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2021 Audi A6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Audi A6 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Audi A6 have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 9 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (4). For comparison, the 2020 scores 12%. 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 2021 compares with other Audi A6 years
Of the 7 Audi A6 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (35%). The worst is the 2016 (59%), the best the 2020 (12%). By volume, the 2021 drew 26 complaints (9 drivetrain), against 33 for the 2020 and 4 for the 2022.
Audi A6 years to avoid and best years →
2012 A6 problems · 2013 A6 problems · 2014 A6 problems · 2016 A6 problems · 2019 A6 problems · 2020 A6 problems · 2021
The rest of the picture on the 2021 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 9 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Audi A6 fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 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. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RS6 Avant and RS7, 2020-2022 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, and S7, and 2019-2022 A6 Sedan and A7 vehicles. The fuel level sender may stick, causing an inaccurate fuel level reading to be displayed on the instrument cluster.
Risk: An inaccurate fuel reading may cause an engine stall due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is…
11 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 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 2021 Audi A6
Does the 2021 Audi A6 have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 9 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). 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 2021 Audi A6?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Audi A6 is electrical system: 15 of 26 complaints (58%) name it, followed by engine (4) and forward collision avoidance (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 35% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Audi A6 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Audi A6 years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. 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 2021 Audi A6?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total: 22V155000 (electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge: fuel level float/sensor/sending unit). 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%) and the 2014 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (35%). 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. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.