Audi S6

Where it stands out against its peers

• Engine: more complaints than 98% of 2013 cars — 79% of its 42 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 21%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 25 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 3 owners reported this
• ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

37% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V450000

  A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The safety recall is planned to begin in late October 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this campaign is 20U6/L8.

• 18V370000

  If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

• 21V159000

  An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

  Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70i2.

• 21V295000

  A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.

• 21V606000

  An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

  Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).

• 22V034000

  Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.

• 22V155000

  An inaccurate fuel reading may cause an engine stall due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DN.

• 22V178000

  Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.

6 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2022, closed May 2023.

• Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2021, closed May 2022.

  Became recall 22V178000.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Audi filed 496 bulletins about the 2025 S6.

• Electrical system: 225
• Structure: 53
• Power train: 22
• Suspension: 20
• Engine: 19
• Equipment: 14
• Fuel/propulsion system: 14
• Service brakes: 14
• Steering: 13
• Wheels: 9
• Other: 93

• This bulletin provides infomraiotn when there is a warning message in the instrument cluster: P0A1F00 battery control unit. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides information when DTC B105A1A, B103E25 is stored in 0017; fuel tank level implausible. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides information when DTC B105A1A, B103E25 is stored in 0017; fuel tank level implausible. · August 2026
• This service information TSB provides warranty coverage information for vehicles with a broken sunroof panel. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides informatoinw hent here are scratches or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles inside of the housing. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on. · August 2026
• This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring. · July 2026

488 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.