Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 RS6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 RS6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 RS6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 RS6 | 43 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Suspension31
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Power train3
- Tires1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Fuel system, other1
- Electronic stability control1
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
804 RS6 cars are on the New Zealand register; 16% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 2024 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 2023 | 40 | 37 | 3 |
| 2022 | 44 | 39 | 5 |
| 2021 | 86 | 77 | 9 |
| 2020 | 74 | 67 | 7 |
| 2018 | 43 | 39 | 2 |
| 2017 | 55 | 46 | 8 |
| 2016 | 76 | 53 | 19 |
| 2015 | 57 | 52 | 4 |
| 2014 | 77 | 56 | 16 |
| 2013 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2009 | 28 | 0 | 25 |
| 2008 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2004 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2003 | 45 | 39 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 77 RS6 cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 2 of those collisions were fatal and 15 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | 22 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
5,702 RS6 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 273 | 8 |
| 2024 | 448 | 14 |
| 2023 | 457 | 12 |
| 2022 | 365 | 20 |
| 2021 | 458 | 31 |
| 2020 | 575 | 51 |
| 2018 | 193 | 7 |
| 2017 | 615 | 29 |
| 2016 | 593 | 31 |
| 2015 | 548 | 55 |
| 2014 | 404 | 48 |
| 2013 | 120 | 18 |
| 2010 | 47 | 23 |
| 2009 | 153 | 85 |
| 2008 | 159 | 93 |
| 2005 | 16 | 19 |
| 2004 | 89 | 117 |
| 2003 | 170 | 282 |
| 2002 | 19 | 37 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
1,044 RS6 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 88% passed first time, against 77% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 635 | 90% |
| 2014 | 117 | 86% |
| 2008 | 192 | 85% |
| 2003 | 100 | 79% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | RS6 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.8% | 8.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Tyres | 1.5% | 5.7% |
| Suspension | 1.5% | 6.1% |
| Brakes | 1.5% | 5.2% |
| Visibility | 0.6% | 4.1% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.4% | 2.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
4,248 new Audi RS6 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Croatia (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 294 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 713 | 290 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 265 | 223 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 759 | 223 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 835 | — |
| 2015 | 732 | — |
| 2014 | 585 | — |
| 2013 | 206 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 3 | — |
| 2010 | 148 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the RS6 in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The front left side airbag is not properly fixed and the seat may cause the area covered by the airbag to move slightly. As a result, the protective effect of the airbag is reduced, increasing the risk of injury in case of an accident. The product does not com…
The airbag may deteriorate over time and if deployed, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to burst and metal fragments could pass through the cushion material causing injury to occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on t…
The cylinder crankcase could be cracked, which could damage the pistons and consequently they may become jammed.This could lead to an engine failure, increasing the risk of an accident.
The propellant used in the airbag inflator of the passenger airbags, manufactured by Takata, may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity and high-temperature cycling. In the eve…
In isolated cases the fuel line may become damaged over time due to manufacturing problems. In the worst case this could cause fuel leakage and pose a potential risk of fire, which could cause burns or an accident with serious injuries.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
2 campaigns cover the RS6.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.
NHTSA recalls