MajorCommonSuspension

Audi A6: Air Suspension Strut Perishing and Compressor Failure (C7)

Air Suspension Strut Perishing and Compressor Failure (C7) is a common suspension fault on the Audi A6 on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 34 documented faults on the Audi A6.

Vehicle: Audi A6
Years: 2011–2018
System: Suspension

This page covers the Audi A6 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi A6 faults34 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut or Shock absorber / strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The C7 A6 equipped with air suspension (standard on some Quattro variants and optional on others) uses air struts with rubber air bags that perish with age. Cracked air bags cause one or more corners to sag. The compressor runs continuously to compensate, overheating and burning out. Both front and rear struts fail; rear struts are the most common failure point on C7 examples in NZ. Given the age of C7 imports now entering the NZ used market, this fault is increasingly common and is frequently undisclosed by private sellers.

What you would notice

Car sitting noticeably lower at one or more corners when parked
Air suspension or chassis fault warning on the Audi MMI cluster
Compressor audible running continuously from the boot area
Hissing noise from a wheel arch, particularly at the rear

How to check it

Where to look. Air struts at each corner; air suspension compressor in the rear of the boot or spare wheel well

Inspect ride height at all four corners for consistency.
Listen near each wheel arch with the engine off for air leaks.
Scan the suspension control module for fault codes including compressor overtemperature.
Confirm whether the car raises and lowers correctly across all height settings.
Ask how long the fault has been present.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut, Shock absorber / strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does the car sit level at all four corners at all times, including after sitting overnight?”
“Has any air strut or the compressor been replaced?”
“Any suspension warning lights active or recorded in history?”

Now check the Audi A6 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Audi A6 buyer questions

Is air suspension strut perishing and compressor failure (c7) serious on a Audi A6?

We rate it major and common on the Audi A6. The C7 A6 equipped with air suspension (standard on some Quattro variants and optional on others) uses air struts with rubber air bags that perish with age. Cracked air bags cause one or more corners to sag. The compressor runs continuously to compensate, overheating and burning out. Both front and rear struts fail; rear struts are the most common failure point on C7 examples in NZ. Given the age of C7 imports now entering the NZ used market, this fault is increasingly common and is frequently undisclosed by private sellers.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi A6?

$1,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi A6 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Audi A6. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Inspect ride height at all four corners for consistency. Listen near each wheel arch with the engine off for air leaks. Scan the suspension control module for fault codes including compressor overtemperature. Confirm whether the car raises and lowers correctly across all height settings. Ask how long the fault has been present. Look here: Air struts at each corner; air suspension compressor in the rear of the boot or spare wheel well