2016 Audi S6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 19 complaints (68.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 31.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
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 | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Engine: 13; Unknown Or Other: 4; Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 7; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 11208147 · 2019-05-16 (May 16, 2019)
TURBOCHARGER(S) FAILURE DUE TO OIL FILTER SCREEN CLOGGING WITH CONTAMINANTS AT 47000 MILES CAUSING TURBOCHARGER BEARING FAILURE DESTROYING THE TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR WHEELS ALONG WITH COMPRESSOR HOUSING AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE FAILURE OCCURRED INDUCING LOSS OF ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL. HARSH SURGING OF THE ENGINE OCCURED. ONCE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN IDLE AND UNABLE TO BE DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406256 · 2021-04-03 (April 3, 2021)
POWER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. CLEAR LOSS OF BOOST. EVENTUAL COMPLETE ENGINE STALL. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF UNCOMMANDED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE TURBOS HAD FAILED DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL SUPPLY. THE OIL SUPPLY IS CUT OFF DUE TO THE SINGULAR TURBO OIL SCREEN BEING CLOGGED. REGULAR OIL CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED AT CORRECT INTERVALS. AUDI AFTER THE MIDDLE OF MY2016 INSTALLED A REVISED TURBO OIL SCREEN TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IT IS A KNOWN FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734968 · 2015-07-19 (July 19, 2015)
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY THE S6 DOWNSHIFTS WHICH MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. A DOWNSHIFT IS FOLLOWED BY ABOUT 1 SECOND OF THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING ENGAGED (SO NO POWER TO THE WHEELS) AND THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY THRUSTS FORWARD. THE ISSUE IS MORE PROFOUND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING 3RD TO 2ND AT ABOUT 20-30 MPH AND CAN RESULT IN REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT. APPARENTLY MANY S6 OWNERS FACE THE SAME ISSUE. AUDI HAS FIXED IT IN 2013 MODELS WITH SOFTWARE UPDATE BUT THE ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE LATEST MODEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450651 · 2022-02-06 (February 6, 2022)
I am having a transmission malfunction warning light on the dashboard that comes on. The car will not shift gears which is dangerous when driving in streets/highway. This is a known issue with the Audi S6 and related models and a class action lawsuit is in process. Audi is trying to charge few thousands dollars $8000-$12,000 to replace the mechatronic and clutch transmission system which is very prone to failure. Thank you
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406182 · 2021-04-03 (April 3, 2021)
I WAS ACCELERATING WITH TRAFFIC WHILE ON AN ON RAMP AND MERGING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER AND MY CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AT A RAPID PACE. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PRESSED. SECONDS AFTER THAT I LOST POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARDS AND COAST THROUGH 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. DURING WHICH TIME, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND HAD TO FIGHT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. I HAD THE CAR BROUGHT TO MY AUDI MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR TURBOS BLEW AND THAT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543563 · 2023-09-09 (September 9, 2023)
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 was able to “muscle” the car off the highway and onto a secondary roadway. Vehicle was towed. With the power steering locking-up and not being able to effectively steer the vehicle this is a HUGE safety issue and needs to be addressed with Audi. This …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11701826 · 2025-11-27 (November 27, 2025)
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 moisture and road salt. This led to a catastrophic loss of brake fluid and braking capability. This appears to be a systemic corrosion defect.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11701826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10943990 · 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)
THIS WAS A LOW MILEAGE (9K) LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD PRISTINE CONDITION AUDI S6. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND THEN PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER SAT IN THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE OFF PRIOR TO EXITING THE VEHICLE. BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE WE SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE. WE DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD FLAME AND SMOKE EMANATING FROM UNDER ITS HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AS WE WERE UNABLE TO DO SO WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE ENTIRE FRONT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10943990 at NHTSA ↗