The Lemon Index
2005Worse than average · most complaints: tires
45 owner complaints, first 3 years 18 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2000 Lexus ES 592000 BMW 5 Series 642000 Cadillac DeVille 76
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2000 Audi A6
- Brakes: ABS module / pump17 complaintsmostly at 76,000–114,000 miles (122,000–183,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Audi A6 (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 9 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 20V056000 (airbags), 06V198000 (electrical) and 04V133000 (electrical) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Audi sent dealers 99 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Oil leak in area of turbocharger”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Audi's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 45 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 27K to 52K miles (43K to 84K km) on the car (9 of all 45 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Intermittently vehicle will not start. When it does start it, runs on a limp. Dealer has not been able to duplicate or correct the problem.
2000 Audi A6 owner · NHTSA complaint 869495
More owner reports
Tire disintegrated. Tread separated completely from sidewalls, leaving only a small portion of sidewall on rim.
NHTSA complaint 750101
Vehicle can be driven as manual or automatic. When driven as an automatic vehicle slips out of gear. This is due to a wire harness gone bad. Dealer told this to consumer.
NHTSA complaint 878892
Problems Audi told dealers about
Audi sent dealers 99 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Oil leak in area of turbocharger
- Valve cover, diagnosing oil leakage from gaskets
- Coolant leak at oil cooler hoses
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
- Electrical · recall issued 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HALOGEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, CERTAIN CONNECTOR PINS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
- Electrical · recall issued 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.
Show all 4 recalls
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedDriver's side dash fire2006
- ClosedDrivers side dash fire2003–2004
- ClosedDrivers side dashboard fire2003
- ClosedBrake and clutch pedal bracket2002
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,400 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.7L 6-cyl, 2.8L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl.
Every Audi A6 year. 2000 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/audi-a6/?y=2000" title="Audi A6 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="330" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/audi-a6/2000/">Lemon Index</a> (2000 Audi A6 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2000 Audi A6 reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew a bit more than the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 134; 100 is average, lower is better). 2000 is one of the weaker years of a model that usually draws about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car. The Audi A6 year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2015.
What are the most common 2000 Audi A6 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (22%), electrical (16%) and engine (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2000 Audi A6 have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 Audi A6 get?
18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2000 Audi A6 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2000 Audi A6 cost in fuel a year?
About $4,400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2000 Audi A6 have?
2.7L 6-cyl, 2.8L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl.
What Audi A6 year is better than the 2000?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2015 drew the fewest (about a third as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works