The 1996 Audi A6 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 63,300 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Takata recall notice to say airbag unsafe”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the ignition switch became inoperable in various positions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 96v017000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the ignition switch became inoperable in various positions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 96v017000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.”
“On the morning of february 11th 2014, my daughter was on her way to school when her vehicle began to accelerate on its own. She believes she was going between 25 and 35 miles per hour when the vehicle began to accelerate and topped out at 70 before she was able to get it to slow down. She stated…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. When attempting to start the vehicle, the starter would disengage. After further inspection, the contact determined that the ignition switch would not release and caused the failure. There were no warnings prior to the failure. He is in the process of taking the…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. The contact discovered recalls for his vehicle and the manufacturer stated that the repairs had already been performed. He asked for the repair records, but they were unavailable. The vehicle is experiencing the same symptoms as noted in nhtsa campaign id number…”
“Ignition switch gets stuck in on position causing lights, radio, wipers not to function. Starter also remains on causing burn out. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Audi A6 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.