2016 Audi S6: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TURBO FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES STATIONARY WOULD NOT START

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355614 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

BOTH MY TURBOS FAILED ON MY CAR ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN 2019. I WAS COMING HOME FROM DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER 90 MINUTES AWAY. AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AND STARTING TO MOVE ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR DECIDED TO COMPLETELY STALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE TO SHOULDER AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP AS I WAS ON A ONE LANE ROAD. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY CAR HAD BOTH TURBOS FAIL. I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK A MONTH LATER AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD A COOLANT LOSS ISSUE AS WELL AS A SURGE ISSUE. THE COOLANT LOSS ISSUE REQUIRES ME …

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406277 at NHTSA ↗

OIL SCREEN INTERIOR OF ENGINE (NON-SERVICEABLE) CLOGGED WHICH PREVENTED TURBO CHARGERS FROM RECEIVING OIL. BOTH TURBO CHARGERS FAILED WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON TWO LANE CITY STREET. ENGINE DIED, POWER WAS LOST, AND STEERED VEHICLE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH BRICK MAILBOX. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A STOP IN ROADWAY (NO SHOULDER) BUT WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED VEHICLE TO AUDI DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED TURBO FAILURE FROM CLOGGED OIL SCREEN AND PRESENTED A $12,732.74 QUOTE FOR LABOR AND REPLACEMENT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407510 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

Reported: 2022-03-23 (March 23, 2022)

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.

Consequence: 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 crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.