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2019 Audi A6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
35%
40 of 114 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 Audi A6 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 61% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Audi A6 have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 40 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (32). 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.

Drivetrain complaints
40
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
114
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
2 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM84 · 74%
ENGINE32 · 28%
POWER TRAIN15 · 13%
STEERING12 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11 · 10%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE11 · 10%

The years either side

2010
too few complaints
2011
too few complaints
2012
57%
28 of 59
2013
57%
20 of 52
2014
32%
11 of 41
2015
too few complaints
2016
59%
26 of 51
2017
too few complaints
2018
too few complaints
2019
35%
40 of 114
2020
12%
4 of 33
2021
35%
9 of 26
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury sedans with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,ENGINE09/05/2019CRASH1 INJURED
MY 6 WEEK OLD AUDI A6 WAS TOTALED WHEN I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH! I LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK MY ODOMETER, AND WITHIN THAT TIME, NO WARNING SIGNALS , BRAKES, ETC. ALERTED ME! THIS CAR HAD ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES! THAT MORNING I WAS ON A TREE LINED DRIVE TO THE TENNIS COURTS! NO ALERTS! HIT A TREE AND ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYE…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE03/09/2019CRASH1 INJURED
STOP ENGINE OIL PRESSURE TOO HIGH LIGHT COMES ON DEALER DOES NOT HAVE SOLUTION. ENGINE COULD BLOW DURING OPERATION AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE RECALL NEEDED
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE08/17/2026
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 en…

Three of 40 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi A6 (7)

AIR BAGS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The scor…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Audi A6 vehicles equipped with mild-hybrid technology and 2.0TFSI engines. Moisture may ent…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT
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.…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Audi A6

Questions people ask about the 2019 Audi A6

Does the 2019 Audi A6 have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 40 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Audi A6?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the 2019 Audi A6. 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 2019 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Audi A6?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Audi A6 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental 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.