Reliable Auto DB

2016 Audi S6 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Audi S6 holds 19 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most S6 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Turbocharger and Occupant classification.

2013 Audi S6
Photo by Matti Blume, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

19

Per year

1

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (13 of 19), then Powertrain (3) and Electrical system (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 S6 has 5 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2017 has 5 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

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 2016 Audi S6. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall engine and cooling, engine, gasoline, turbocharger 2022-03-23 · NHTSA campaign 22V178000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
Remedy 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.
Recall air bags, sensor, occupant classification 2018-06-04 · NHTSA campaign 18V370000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (19 total)

Engine
13
Powertrain
3
Electrical system
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Show 2 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120151201712019120207202122022220233202412025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The front passenger-side 6-piston Brembo caliper's (Part No. 20.A989.63) external steel crossover tube failed due to corrosion, specifically where the tubing was covered by a protective rubber sleeve, which trapped…"
    Service brakes · filed 2025-11-27
  • "Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Defective Arnott Front Air Strut To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a significant safety concern regarding a defective Arnott FL front air strut purchased via…"
    Suspension · filed 2024-12-17
  • "We, a group of Audi S6 owners with vehicles from the 2013-2017 model years, are experiencing premature mechatronic issues. These problems manifest as jerking when coming to a stop, which can lead to accidents, and…"
    Powertrain, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2024-06-27
  • "Hi - The Crankcase Ventilation Valve Extended Warranty [XXX] covers only ten years or 120k miles. My car has close to 160k miles. According to NHTSA or Audi, “Audi has determined that, in some vehicles, it is possible…"
    Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2024-01-15
  • "While driving with my wife and kids, on the highway, in the rain a warning message was displayed. The warning stated: steering malfunction, please stop the vehicle!. At which point the power steering locked-up & the…"
    Steering, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2023-09-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Audi S6 4 DR AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

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
S6 4L, 8-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) All-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

C7 S6, 2013–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)
Tire size 255/40R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-370 covers certain 2013-2018 S6 and S7 vehicles (with A6 Sedan, A7, and RS7 equipped with basic seats) where wear of the front-passenger seat body-sensing mat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to malfunction so the passenger air bag may not deploy properly; dealers install a PODS repair kit. Recall 22V-178 covers certain 2013-2017 S6 Sedan vehicles (with A8, S7, S8, and RS7) whose turbocharger oil-supply strainer can become blocked, risking turbo bearing wear and an engine stall; dealers replace the strainer and change the oil. Both campaigns’ unit totals include the other Audi models named in NHTSA’s summaries.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Audi S6 Next year 2017 Audi S6 See every Audi S6 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Audi S6 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Audi S6 holds 19 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most S6 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Turbocharger and Occupant classification.

What are common problems with a 2016 Audi S6?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (13 of 19), then Powertrain (3) and Electrical system (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2016 Audi S6 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 S6 has 5 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2017 has 5 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Audi S6 been recalled?

The 2016 Audi S6 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 2016 Audi S6?

Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2016 Audi S6 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Audi S6 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Audi S6 is 21 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What S6 generations does this site track?

C7 (2013-2018) and C8 (2019-on).

What does recall 18V-370 cover on C7 S6?

Certain 2013-2018 S6 and S7 vehicles (with A6 Sedan, A7, and RS7 with basic seats): wear of the front-passenger seat body-sensing mat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System to malfunction so the passenger air bag may not deploy correctly.

Is oil specified on this S6 record yet?

Not yet with a sourced US fill — confirm Audi oil spec from the filler cap and owner’s manual.