IllustrationMFR# KB & NHTSA# 96 V 017 000/IGNITION SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MALFUNCTION OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS THE HEAD LIGHT, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
1996 Audi A6
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Audi A6 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A6 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
225–50K
350–75K
275–100K
12100–150K
1150K+
21 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
38 reportsCONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 96/V/017/000. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK JLG
ORGINIAL OWNER HAD RECALL DONE FOR IGNITION SWITCH. PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK WITHOUT WARNING, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES STICK AND KEEP THE STARTER ENGAGED. OTHER TIMES, THE A/C, RADIO AND LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY SET THE KEY IN A POSITION THAT WOULD TURN THE IT…
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ORGINIAL OWNER HAD RECALL DONE FOR IGNITION SWITCH. PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK WITHOUT WARNING, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES STICK AND KEEP THE STARTER ENGAGED. OTHER TIMES, THE A/C, RADIO AND LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. CONSUMER HAD TO MANUALLY SET THE KEY IN A POSITION THAT WOULD TURN THE ITEMS ON. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DRIVING OVER A BUMP WOULD TURN ALL ELECTIRCAL ITEMS OFF. *TT
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT TURN BACK TO "MOTOR" POSITION AFTER ENGAGING THE STARTER. THE INTERNAL SPRING (FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH), IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. ANYTIME I START THE CAR I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO ROTATE THE KEY IN THE MOTOR POSITION; IF I DO NOT DO THIS, THE STARTER REMAINS ENGAGED AFTER THE ENGINE IS ON.I HAVE…
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THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT TURN BACK TO "MOTOR" POSITION AFTER ENGAGING THE STARTER. THE INTERNAL SPRING (FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH), IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. ANYTIME I START THE CAR I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO ROTATE THE KEY IN THE MOTOR POSITION; IF I DO NOT DO THIS, THE STARTER REMAINS ENGAGED AFTER THE ENGINE IS ON.I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER (AUDI/PORSCHE IN MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS OH 44130) TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AS A RECALL, BUT I AS TOLD THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR CARS OLDER THAN 1996. *AK
SOME ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS: HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND CLIMATE CONTROL, DO NOT FUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE HORN, DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIED WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. AUDI (BOTH THE DEALER AND NATIONAL) DOES NOT THINK IT IS A PROBLEM TO HAVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT DID NOT FEEL THEY NEEDED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS. …
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THE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE HORN, DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIED WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT WORKING. AUDI (BOTH THE DEALER AND NATIONAL) DOES NOT THINK IT IS A PROBLEM TO HAVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT DID NOT FEEL THEY NEEDED TO INFORM CUSTOMERS. THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM FIXED.
96 V 017 000/IGNITION SWITCH: INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH STARTING, AND INSTRUMENT FAILURE DURING OPERATING OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE SWITCHES BUT WAS NOT ON RECALL. *YH
COMPLETE POWER RACK & PINION STEERING REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, APPROXIMATELY $1,000. CAR HAD RECIEVED ALL REQUIRED CHECKUPS SINCE NEW BY VARIOUS AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALERSHIPS AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IF SYSTEM NOT REPLACED MAY HAVE LED TO MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. NO LOSS OF LIFE OR DAMAGE SUSTAINED. SYSTEM FLUID LEAKAGE R…
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COMPLETE POWER RACK & PINION STEERING REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, APPROXIMATELY $1,000. CAR HAD RECIEVED ALL REQUIRED CHECKUPS SINCE NEW BY VARIOUS AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALERSHIPS AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IF SYSTEM NOT REPLACED MAY HAVE LED TO MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. NO LOSS OF LIFE OR DAMAGE SUSTAINED. SYSTEM FLUID LEAKAGE RESULTED IN ABNORMAAL NOISE AND THEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT. IGNITION SWITCH STUCK ON ENGINE START POSITION
Official recalls
297V175000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
96V017000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jan 29, 1996
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.