Reliable Auto DB

2021 Audi RS 6 Avant reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant holds 4 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 RS 6 Avant years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Instrument cluster.

2021 Audi RS 6 Avant
Photo by Charles from Port Chester, New York, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
Complaints

4

Per year

1

Recalls

2

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 4), then Forward collision avoidance (1) and Powertrain (1).

Next to 2022

The 2022 RS 6 Avant has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2025-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 25V900000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2025-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 25V201000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Remedy Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90VC.

Complaints by component (4 total)

Electrical system
3
Forward collision avoidance
1
Powertrain
1
Steering
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120222202312025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The rear camera on the car repeatedly does not work. The car has been to the dealership for replacement parts several times with the problem recurring. The rear camera does not work most days. In addition, the other…"
    Visibility and wipers, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2025-01-17
  • "Loss of electrical power while cruising on the interstate at 65 mph. There was a series of warning messages, YELLOW colored malfunctions such as "Sport differential malfunction", "electric system malfunction". Then RED…"
    Steering, Powertrain, Electrical system · filed 2023-11-13
  • "The generator cut off and the car coasted to a stop. The generator on these vehicles is failing on almost every single one."
    Electrical system · filed 2023-01-04
  • "The last few times I've started my car, the instrument cluster takes multiple minutes before it turns on, while the yellow check engine and red warning lights flash repeatedly."
    Electrical system · filed 2022-07-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Audi RS 6 Avant SW AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
RS 6 Avant 4L, 8-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $4700

Specs and fitment

C8 generation, 2021–present
Body styles Avant
Oil 0W-40 or 5W-40 (Audi-approved; 4.0L V8) , 10.6 qt capacity
Tire size 275/35R21, 285/30R22

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V159000 covers certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant models (with RS7, A6 Allroad, S6, and S7) for an air bag concern as stated in NHTSA's summary. Recall 20V749000 covers certain 2021 RS6 models (with A6 Allroad, Q7, and RS7) for an electrical system concern. Recall 21V295000 covers certain 2021 RS6 Avant models (with Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, and RS7) for a rear axle concern. Recall 25V201000 covers certain 2021 RS6 Avant models (with SQ8, A6, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS7, and RS Q8) for an instrument cluster concern. Recall 25V900000 covers certain 2019-2026 Audi models including RS6 Avant where rearview camera software may prevent the image from displaying.

Compare

See every Audi RS 6 Avant model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant holds 4 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 RS 6 Avant years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Instrument cluster.

What are common problems with a 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 4), then Forward collision avoidance (1) and Powertrain (1).

Is the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 RS 6 Avant has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant been recalled?

The 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant?

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant is 17 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US Audi RS 6 Avant use?

0W-40 or 5W-40 (Audi-approved; 4.0L V8) With filter, about 10.6 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US Audi RS 6 Avant?

Published US specs commonly list front 275/35R21, 285/30R22 and rear 275/35R21, 285/30R22; confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Audi RS 6 Avant?

Recall 21V159000 covers certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant models (with RS7, A6 Allroad, S6, and S7) for an air bag concern as stated in NHTSA's summary. Recall 20V749000 covers certain 2021 RS6 models (with A6 Allroad, Q7, and RS7) for an electrical system concern. Recall 21V295000 covers certain 2021 RS6 Avant models (with Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, and RS7) for a rear axle concern. Recall 25V201000 covers certain 2021 RS6 Avant models (with SQ8, A6, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS7, and RS Q8) for an instrument cluster concern. Recall 25V900000 covers certain 2019-2026 Audi…