Audi A6
EA888 Gen2 with 132 kW. Solid four-cylinder turbo, however prone to increased oil consumption from the known piston ring issues of early EA888 generations.
Worry engine — costly weakness looms
180 hp 2.0L with a known issue: timing chain stretch and tensioner failure. The risk of expensive repairs overshadows any driving pleasure.
Engine Weaknesses 5
The CDNB EA888 Gen1 is known for stretching timing chains and undersized chain tensioners. At 100,000–150,000 km the chain can skip and cause severe engine damage.
Symptoms: Rattling on cold start (disappears after warm-up), engine warning light, in extreme cases engine damage
Up to 785,000 EA888 engines (2008–2011) were built with undersized oil scraper rings (1.5 mm instead of 2 mm). Consumption of 1 liter per 800–1,000 km was not uncommon.
Symptoms: Top-up needed every 2,000–3,000 km, blue exhaust under load, oil consumption despite otherwise healthy engine
The N249 diverter valve on the CDNB wears out early and causes irregular boost pressure. Turbocharger bearing damage from oil starvation or improper shutdown after spirited driving is also known.
Symptoms: Hissing after throttle lift, power loss, fluctuating boost pressure, whistling from the turbo
As a direct injection engine, the CDNB intake valves are not washed by fuel and coke up with oil mist from the crankcase ventilation. A clean every 80,000 km is recommended.
Symptoms: Rough idle, stumbling during cold running, increased fuel consumption, power loss
The CDNB oil separator (PCV) tends to membrane tears, leading to vacuum leaks and running problems. The component has been revised multiple times. Wrong pressure variant when replacing can cause further problems.
Symptoms: Rough idle, rough running at idle, misfires, visible oil film on intake manifold
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
On model years 2015–2018, the locking bolt of the tow bar can fracture, potentially causing the trailer to become detached while driving. Free workshop visit required.
A material defect can cause the camshafts in the 3.0 TDI to fracture, leading to engine damage. Mainly affects vehicles from model year 2014 to early 2017.
The optional air suspension (AAS) is prone to failure through porous air bellows and defective compressors. Repair costs of 600–1,800 EUR per corner are possible.
LED headlights fail due to defective control modules or individual LEDs. Repair is often more expensive than replacement, as modules cannot be replaced individually.
The automatic climate control shows malfunctions from around 60,000 km: incorrect temperature regulation, blower stage issues or complete failure of individual zones on the three-zone system.
Wheel bearings, particularly at the rear axle, show increased wear at higher mileages. Regularly flagged on vehicles from 80,000 km.
On the C7, rust occurs primarily on the underbody and sills, sometimes in hard-to-reach areas. On vehicles over 7 years old, the underbody should be thoroughly inspected.
On V6 and V8 engines, engine mounts often wear from around 50,000 km, causing noticeable vibrations.