Used Audi A6 Avant 2011-2018 reliability
Category: Estate car
The Audi A6 Avant makes a great used buy, offering class-leading refinement, a quality interior, strong engines and a big boot for not much outlay
What should I look for in a used Audi A6 estate?
Check the bodywork carefully for any scuffs and dents picked up in city centre car parks or on school runs. The A6 Avant is a long car, and even though it can have parking sensors front and rear, it’s worth looking carefully at the bodywork and also at the alloy wheels, making sure they haven't picked up kerb damage.
Make sure that any A6 fitted with an automatic gearbox has had its fluid changed at regular intervals, otherwise you could be looking at an expensive gearbox replacement in the future. Ideally, both the S tronic and Multitronic (CVT) automatic gearboxes should have the oil changed at the recommended 38,000-mile limit.
The number of reported faults on the A6 Avant is relatively low, although problems with the car’s infotainment system are a cause for concern, with phones not connecting and flickering screens being the main complaints. The latest software from Audi can cure some of these ills. Despite the A6 Avant’s reputation for having a great interior, there have been some issues with rattling parcel shelves and buzzing from interior trims.
What are the most common problems with a used Audi A6 estate?
Airbags and seatbelt tensioner
Faulty airbags and seatbelt tensioners might have been fitted to some examples built between 1 May 2016 and 30 October 2016 and might not work correctly in a collision. Speak to an Audi dealer for further information and to find out if your car is affected.
Auxiliary heater element
An auxiliary heater element used in the air conditioning system of A6s made between 8 July 2014 and 31 October 2014 could fail. Contact your local Audi dealer for further information and to ascertain whether the recall to rectify this issue applies to your car.
Towing bracket
If your A6 is fitted with a hinged tow bar and was built between 2 December 2015 and 17 December 2018, the locking mechanism could be faulty. Book your car into an Audi dealer to have the tow bar inspected; a bracket might need to be replaced.
Panoramic glass roof
A small number of cars that were constructed between 16 July 2018 and 10 October 2018 and were fitted with a panoramic glass roof could have an issue with the bonding agent used to keep the glass panels in place. Find out from your local Audi dealer if your A6 is affected; it will need to have the panels stuck down again to solve the problem.
Fuel leak
There have been two recalls issued for the A6 that concern fuel leaks. The first is for cars made from 1 April 2011 to 30 April 2012; the second is for A6s made between 18 February 2014 and 2 September 2016. Find out from your local dealer if your car is affected.
Coolant pump
Particles in the engine coolant could end up blocking the pump and lead to it overheating. This applies to vehicles made between 1 May 2011 and 31 October 2016. Contact your Audi dealer, because affected cars will need to have the coolant system checked and any damaged parts replaced. A software update will also need to be performed.
Reduction in braking performance
On A6s made from 1 January 2012 to 27 August 2014, an issue with the diaphragm in the brake servo rupturing could result in a reduction in braking performance. Any Audi dealer will be able to let you know if your example is affected and will rectify the fault for you.
Is a used Audi A6 estate reliable?
In the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, this generation of A6 didn't feature, but the latest 2018-onwards version did. Unfortunately, it came last in the executive car category with an overall score of just 76.3%.
Reliability rating 76.3%
What went wrong? Engine electrics 22%, sat-nav/infotainment 22%, non-engine electrics 19%, gearbox/clutch 11%, bodywork 7%, interior trim 7%, air-con 4%, brakes 4%, engine 4%, steering 4%
The Audi A6 saloon has been blighted by a range of electrical issues: 44% had a fault, two-thirds concerning engine and non-engine electrical systems or the sat-nav/ infotainment. Although 83% could still be driven, 46% took more than a week to put right. However, 97% were repaired for free, and none cost more than £200.
Audi as a brand finished in 26th place out of 32 manufacturers with an overall score of 89.1% – a disappointing result. The brand finished above Alfa Romeo and Cupra but below its major rivals BMW and Mercedes.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
