1998 Audi A6 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Audi A6 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 158
- on record
- Top problem area
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- 18 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 12 reported crashes · 12 injuries · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,075
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Audi median
+7
median 152 across 46 Audi records
Vs 1996-2000
-110
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
11%
Fuel System, Gasoline: 18 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Audi A6
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY 18
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 7
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM 7
- STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS 6
1 recall on record for the 1998 Audi A6
- NHTSA 20V056000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Audi A6
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Audi A6 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Audi A6 reliable?
NHTSA has 158 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Audi A6 and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (18 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Audi A6 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Audi A6?
Owners most often report problems with: fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (18), vehicle speed control (11), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (7), suspension:front:control arm (7). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Audi A6?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.