A6 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 20 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%), and the largest group is filed under engine (15). For comparison, the 2012 scores 57% and the 2014 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Audi A6 years
Of the 7 Audi A6 years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (57%). The worst is the 2016 (59%), the best the 2020 (12%). By volume, the 2013 drew 52 complaints (20 drivetrain), against 59 for the 2012 and 41 for the 2014.
Audi A6 years to avoid and best years →
2012 A6 problems · 2013 · 2014 A6 problems · 2016 A6 problems · 2019 A6 problems · 2020 A6 problems · 2021 A6 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Audi A6
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 20 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Audi A6 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture…
Risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Risk: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin…
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Audi A6? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Audi A6
Does the 2013 Audi A6 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 20 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Audi A6?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Audi A6 is air bags: 18 of 52 complaints (35%) name it, followed by engine (15) and fuel/propulsion system (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 57% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Audi A6 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 57% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Audi A6 years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Audi A6?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 18V229000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system), 17V781000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings), 17V002000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Audi A6 years are better?
Among the Audi A6 years we track, the 2020 (12%), the 2014 (32%) and the 2019 (35%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (57%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/audi-a6
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.