repaired · 2024 Q2
Gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Risk. 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…
2016 Audi S6Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 19 owner complaints about the 2016 Audi S6, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-178 the manufacturer reports only 79% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 27, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Audi S6 has problems
19 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
13Engine
3Power train
2Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
1Fuel/propulsion system
1Forward collision avoidance
1Service brakes
1Steering
1Suspension
1Engine and engine cooling
11 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 0 |
| 1 other systems | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2016 Audi S6 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Audi.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other S6 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S6 median. How we score
'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'07'08'09'10'11'13'14'15'16'17'18'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Audi S6, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine Stall - Turbo FailureNo recall
- Engine Stall - Turbo FailureLed to recall 22V-178
In owners' words
What S6 owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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 for the crankcase ventilation valve to malfunction, causing a whistling noise in…
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 engine powered down. As a result, I was unable to steer the vehicle. Thankfully, I…
I was driving my car and it stalled out in the middle of an intersection which was totally unsafe and it would barely start. I was able to limp it to safety but it would not run or idle correctly. I had it towed to the local Audi dealership and they diagnosed the issue as being the turbos. The…
Own a 2016 S6?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.