2022 Audi A6: Reliability, Recalls, Known Issues & Cost to Own
Data last updated 2026-07-04 · sources listed throughout · based on public NHTSA data
By 2022 the C8 A6 had shed most of its early electrical bugs; a comfortable, well-built used pick if you budget for premium fuel and pricey luxury upkeep. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2022 Audi A6. 3 known issue patterns are documented below, with frequency and the mileage windows where they typically appear. New, the 2022 Audi A6 ranged from $55,900 to $69,500 depending on trim (base MSRP, before options and destination).
This listing
Context from the listing you were viewing, not a market-price judgement.
By 2022 the C8 A6 had shed most of its early electrical bugs; a comfortable, well-built used pick if you budget for premium fuel and pricey luxury upkeep.
Sources (4)
- cargurus.comhttps://www.cargurus.com/research/articles/audi-a6-buying-guide
- cars.usnews.comhttps://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/audi/a6
- cartriple.comhttps://cartriple.com/audi-a6-reliability-and-years-to-avoid/
- repairpal.comhttps://repairpal.com/reliability/audi/a6
Known issues
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Electrical-system failures: alternator/generator faults can trigger electrical-malfunction warnings and, in some cases, a sudden loss of power steering and braking while driving; central-locking/door-lock malfunctions also reported.
commonly reported · 84 NHTSA complaints · electrical
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Coolant/water-pump leaks and reports of EA839 3.0T cylinder-wall and piston-skirt scoring on the turbocharged V6.
occasional · 30 NHTSA complaints · engine
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Automatic start/stop and infotainment software glitches: start/stop system fails to restart (emissions service action 27BQ) and the MMI touchscreen can freeze or restart.
occasional · 12 NHTSA complaints · electrical
Based on public NHTSA complaint data and AI synthesis: patterns, not guarantees.
Sources (3)
- api.nhtsa.govhttps://api.nhtsa.gov/complaints/complaintsByVehicle?make=audi&model=a6&model…
- api.nhtsa.govhttps://api.nhtsa.gov/complaints/complaintsByVehicle?make=audi&model=a6&model…
- api.nhtsa.govhttps://api.nhtsa.gov/complaints/complaintsByVehicle?make=audi&model=A6%20SED…
Recalls & safety
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2022 Audi A6. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
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EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT #22V806000 · 26/10/2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
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ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM) #22V368000 · 23/05/2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 Audi A6 Sedan, A4 Sedan, Q5, and Q5 Sportback vehicles. The semiconductor inside the engine control unit may short-circuit and cause an engine stall.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24iH.
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM #22V861000 · 21/11/2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, A6 Allroad, 2021-2022 RS7, RS6 Avant, 2019-2022 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90V2.
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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA #25V900000 · 19/12/2025
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT #22V155000 · 14/03/2022
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. The fuel level sender may stick, causing an inaccurate fuel level reading to be displayed on the instrument cluster.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DN.
Whether a recall is still open on a specific car depends on its VIN. Check it free at NHTSA's VIN lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls), or ask the seller for proof the repair was done.
This model year wasn't NCAP crash-tested: a gap, not a bad sign.
Trims & original pricing
| Trim | Original base MSRP | New today | Engine | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | $55,900 | $64,100 | — | — |
| Premium Plus | $59,800 | $67,500 | — | — |
| Prestige | $69,500 | $71,400 | — | — |
Prices are base MSRP for each trim's standard configuration. Options, packages, and destination charges added to what original buyers actually paid.
2021-2023 cars held unusually high used values due to pandemic-era supply shortages, so comparisons to original MSRP read differently for these years.
Sources (2)
- iseecars.comhttps://www.iseecars.com/car/2022-audi-a6-price
- iseecars.comhttps://www.iseecars.com/car/audi-a6-price
Depreciation
Move your cursor along the line to see the estimated value for any year.
This listing sits above the typical depreciation curve. Common for heavily-optioned cars and for 2021-2023 model years (pandemic-era pricing); the curve is anchored at base MSRP, which excludes options.
Curve anchored at the entry-trim base MSRP ($55,900). Higher trims started higher (up to $69,500), and options added more.
Curve outlook: a typical 2022 loses roughly another 38% of its value over the next 3 years. These are estimates from public data, not a market-price claim.
2021-2023 cars held unusually high used values due to pandemic-era supply shortages, so comparisons to original MSRP read differently for these years.
Sources (1)
- iseecars.comhttps://www.iseecars.com/car/audi-a6/resale-value
Cost to own
| Repairs (rises with mileage) | ≈ $900–950/yr |
| Insurance (medium tier) | ≈ $1,900–2,000/yr |
| Expected lifespan | ~200k miles |
Requires premium fuel
National-average estimates based on public data. Your costs vary by region, driver, and condition.
Sources (2)
- repairpal.comhttps://repairpal.com/reliability/audi/a6
- moneygeek.comhttps://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/audi-a6-insurance/
Frequently asked questions
What problems does the 2022 Audi A6 have?
Documented issue patterns include: Electrical-system failures: alternator/generator faults can trigger electrical-malfunction warnings and, in some cases, a sudden loss of power steering and braking while driving; central-locking/door-lock malfunctions also reported; Coolant/water-pump leaks and reports of EA839 3.0T cylinder-wall and piston-skirt scoring on the turbocharged V6; Automatic start/stop and infotainment software glitches: start/stop system fails to restart (emissions service action 27BQ) and the MMI touchscreen can freeze or restart. Frequency is based on public NHTSA complaint data: patterns, not guarantees.
Does the 2022 Audi A6 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns, affecting: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Is the 2022 Audi A6 reliable?
By 2022 the C8 A6 had shed most of its early electrical bugs; a comfortable, well-built used pick if you budget for premium fuel and pricey luxury upkeep.
How much did the 2022 Audi A6 cost new?
Between $55,900 and $69,500 depending on trim. Those are base MSRPs for each trim's standard configuration; options, packages, and destination charges added to what original buyers actually paid. 2021-2023 cars held unusually high used values due to pandemic-era supply shortages, so comparisons to original MSRP read differently for these years.
Is the Audi A6 expensive to maintain?
Estimated repairs run roughly $900–950/year as mileage climbs. Note: it requires premium fuel.
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Estimates are based on public data: patterns, not guarantees. CarVitals is not affiliated with NHTSA, CarMax, AutoTrader, or Cars.com. Issue frequencies come from public NHTSA complaint data, which has no denominator, so they describe reporting patterns, not failure probabilities. Always have a used car inspected before buying. How we build these reports.