Reliability & cost of ownership
Audi S6 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Audi S6? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Audi S6 problems by model year
59 recall entries and 141 owner complaints on file across 27 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 S6 | 1 | 3 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2024 S6 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 S6 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2022 S6 | 4 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 S6 | 10 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 S6 | 6 | 2 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 S6 | 1 | 4 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 S6 | 2 | 5 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2016 S6 | 2 | 19 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 S6 | 2 | 5 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2014 S6 | 3 | 20 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 S6 | 3 | 42 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 S6 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2010 S6 | 2 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2009 S6 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 S6 | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2007 S6 | 2 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 S6 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2003 S6 | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 S6 | 2 | 7 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2001 S6 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2000 S6 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1999 S6 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1998 S6 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1997 S6 | 0 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1996 S6 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1995 S6 | 2 | 20 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Audi S6, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine70 complaints
- fuel system, gasoline21 complaints
- electrical system17 complaints
- power train16 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system12 complaints
- unknown or other10 complaints
- suspension7 complaints
- steering7 complaints