Audi S6 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Audi S6 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1996 drew the fewest (1) and the 2013 the most (42).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Fuel system | — | — |
| 1997 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Fuel system | — | — |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Unknown or other | — | — |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2007 | 1 | 2 | Air bags | — | 16 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | Air bags | — | 16 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | Fuel system | — | 15 |
| 2008 | 2 | 2 | Air bags | — | 16 |
| 2020 | 2 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 22 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
3 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 22 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 18 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 22 |
| 2015 | 5 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 20 |
| 2017 | 5 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 21 |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | Fuel system | — | 15 |
| 2016 | 19 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 21 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
20 | 2 | Fuel system | — | 18 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
20 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 20 |
| 2013 Among the most complaints |
42 | 3 | Engine | — | 20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Audi S6 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2013 Audi S6: 42 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 33 (79%); Power train 8 (19%); Electrical system 3 (7%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2014 Audi S6: 20 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 14 (70%); Fuel/propulsion system 3 (15%); Suspension 3 (15%).
Reports mention 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 76,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Audi S6: 20 complaints
Most-reported: Fuel system 17 (85%); Electrical system 2 (10%); Structure 1 (5%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Audi S6 years with the fewest complaints
1998 Audi S6: 1 complaints
1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Audi S6 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 76,000 |
| 2013 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Audi S6 recalls
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2020–2025 model years; 356,894 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2025; 25V900000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2007–2011 model years; 237,947 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 18V427000)
- VW/DRIVERS SIDE DASH FIRE (1998–2004 model years; 172,866 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2004; 04V133000)
- Rearview Display Inoperative/FMVSS 111 (2021 model year; 170,296 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2022; 22V742000)
- Passenger's Air Bag may Deploy Improperly (2013–2018 model years; 139,249 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 18V370000)
All 21 Audi S6 recall campaigns · Audi S6 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Audi S6 years FAQ
Which Audi S6 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1996 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Audi S6 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2013, 2014 and 1995 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Audi S6 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (70 of 141 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Audi S6 have?
NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns covering the Audi S6. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Audi S6 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.