2019 Audi A6 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 12, 2026 · Filed: August 17, 2026

The factory-installed mechanical water pump module suffered a severe internal seal and housing failure. This allowed pressurized engine coolant to migrate directly into the engine's vacuum control system and vacuum lines, damaging crucial emissions and vacuum tubing. This defect poses a severe safety risk as coolant entering the vacuum grid can cause sudden loss of engine power, erratic braking assist, and localized engine overheating while operating the vehicle at highway speeds.

Incident: May 9, 2026 · Filed: July 8, 2026

My 2019 Audi A6 was diagnosed with catastrophic internal engine failure on May 9, 2026 at Audi of Newton, Newton, NJ, at 93,645 miles. The vehicle required a full engine rebuild performed by REV Auto NJ at a cost of $12,000. The failure involved metal debris found in the engine oil, consistent with the documented EA839 3.0L V6 TFSI rocker arm needle bearing failure or piston skirt failure affecting this engine family. The EA839 engine used in this vehicle has a documented history of design defects: (1) Rocker arm needle bearings in early production engines were undersized and prone to disintegration, releasing metal debris into the oil supply and destroying camshaft lobes, balance shafts, and pistons. Audi silently revised the rocker arm part number three times (06M109417H -> 06M109417L -> 0P2109417), with the final revision featuring bearings twice the size of the originals - evidence of a known design defect. No recall was issued. (2) Audi of America issued a Piston Skirt Limited Warranty Extension in 2025 to 8 years/80,000 miles for EA839 piston failures. Independent engineering analysis by 034Motorsport, backed by laboratory testing, confirms that the EA839 piston design creates failure paths even under stock, unmodified conditions. Audi of America has not issued a safety recall for this engine failure pattern despite multiple documented failures across the A6, A7, A8, S4, S5, SQ5, Q7, and Q8 platforms sharing this engine. The failure mode - metal debris circulating through the lubrication system - poses a risk of sudden, complete engine loss while driving at highway speeds, creating an unreasonable safety risk to vehicle occupants and other motorists. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the EA839 3.0T engine for a potential safety-related defect and consider whether a recall is warranted across the affected model population. I have incurred $12,000 in repair costs for a defect that evidence strongly suggests is a design flaw, not a maintenance issue.

Incident: June 10, 2026 · Filed: June 15, 2026

I recently brought my 2019 A6 to Nyack Audi for an unrelated repair, after performing their complimentary inspection the service advisor told me my water pump was leaking coolant into the vacuum hose system; and the pump, PCV valve, sensors, solenoids and vacuum hose system need to be replaced, costing $6,186. My A6 was out of warranty at that point, so Audi would not pay for the $6,186 in repairs. Engine coolant purportedly leaks into the vacuum system and other electrical components, causing contamination of the vacuum system. Leaking coolant will cause an overheated engine and possible FAILURE of the (EA839)engine and even the turbocharger . Today I did some online research line research and discovered a class action lawsuit involving their 1.8 & 2.0 engine water pumps which failed prematurely for the same reason. A major class-action settlement (Zhao v. Volkswagen Group of America) was approved covering certain 2014–2021 Audi vehicles equipped with 1.8L and 2.0L engines. And now, there is a class action involving the 2.9 & 3.0 V6 engines; “the lawsuit alleges the water pumps are defective in Audi's 2.9-liter and 3.0-liter EA839 V-6s; these engines were available in nearly every Audi model on sale from the 2018 to 2024 model years. The lawsuit—Larr, et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al. —has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey”. Apparently, Audi has know about this issue since at least 2018 and done nothing to try and resolve it. Please put the pressure of the federal government on Audi to settle the lawsuit, DO THE RIGHT THING and cover the cost of repairs. Also find a solution to prevent this from happening to other Audi owners. I can’t afford $6,186 for a repair, nor go purchase a different vehicle…..Rock & a hard place. Please help. Thank you .

