2013 Audi S6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 42 complaints (78.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 12 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 33 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Child Seat:Critical Fasteners | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Engine: 33; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Air Bags: 2; Suspension: 2; Child Seat:Critical Fasteners: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 11; 2020: 6; 2021: 13; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11091979 · 2018-05-04 (May 4, 2018)
CAR SUDDENLY HAD A "ROUGH IDLE", I.E. SHAKING 1-2INCHES BACK-AND-FORTH WHILE IN IDLE, AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINUTES AT NORMAL CONDITIONS. SHUTDOWN CAR. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURNOVER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. TRIED AGAIN - ENGINE STARTED THE SECOND TIME. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, SO I ASSUMED CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DROVE CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND THEN I NOTED THAT THE CAR STARTED MAKING A FEINT GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT BOTH TURBOCHARGERS HAD FAILED, LIKELY DUE TO INADEQUATE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093581 · 2018-05-13 (May 13, 2018)
FAILED TURBOS CAUSING ENGINE TO RUN RICH AND STALL OUT AT ANY STOPS MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. MANY REPORTS OF MY2013-2016 AUDI S SERIES TURBOS FAILING/BLOWING OUT. TSB ISSUED FOR SUCH ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. AUDI OF AMERICA REPLACING WITH MY2017 TURBOS THAT HAVE ALL NEW PARTS NUMBERS SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY2013-2016 TURBOS.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11280475 · 2019-11-16 (November 16, 2019)
TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALVE FAILURE. AUDI HAS ISSUED TSB FOR SEVERAL MODELS RELATED TO SAME FAILURE MODE. COOLANT SPRAYS FROM COOLANT VALVE ONTO ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS INTERNAL TO TRANSMISSION CAUSING CORROSION WITHIN THE CONNECTORS. TWO FAULT MODES. 1. VEHICLE FAILS TO START AS VEHICLE DOESN'T KNOW TRANSMISSION CONDITION (NEUTRAL, PARK OR OTHERWISE). 2. IF YOU CAN GET IT TO START - VEHICLE IS IN LIMP MODE SERVICE 2WKS TO REPLACE FAILED VALVE AND REPAIR CORRODED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS WITHIN TRANSMISSION
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11280475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11494663 · 2022-11-23 (November 23, 2022)
I noticed my car wouldn’t engage in reverse when shifted so I took it in for a transmission flush and it was performed and 2 days later I got a light on dash saying transmission overheating . And the car completely lost power while on freeway and went from 60 to 20 miles per hour and will not shift past first gear . So I took it back in to dealer paid diagnostic fee and then was told my transmission was bad and had to be replaced and was quoted a price of 15683$
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11494663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876389 · 2016-06-24 (June 24, 2016)
I AM HAVING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI OF AMERICA (AOA) DOES NOT SEEM TO REALLY CARE. IT ALL STARTED IN AUG 2015 AND A BUNCH OF FAULT CODES CAME ONE. THE SECOND TIME, I BELIEVE, WAS JAN 2016 AND I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AND SUDDENLY ABOUT 5 FAULT CODES SHOWED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR'S STEERING STIFFENED UP AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CATASTROPHE IF I WAS NOT ABLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11645758 · 2025-03-01 (March 1, 2025)
Was just driving down the highway at normal speed and my car lost all power, every like came up on the dash and disabled my power steering causing me to almost crash. Took it to the shop mechanic tells me the turbos failed due to oil screen and it will cost me $8,000 Not sure why they failed I have amazing service records on my car. This needs to be a recall.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11645758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532666 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)
I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE GEAR AND THEN PRESSED SLIGHTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I CHECKED MY HAND BRAKE AND REGULAR BRAKE. BOTH WERE DISENGAGED. SO I PRESSED A LITTLE MORE AND MORE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO GROWL LIKE CRAZY AND THE CAR REFUSED TO EVEN MOVE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST LAUNCHED ITSELF. I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. IT WAS VERY SCARY. I SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME NO TROUBLE. SIMILAR THING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT. FIRED MY CAR UP, PUT MY CAR IN "D". PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406197 · 2021-04-03 (April 3, 2021)
HAVING JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND STOPPED AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP, MY 2013 AUDI S6 STARTED TO STALL AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE I LOST ALL FORWARD POWER, AVOIDING TRAFFIC IN MOTION IN PROXIMITY TO MY VEHICLE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER A CHECK TO INSURE THINGS SUCH AS A PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS IN THE GAS TANK. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE CAR FAILED, I HAD THE S6 FLAT BEDDED TO THE NEAREST AUDI DEALER FOR REPAIR. I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,549 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406197 at NHTSA ↗