Transport CanadaCritical
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary heater connector may not be fully inserted into the heater, causing electrical resistance to build up in the circuit and creating a fire risk.
What the fix does
This page covers 5 recalls, 21 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Audi A6.
28 mpg combined
8.4 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2015 Audi A6 centers on the engine and cooling system. Owners most frequently report coolant-related failures, describing leaking water pumps, coolant spraying onto engine components, and low coolant warning messages appearing while driving or at startup. Several owners describe this as a recurring issue rather than a one-time event, and at least one report notes a dealer confirming the water pump as the source of the leak. A smaller number of engine complaints mention fault codes related to fuel sensors. Airbag complaints round out the top reported systems, though at lower volume. The coolant leak pattern is the clearest thread running through this complaint set, with owners describing both visible pooling under the vehicle and dashboard warnings prompting them to pull over.
21
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2015 Audi A6 has 5 recalls, the most serious involving multiple fire risks: an auxiliary heater electrical connector that can overheat and ignite, and an electric coolant pump on 2.0L turbocharged models that can overheat and also cause a fire.
The auxiliary heater connector issue and the coolant pump issue are distinct problems but share the same potential outcome. The connector, if not fully seated, builds up resistance in the circuit until the connector itself gets hot enough to start a fire. The coolant pump, found on vehicles with the 2.0L turbo engine, can become blocked by debris circulating through the cooling system, causing the pump motor to overheat. Prior repair attempts for the connector issue did not fully resolve the problem, which is why more than one recall campaign addresses it. On the safety equipment side, the front passenger seat contains a sensing mat that detects whether an adult or a smaller occupant is sitting there, and wear or stress on that mat can cause the detection system to misread the seat. If the system gets confused, the passenger airbag may not deploy with the right force in a crash, raising the risk of injury to whoever is sitting there.
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary heater connector may not be fully inserted into the heater, causing electrical resistance to build up in the circuit and creating a fire risk.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater and connector, replacing them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary heater's electrical connector may not be fully inserted, causing excessive electrical resistance that could affect heater function.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater connector and replace the heater and connector if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body-sensing mat in the front passenger seat may wear or stress over time, causing the passenger detection system to stop working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a passenger detection system repair kit at no cost to restore proper function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric coolant pump can become blocked by debris, causing overheating, or can short-circuit from moisture inside the pump.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric coolant pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric coolant pump can become blocked by debris in the cooling system, causing the pump to overheat.
What the fix does
Software will be updated to shut off power to the coolant pump if it becomes blocked with debris.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
