Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi S6, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine13
- Unknown or other4
- Power train3
- Electrical system2
- Service brakes1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Audi S6 failed the safety check 0.62% of the time — 68% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 66,445 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
928 new Audi S6 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (673), the United Kingdom (131), Italy (23).
- Average mass
- 2,021 kg
- Average power
- 331 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
50 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €146,123.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde10
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld6
- Band onvoldoende profiel6
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5
- Band beschadigd5
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse3
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan3
- Emissiebestrijdingssysteem niet compleet2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
118 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 3 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
24 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 50% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Audi S6 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 9.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 11.3 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 263 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S6 quattro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 8.8 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Audi S6.
| 2022133 23 Mar 2022 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, the oil strainer for the turbocharger oil supply could get blocked. If this happens, a turbocharger could fail. This could cause l… |
| 2018365 6 Jul 2018 | Airbag On certain vehicles, a problem with the passenger occupant detection system can cause illumination of the airbag warning light and the airbag system may not pro… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2016 Audi S6: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011303 | This bulletin provides information when the anti-theft alarm activates for no reason, or when the anti-theft alarm does not activate. |
| 11011296 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011263 | This bulletin provides information regarding cleaning exterior glass. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11009983 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11009941 | This bulletin provides diagnostic information regarding the locking system. |
| 11009928 | This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds. |
| 11009375 | This bulletin provides information pertaining to the GFF test plan required for A/C compressore replacements, regardless of the concern. |
| 11009365 | This bulletin provides information when there is visible corrosion at the joint between the roof and roof side member. |
| 11009362 | This bulletin provides information when there is a prompt to take over steering; hands off detection. |
| 11009361 | This bulletin provides information regarding steering wheel visual damage. |
| 11009356 | This bulletin provides informaion regarding zirconium inserts in the bake piston for vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes. |
| 11009354 | This bulletin provides information on frequency analysis. |
| 11009351 | This bulletin provides information regarding the general approach to brakes rubbing. |
| 11009348 | This bulleitn provides information when there is an implausible signal in the ABS/ESC speed sensor. |
| 11009347 | This bulletin provides information when there are vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11009344 | This bulletin provides information on repairs on the air spring strut of the frong axle; additional sealing. |
| 11009327 | This bulletin provides information when ther is an Engine: start/stop system fault shown and start/stop system not is working; mileage below 50 km/32 miles. |
| 11009313 | This bulletin provides guidance in order to provid informaiton regarding preparatoin when calling the Audi Technical Assistnce Center (TAC). |
| 11009312 | This bulletin provides informationw hen there are car was brush bristles trapped in the seam between the headlight and fender. |
| 11007354 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11007345 | This bulletin proves information when the bluetooth does not work, adaption channel deactivated. |
| 11007315 | This bulletin provides information vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation