RoadVitals

2013 Audi S6 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
42
Latest Feb 4, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Audi S6, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine3460.7%
  • Fuel system35.4%
  • Electrical35.4%
  • Airbags23.6%
  • Suspension23.6%
  • Driver assistance11.8%
  • Seat belts11.8%
  • Steering11.8%
  • Interior & seats11.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

34
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Was just driving down the highway at normal speed and my car lost all power, every like came up on the dash and disabled my power steering causing me to almost crash. Took it to the shop mechanic tells me the turbos failed due to oil screen and it will cost me $8,000 Not sure why they failed I have amazing service records on my car. This needs to be a recall.

NHTSA ID 11645758 · filed Mar 1, 2025

the 2013 Audi 4.0T generation have a massive issue where the engine start leaking from the bottom of the crankcase where the block connects to it and to fix all these issues audi is asking a rebuild of the entire engine this issue is very common on the 2013 2014 2015 S6 S7 S8 with the 4.0T worldwide problem

NHTSA ID 11619889 · filed Oct 15, 2024
All 34 reports naming engine

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I was driving my Audi when I got transmission malfunction light on along with suspension fault and epc light and check engine light all together and the car wouldn’t go faster than 20 mph. Causing someone to rear end me and them fleeing . So not only was my car hit because of this but I had no driver to hold responsible for the damage

NHTSA ID 11715436 · filed Feb 4, 2026

Was just driving down the highway at normal speed and my car lost all power, every like came up on the dash and disabled my power steering causing me to almost crash. Took it to the shop mechanic tells me the turbos failed due to oil screen and it will cost me $8,000 Not sure why they failed I have amazing service records on my car. This needs to be a recall.

NHTSA ID 11645758 · filed Mar 1, 2025
All 8 reports naming powertrain (other)

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Recently learned that my car broke down on my spouse in an extremely unsafe location due to turbo failure(s) probably caused by the turbo oil inlet screen. She was on a busy street when the car shut off on her putting her in an extremely unsafe situation to move the car and wait for tow truck service. The car is still with the Audi dealership for repairs but has been confirmed that this is the likely incident and fixing it will likely prevent further issues. This car has only been to Audi certified technicians at dealerships for the entire time I've owned the car and I was never notified that this is a common occurrence in these models with the turbo. Numerous online forums are dedicated to discuss the common occurrence when researching this particular issue going back a few years, mostly astounding a recall hasn't been issued. There was no warning lamp for the issue to warn us of the impending failure.

NHTSA ID 11447092 · filed Jan 11, 2022

WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON MY 2013 AUDI S6 BOTH TURBO CHARGES FAILED AND AUDI IS NOW CHARGING ME $9,000 TO REPLACE BOTH TURBO CHARGES WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 100,000 TO 125,000 MILES. THIS ISSUE OCCURED WHILE ON THE ROAD IDLING AT A LIGHT AND CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO START AND TO SHAKE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY.

NHTSA ID 11407450 · filed Apr 11, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON MY 2013 AUDI S6 BOTH TURBO CHARGES FAILED AND AUDI IS NOW CHARGING ME $9,000 TO REPLACE BOTH TURBO CHARGES WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 100,000 TO 125,000 MILES. THIS ISSUE OCCURED WHILE ON THE ROAD IDLING AT A LIGHT AND CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO START AND TO SHAKE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY.

NHTSA ID 11407450 · filed Apr 11, 2021

TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALVE FAILURE. AUDI HAS ISSUED TSB FOR SEVERAL MODELS RELATED TO SAME FAILURE MODE. COOLANT SPRAYS FROM COOLANT VALVE ONTO ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS INTERNAL TO TRANSMISSION CAUSING CORROSION WITHIN THE CONNECTORS. TWO FAULT MODES. 1. VEHICLE FAILS TO START AS VEHICLE DOESN'T KNOW TRANSMISSION CONDITION (NEUTRAL, PARK OR OTHERWISE). 2. IF YOU CAN GET IT TO START - VEHICLE IS IN LIMP MODE SERVICE 2WKS TO REPLACE FAILED VALVE AND REPAIR CORRODED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS WITHIN TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID 11280475 · filed Nov 16, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIRBAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY

NHTSA ID 11232205 · filed Jul 16, 2019

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY, IT EXHIBITS THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THE RECALLS SON OTHER A6 BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HAPPENS RANDOMLY

NHTSA ID 11183260 · filed Feb 28, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORN OUT CAUSING SQUEAKING AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE PATH DURING ACCELERATION IN ALL SITUATIONS. OIL FILTER UNDER PVC VALVE CLOGGED AND STARVED TURBOCHARGER OF OIL CAUSING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 11354107 · filed Sep 10, 2020

CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROAD AND SHUT OFF WHILE ON ROAD. CEL WENT ON AND ALL SYSTEMS LIT UP ON DASH AS FAILED. T

NHTSA ID 11322168 · filed Apr 24, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM HAVING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI OF AMERICA (AOA) DOES NOT SEEM TO REALLY CARE. IT ALL STARTED IN AUG 2015 AND A BUNCH OF FAULT CODES CAME ONE. THE SECOND TIME, I BELIEVE, WAS JAN 2016 AND I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AND SUDDENLY ABOUT 5 FAULT CODES SHOWED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR'S STEERING STIFFENED UP AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CATASTROPHE IF I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THERE IS ON I-95 INCLUDING LOTS OF SEMI-TRUCKS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AND I SLOWLY DROVE HOME. I ALSO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY NEWBORN IN IT EVERYDAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND FLAT BEDDED THE CAR TO THEM. THEY SAW THE FAULT CODES AND WERE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED SO THEY TALKED TO SOMEONE AT AOA. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING A MODULE AND ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS FIXED. WELL ON JUNE 8, 2016 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AGAIN I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS ON BACK ROADS WITH NO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, I DID HAPPEN TO HAVE MY NEWBORN WITH ME! I AM FURIOUS BECAUSE HIS LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY NOW. I IMMEDIATELY CALL AOA INSTEAD OF THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME AND THEY OPENED UP A CASE. AOA SAID TO FLATBED THE CAR AGAIN TO YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AFTER 3 DAYS, THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS A GROUND FAULT WITH THE CAR. AOA CALLED ME AND SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY "ASSURED" ME OF LAST TIME. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THAT CAR AND NO ONE SHOULD DRIVE IT. I DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE, MY NEWBORNS LIFE, OR ANYONE ELSE'S LIFE.AOA WILL NOT CHANGE MY CAR FOR A NEW CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WANT TO RISK HAVING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM SHOULD ANYONE GET INJURED OR DIE IF THIS HAPPENS A THIRD TIME. I WANT OUT OF THIS VEHICLE.MILEAGE SHOWS IT HAPPENING 3 TIMES. CAR WILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID 10876389 · filed Jun 24, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GRACO CHILD SAFETY SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: 2013866, MODEL TYPE: TURBO BOOSTER, MANUFACTURED DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 2013 AUDI S6. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SECURE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOOK DEFECT UNDERNEATH THE SAFETY SEAT NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE SECURED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SECURE THE SAFETY SEAT. THE CHILD WAS NOT INSIDE THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ## VIN FAILED ## GRACO CHILD SAFETY SEAT ##*DT*JB*DT

NHTSA ID 11399177 · filed Mar 4, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM HAVING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND IT SEEMS LIKE AUDI OF AMERICA (AOA) DOES NOT SEEM TO REALLY CARE. IT ALL STARTED IN AUG 2015 AND A BUNCH OF FAULT CODES CAME ONE. THE SECOND TIME, I BELIEVE, WAS JAN 2016 AND I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AND SUDDENLY ABOUT 5 FAULT CODES SHOWED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR'S STEERING STIFFENED UP AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS NEXT TO ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CATASTROPHE IF I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THERE IS ON I-95 INCLUDING LOTS OF SEMI-TRUCKS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AND I SLOWLY DROVE HOME. I ALSO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY NEWBORN IN IT EVERYDAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND FLAT BEDDED THE CAR TO THEM. THEY SAW THE FAULT CODES AND WERE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED SO THEY TALKED TO SOMEONE AT AOA. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING A MODULE AND ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS FIXED. WELL ON JUNE 8, 2016 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AGAIN I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS ON BACK ROADS WITH NO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, I DID HAPPEN TO HAVE MY NEWBORN WITH ME! I AM FURIOUS BECAUSE HIS LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY NOW. I IMMEDIATELY CALL AOA INSTEAD OF THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME AND THEY OPENED UP A CASE. AOA SAID TO FLATBED THE CAR AGAIN TO YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AFTER 3 DAYS, THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS A GROUND FAULT WITH THE CAR. AOA CALLED ME AND SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY "ASSURED" ME OF LAST TIME. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THAT CAR AND NO ONE SHOULD DRIVE IT. I DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE, MY NEWBORNS LIFE, OR ANYONE ELSE'S LIFE.AOA WILL NOT CHANGE MY CAR FOR A NEW CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WANT TO RISK HAVING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM SHOULD ANYONE GET INJURED OR DIE IF THIS HAPPENS A THIRD TIME. I WANT OUT OF THIS VEHICLE.MILEAGE SHOWS IT HAPPENING 3 TIMES. CAR WILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID 10876389 · filed Jun 24, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY, IT EXHIBITS THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THE RECALLS SON OTHER A6 BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HAPPENS RANDOMLY

NHTSA ID 11183260 · filed Feb 28, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .