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Your vehicleHome›Audi›A6› 2017
Audi · Midsize Sedan

2017 Audi A6

Gas
Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 20
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Audi A6 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A6, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 20 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Audi A6 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Audi A6 · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A6GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243428$2,950
A6 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223125$3,300
A6 quattroGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl212924$3,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38029, 38028, 37717.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
A6, A6 quattro7 / 10LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
A6 quattro6 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower252 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Premium Plus, quattro Competition Prestige, quattro Premium, quattro Premium Plus). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length193.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.6 in
Height57.5 in
Wheelbase114.6 in
Track, front64.2 in
Track, rear63.8 in
Curb weight3,957–4,101 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear55/45

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan 2.0 Tfsi Quattro, 4-door Sedan 3.0 Tfsi Quattro. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2017 A6
Other years The 2027 A6 Recalls Audi recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Audi A6 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

24DP
74,881 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Nov 3, 2018 – Feb 1, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire. Fix Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V035000 reported Jan 16, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

74D5
139,249 vehicles 85% reported repaired built Oct 29, 2014 – Apr 30, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction. Risk If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V370000 reported Jun 4, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

VW: 69P4; Audi 69P2
5,947 vehicles 86% reported repaired built Sep 5, 2016 – Sep 23, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly. Risk In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V955000 reported Dec 29, 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific A6

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Audi publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Audi’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Audi A6, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2017 Audi A6

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this A6 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
20complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Air Bags 7
Steering 5
Engine 4
Electrical System 2
Unspecified 2
Lane Departure 2

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

My power steering went out & then all of a suffen I was driving & my steering wheel would not move my wheels
Steering Jun 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11746966
Engine mounts failed. They are fluid damped and the seals failed and leaked and now the motor is sitting loose in a metal on metal condition with the mounts collapsed. Additionally the manifold and timing chain cover leaks. Additionally the water pump failed. This is all on a car with <75k miles.
Engine Jun 25, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11596583
Passengers side blind spot warning system is intermittent working. Vehicle fails to register tractor trailer and cars on a random basis. Dealer states no codes, however it won’t show codes or an issue if it isn’t aware there is a vehicle present. Offered video proof of sensor not working properly, dealer still refused to repair
Lane Departure Sep 9, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11543568
Had the car parked in the driveway for about a week and half. When turned it on for the first time after that period, noticed the airbag light in the odometer panel continue to be on. Checked for any airbag recalls but found none.
Air Bags Jul 2, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11472118
The contact owns a 2017 Audi A6. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a stop sign, after lifting her foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to slow the vehicle by depressing on the brake pedal.
Vehicle Speed Control at 20,000 miles Nov 19, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11441047
I was at a stop light and automatic engine shut-off turned the vehicle off. However, when the light turned green car would not start. I had to put it in park and then turn the vehicle on/off to restart the vehicle
Electrical System Sep 26, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11434398

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Audi itself: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every A6 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 740
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 733 service bulletins, 5 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Structure.

  • TSB_2083409_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
  • TSB_2052680_2 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
  • TSB_2074846_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Steering
  • This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
  • TSB_2020552_15 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Visibility/Wiper
  • This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
  • TSB_2078648_4 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Structure — Body
  • This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
  • TSB_2030471_9 Service bulletin
    2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
  • TSB_2068999_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
  • This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
  • TSB_2051095_12 Service bulletin
    2026-09-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0441The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Fuel/Propulsion System · EVAP purge valve →2 bulletins
P0451Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Audi A6 failed the emissions check on 2.4% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 2.4%

failed emissions

503 initial inspections of 492 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 A6Every 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.4%3.7%501
Failed the safety inspection1.4%2.1%503
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.25%503
Miles driven a year9,30010,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer86,26793,238odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

A6 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 2026 A 1 9 24 mpg2025 B 2 7 26 mpg2024 A 1 3 26 mpg2023 A 1 3 27 mpg2022 C 5 4 26 mpg2021 D 12 27 26 mpg2020 F 9 34 27 mpg2019 D 7 114 27 mpg2018 B 2 11 28 mpg2017 this page C 3 20 28 mpg2016 C 3 51 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 A6

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Audi A6 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Audi A6. The most serious on file is 19V035000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Audi A6?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Audi A6 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Audi A6?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Audi A6, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Audi A6?

Transport Canada measured it at 193.7 in long, 73.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 114.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,957–4,101 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2017 Audi A6?

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi A6, most often about air bags, steering, engine. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2017 Audi A6?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Audi A6 runs 6 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Audi A6?

The manufacturer has filed 740 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Audi A6, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2017 Audi A6 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Audi A6 failed the emissions check on 2.4% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints20NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins740NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 A6 The A6 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Audi recall on file All campaigns filed against Audi vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this A6 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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