Which Years Of Used Audi A6s Are Most Reliable?
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Audi is one of the most recognizable luxury brands, known for its top-quality vehicles that combine comfort, refinement, and driving dynamics. With that said, Audi has released numerous excellent cars and SUVs over the years, but certainly, one of the most popular is the Audi A6. Designed to compete with the BMW 5-Series, the Audi A6 luxury midsize sedan focused more on upscale interior features, comfort, performance, and overall luxury feel.
The Audi A6 is a solid option in this highly competitive segment if you want to purchase a used luxury midsize sedan. However, everyone knows that when buying a used vehicle, you should consider long-term reliability. That’s where it can get tricky because luxury vehicles are not known for their reliability.
No worries because CoPilot is here to help. Today, we’ll walk you through the recent A6 generations to determine the most reliable Audi A6 year and which particular years to avoid.
2005-2011 Audi A6 (3rd Generation)
Unless you enjoy paying for expensive engine repairs and the like, we recommend starting your search with the third generation A6. The interiors have held up really well, and overall it was a surprisingly reliable platform.
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Avoid: 2005 Audi A6
Like many generation debut models, the 200 Audi A6 has received many complaints and significant reliability issues. According to CarComplaints, the 2005 Audi A6 had accumulated 127 complaints and three recalls. Various websites and community forums claimed that the 2005 Audi A6 had a problematic transmission system and experienced symptoms like rough shifting and loss of power. An AudiWorld user wrote:
My car always had some rougher shifts and others I can’t even feel. So maybe about a month ago, I go a transmission fluid flush. I noticed a little bit of a difference but today I was in traffic and I was coasting up a hill to slow down instead of braking and my RPM’s slammed down from 2000 to 1000. It felt like a loss of power almost.
In addition, the Audi A6 was also affected by the notorious Takata airbag recalls. Therefore, ensure the airbags were replaced correctly when buying a used 2005 A6. However, the Takata recall shouldn’t be so bad if not for the engine and transmission issues – for that, the 2005 A6 is a skip for us.
THE AUDI A6 YEARS TO AVOID
The Audi A6 began production in 1994 and is still going on today, an impressive twenty-seven-year timespan. You can find quality Audi A6 options all over, both new and used. However, there are some Audi A6 years to avoid.
Buy: 2009 Audi A6
If you’re interested in buying an older A6 midsize sedan, the 2009 model year is a solid option to consider. This luxury midsize car offers excellent safety scores, a spacious cabin, and fuel economy. As per the NHTSA, the 2009 Audi A6 received only 21 complaints and four recalls. Most of the complaints were about the Takata recalls, so it’s not a huge deal as long as the airbags are replaced. For older Audi A6 models, 2009 is the most reliable Audi A6 year.
2012-2018 Audi A6 (4th Generation)
The 4th generation redesign brought many improvements to the A6 sedan, including a more luxurious interior, comfier seats, and an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission.
Avoid: 2012 Audi A6
As a generation debut model, the 2012 Audi A6 is certainly not the most unreliable vehicle out there, but it had some rough issues we can’t afford to ignore. Based on the data collected by CarProblemZoo, the 2012 Audi A6 struggled with engine and engine cooling problems. According to one user, the car refused to start and had to be taken to a mechanic. After inspection, the mechanic found that the engine was shot and needed a replacement. Even worse, the repair would have cost him a whopping $25,000.
In addition, some people reported that an O-ring failure has caused the transmission system to leak fluid internally, resulting in various electrical issues. Don’t get us wrong, the 2012 Audi A6 can be a reliable sedan in the right circumstances, but it’s hard to overlook the engine issues.
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Buy: 2013 Audi A6
Thankfully, the following A6 model year was a significant improvement over the 2012 version. When it comes to reliability, the 2013 Audi A6 simply performed better than the debut 2012 model. According to Consumer Reports, the 2013 Audi A6 has an overall reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0. The A6 received high marks from the consumer guide website in many trouble spots, including transmission, drive system, exhaust, body hardware, and electronics.
Unfortunately, the 2013 A6 also had engine problems and got a 1.0 out of 5.0 score from Consumer Reports. However, the engine issues were nowhere near as widespread as earlier years. Therefore, the 2013 model deserves to be called the most reliable Audi A6 year.
Buy: 2014 Audi A6
If you’re worried about potential engine issues with the 2013 model year, the 2014 A6 might be a better option. Once again, Consumer Reports gave the 2014 A6 a respectable score of 4.0 out of 5.0 in reliability and the same score for owner satisfaction. However, CR did provide the A6 with low scores in brakes and power systems (cruise control, keyless entry, body control module, etc.) Meanwhile, CarComplaints logged only 47 complaints and four recalls for this A6 model year, which is impressive for an almost decade-old model.
2019-Present Audi A6 (5th Generation)
The 5th generation Audi A6 provides precisely what you can expect from a midsize luxury sedan, including more refined engines and new tech features.
Avoid: 2019 Audi A6
We’re inclined to recommend that our readers skip the first models of each new redesign or generation due to long-term reliability issues – the 2019 Audi A6 is no exception. While the 2019 A6 offers a good deal of tech features and a refined powertrain, it received many complaints about its electrical systems. The 2019 A6 was apparently plagued by alternator issues, and many drivers had to wait for replacement parts.
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Buy: 2020 Audi A6
Suppose you don’t mind buying a newer A6 model and have the budget for it. In that case, the 2020 A6 is relatively problem-free with a lively engine lineup, enjoyable ride quality, and a luxurious cabin. However, the smaller trunk space is a lot smaller than its competitors.
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