Used car guide · 1994–2026

Audi A6 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Audi A6, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 376,449 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1994 Audi A6

Too few Audi A6 cars first registered in 1994 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Audi A6 as a whole.

66on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 1994 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994

What usually goes wrong with an Audi A6?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Automatic gearbox failure (high mileage)

    Cars registered 2011–2018 · Multitronic and S tronic automatic

    Both the Multitronic and S tronic automatics can fail on high-mileage cars, and a replacement is a four-figure job.

    At the viewing: Drive in traffic and on the open road, and check for slipping, jerks or hesitation.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Audi A6 buying guide (2011-2018)

  • Electrical and infotainment faults

    Cars registered 2019–2025 · All engines

    It came last of 24 executive cars in What Car?'s survey: 44% had a fault, about two-thirds electrical or infotainment (phones not connecting, flickering screens), and nearly half took over a week to fix.

    At the viewing: Connect your phone, use the screens, and check every electrical item.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi A6 (2018 on) reliability

  • Electrical gremlins

    Cars registered 2004–2010 · All engines

    Electrical faults hit almost 40% of cars, and the engine ECU can fail, shown by warning lights or a sudden loss of power.

    At the viewing: Check every warning light goes out and test all the electrics.

    Source: What Car?: Audi A6 (2004-2011) reliability

  • Air conditioning faults

    Cars registered 2004–2010 · All engines

    Around a quarter of cars have air con faults.

    At the viewing: Make sure it blows icy cold with no damp or musty smell.

    Source: What Car?: Audi A6 (2004-2011) reliability

  • Brake recall (built 2012 to Aug 2014)

    Cars registered 2012–2014 · Built 2012 to Aug 2014

    Oil could get into the braking system on cars built from 2012 to August 2014, reducing braking. There was a recall.

    At the viewing: Ask for proof the recall was done.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Audi A6 buying guide (2011-2018)

  • Oil use (diesel)

    Cars registered 2004–2018 · Diesel

    The diesels can use oil between services.

    At the viewing: Check the oil level and ask how often it needs topping up.

    Source: What Car?: Audi A6 (2004-2011) reliability

  • Fuel gauge and parking brake glitches

    Cars registered 2011–2018 · All engines

    The fuel gauge can read empty with a full tank, and the electronic parking brake can refuse to release. A software update fixes both.

    At the viewing: Check the fuel gauge and that the parking brake releases cleanly.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Audi A6 buying guide (2011-2018)

  • Water in the rear lights

    Cars registered 2011–2018 · All engines

    Water can get into the rear light units, and new ones are expensive.

    At the viewing: Look for condensation inside the rear lights.

    Source: Carbuyer: used Audi A6 buying guide (2011-2018)

  • Rattles and trim buzzes

    Cars registered 2019–2025 · All engines

    Rattling parcel shelves and buzzing trim are reported.

    At the viewing: Drive on a rough road and listen.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi A6 (2018 on) reliability

Common Audi A6 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 11.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Coil springs

    up to 41× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2018.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Diesel

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 16.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Seat belts

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Windscreen

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

Audi A6 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Audi A6 did best (78% passed first time, 14 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2022 did worst (91%, 2 points above all 2022 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +31,020
202291%89% +24,294
202191%87% +49,381
202091%87% +410,889
201989%85% +426,609
201887%83% +424,420
201786%80% +627,966
201684%77% +739,483
201583%74% +933,611
201480%70% +1031,807
201379%67% +1231,000
201278%64% +1424,074
201173%62% +1120,795
201070%60% +1019,945
200969%59% +1012,790
200866%57% +916,976
200766%57% +916,755
200665%56% +99,770
200564%57% +75,571
200462%57% +53,279
200361%57% +42,204
200258%58% +01,275
200165%60% +5640
200062%61% +1643
199959%63% -4435 (small sample)
199867%65% +2199 (small sample)
199764%65% -1227 (small sample)
199670%66% +4270 (small sample)
199575%67% +8121 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Audi A6

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the gearbox had any work, and has its oil been changed on time?
  2. What has been fixed under warranty, and has the software been updated?
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Audi A6 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 16.7× as often on the Audi A6 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Audi A6 as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi A6?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score