My Audi RS6 has experienced a failure involving the engine cooling system/water pump that requires repair. This appears to be a recurring issue among C8 RS6 owners. Other owners have reported water-pump failures, coolant loss, overheating, drivetrain malfunction warnings, turbo underboost faults, and vehicles entering reduced-power or limp mode. Audi has also issued technical service information addressing coolant-pump leakage and related cooling-system problems. I am asking NHTSA to investigate this issue because the potential safety consequences appear to extend beyond an expensive mechanical repair. If the cooling-system failure occurs while driving, the vehicle may overheat, display urgent coolant warnings, enter reduced-power/limp mode, or require the driver to immediately pull off the road. A sudden or significant reduction in available engine power can be dangerous, particularly while merging onto a freeway, passing, crossing traffic, or driving at highway speeds. Likewise, an overheating vehicle may force the driver to stop unexpectedly in an unsafe location. There appear to be numerous RS6 owners reporting similar water-pump and cooling-system failures, including vehicles with relatively low mileage. Because this failure can potentially affect propulsion and the driver’s ability to safely continue driving, I believe the frequency, root cause, affected production range, and safety consequences warrant investigation. My vehicle is outside the factory warranty and I am paying for the repair myself. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether this represents a safety-related defect affecting the C8 Audi RS6 and related vehicles.
- NHTSA ID
- 11766216
- Incident
- Sep 12, 2026