Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi A6. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Improperly Welded Fuel Rails May Leak Fuel
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.
Auxiliary Heater Connector may Overheat
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi A6 Sedans and 2015 Audi A7 vehicles. The auxiliary heater electrical connector on these vehicles may have been incorrectly inserted into the auxiliary heater, possibly resulting in increased electrical resistance.
- Consequence
- The extra resistance can cause the connector to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater connector, replacing the auxiliary heater and connector, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 82C1.
Passenger's Air Bag may Deploy Improperly
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (51)
51 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 33.3% |
| Air bags | 8 | 15.7% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 15.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 11.8% |
| Power train | 5 | 9.8% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 5.9% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 5.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 5.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3.9% |
How 2016 compares with other A6 years
Best and worst A6 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 59 | 8 |
| 2013 | 52 | 6 |
| 2014 | 41 | 4 |
| 2015 | 22 | 4 |
| 2016 | 51 | 3 |
| 2017 | 20 | 3 |
| 2018 | 11 | 2 |
| 2019 | 114 | 7 |
| 2020 | 25 | 9 |
| 2021 | 17 | 11 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Audi A6 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 30 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 343 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 30 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 38 / 30 | $3,200 | 343 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | $2,950 | 315 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 25 | $3,300 | 343 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 24 | $3,400 | 375 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 A6 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Audi A6 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A6 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 19V035000 (fuel system), 18V862000 (electrical), 18V370000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Audi A6 problems?
Owners filed 51 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (17), Air bags (8), Electrical system (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Audi A6 get?
EPA rates the 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 25 city, 38 highway and 30 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Audi A6 get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Audi A6 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 A6 compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Audi A6 model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (11) and the 2019 the most (114). The 2016 drew 51. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.