Incident: April 18, 2026 · Filed: May 9, 2026

The central locking / electronic door lock system on my 2019 Audi A6 intermittently malfunctions, sometimes with a long beep sound and an error message appearing on the screen in front of my steering wheel. The affected system is available for inspection upon request. The issue does not happen all the time, but the door sometimes fails to unlock or appears to re-lock while I am trying to open it. In late April 2026, in the morning, I was leaving YogaSource in [XXX] . As I approached my vehicle in the parking lot, an unstable individual was approaching the area near my car. I attempted to enter the vehicle quickly for safety, but the central locking system malfunctioned. As I tried to unlock and open the door, the vehicle appeared to lock again and the door would not open. I was temporarily locked out of the vehicle during a potentially unsafe situation. The door eventually opened only after I pushed the door inward with force, locked and unlocked the vehicle again, and tried the handle again. This created a very concerning safety risk because I could not immediately access my vehicle when I needed to get inside quickly as the individual approached me. The problem has not yet been fully reproduced or confirmed by a dealer to my knowledge. I previously mentioned the central locking issue during service and asked whether there was a recall. I was told there was no recall and that a lock replacement would cost approximately $850. The issue I have been experiencing appears consistent with Audi Technical Service Bulletin XXX/5, which applies to 2019 to 2024 Audi A6 models and describes central locking / door lock concerns and related fault codes. Because the defect is intermittent, it may be difficult to reproduce, but it creates a safety concern because the driver may be unable to access the vehicle when needed. I tolerated this issue for a while now, but now I realize what a big safety concern it really is and I'm surprised that a recall has not been issued. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: May 1, 2019 · Filed: May 4, 2026

Every single EA839 Audi Engine has piston skirt and cylinder scoring.

Incident: April 26, 2026 · Filed: April 27, 2026

Shortly after purchasing in 2025 I began having occasional issues with the door locks. Eventually the issue would self resolve but now I have experienced at least 2 times in last month being locked inside the vehicle and unable to exit without climbing into the passenger seat. I have not taken it in for repairs yet due to cost concerns but I am worried about this dangerous situation.

Incident: July 24, 2025 · Filed: April 22, 2026

Complete shut down of all electrical associated components while driving on highway Loss of power steering loss of braking loss of ability to accelerate transmission failure loss of lane detection, loss of car detection. Diagnosed as , faulty alternator recall repaired and continuation of same electrical failures despite six additional repairs Multiple failures of all electrical components on highway road and side roads

Incident: January 8, 2026 · Filed: February 2, 2026

Incident Summary for NHTSA Complaint Component Involved: Electrical System: Alternator / Charging System Vehicle State: In motion (City street/Highway) Speed at Failure: Approximately [Insert Speed] MPH Narrative Description: The vehicle suffered a catastrophic electrical failure while in motion, resulting in an immediate and total engine stall in live traffic. This failure occurred without sufficient warning to safely maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder, creating an immediate safety hazard and risk of collision. This is a recurring safety defect: Repeat Failure: This is the second time this specific VIN has suffered a mid-traffic alternator failure. An Audi-certified replacement was installed by an authorized dealer (Audi Arlington) in 2022 following an identical incident. That replacement part has now failed. Failure of "Service Action" (27BQ): Despite an active Service Action for this component, the vehicle was not repaired during multiple prior service visits at authorized dealerships. The manufacturer failed to proactively address the defect, leading to this second roadside emergency. Cascading Electrical Instability: This VIN has a documented history of systemic electrical and safety system failures, including a gasket failure that compromised safety electronics and a total fuel system replacement due to sensor failure. The manufacturer (Audi) has classified this sudden loss of power in traffic as "non-critical," despite the clear risk of high-speed collision and physical injury. I am requesting a formal investigation into the recurring failure of the 27BQ component and the adequacy of the manufacturer's current service remedy.

Incident: January 21, 2026 · Filed: January 21, 2026

My 2019 Audi A6 sedan displays warnings for the Start/Stop system malfunction indicated in Audi's document: "Emissions Service Action Code: 27BQ" [XXX] I'm still waiting to hear if this has been elevated to Recall status. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: July 1, 2025 · Filed: December 22, 2025

The rear electronic child safety lock on my 2019 Audi A6 does not function as intended. When activated, the lock does not reliably engage or disengage, allowing the rear door to be opened from the inside when it should be locked. We only began using the child safety lock after having a baby, at which time the malfunction was discovered. This creates a potential child safety risk, as the rear door may be opened from the inside when the child safety lock is expected to prevent this. The vehicle has not been modified, and the issue occurs under normal operating conditions. The dealer inspected the vehicle and advised that the repair would require replacement of the rear door latch/actuator but declined coverage due to the vehicle being out of warranty.