2015 Audi S6

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE 21-009) after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7 equipped with the 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported the vehicles would stall with no warning while driving at highway or city traffic speeds. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints alleged the major contributing factor to the engine stalling was the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints cited the turbocharger failure was a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making servicing the component difficult. The oil strainer removes particles and carbon deposits from the oil before lubricating the turbochargers. Over time, if the debris is not removed from the oil strainer, it becomes clogged and prevents oil from flowing to the turbochargers. This causes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat resulting in turbine shaft failure due to thermal stress.On April 04, 2022, PE21-009 was upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA22-001) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect. Volkswagen filed recall 22V-178 to replace the 30?m mesh oil strainer with a 90?m mesh oil strainer in the subject vehicles. VW introduced the larger mesh oil strainer into production in March of 2017 effecting the 2017-2018MY vehicles.ODI reviewed information from VW for vehicles that had the larger mesh installed in production. The data received showed, since the new oil strainer size of 90?m went into production for the 2017-2018MY, there has not been any reported incidents of turbocharger failures due to oil starvation or other failures that could be related to the larger screen mesh. In view of the recall being conducted by VW and lack of any detrimental side effect to the turbocharger caused by the larger mesh, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.11502847,11506565,11494663,11488813,11486393,11480926,11479882,11476289,11466761 11464663,11463254,11460580,11460496,11458973,11458804,11457556,11454753,11452668 11452589,11452584,11452383,11452175,11452111,11451724,11451724,11450995,11450988 11449661,11447092,11443657,11442867,11440536,11440052,11439959,11438691,11436461 11435619,11433925,11433733,11432336,11431661,11431421,11429704,11429584,11428128 11426929,11424203,11423603,11423337,11422431,11421084,11420626,11420342,11419693 11418884,11418437,11418433,11418135,11417635,11417351,11416095,11414578,11414235 11414064,11413359,11413285,11413214,11407510,11407450,11406897,11406821,11406637 11406460,11406416,11406291,11406287,11406277,11406273,11406263,11406256,11406251 11406229,11406222,11406208,11406204,11406197,11406182,11406015,11404665,11404426 11404348,11403823,11403430,11403268,11402684,11399435,11397821,11396241,11394763 11391037

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 21-009 after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7. The subject vehicles are equipped with 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported that the vehicles stall suddenly with no warning while driving on the highway or in city traffic. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints allege the major contributing factor to the engine stalling is the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints further allege the turbocharger failure is a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making regular service difficult. The oil strainer removes dirty particles and carbon deposits from the oil before flowing to lubricate the Turbochargers. Overtime if the debris are not removed from the oil strainer, it clogs the strainer and prevents free flow of oil to the turbochargers and makes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat which causes the turbine shaft to break due to thermal stress. In VW's response to ODI's Information Request letter, VW provided approximately 611 warranty claims with unique VINs, 70 Field Reports and 45 Consumer complaints. These reports allege engine stalling due to turbocharger failure similar to the NHTSA reports described above. To date, NHTSA has received approximately 98 allegations of stall due to turbocharger failures. The total of 824 reports shown in the table above eliminates duplicate reports received by both ODI and the manufacturer.This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect of engine stalling due to turbocharger failureThe ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers:11452589, 11452584, 11452383, 11450995, 11450988, 11449661, 11447092, 11442867 11440536, 11440052, 11439959, 11438691, 11436461, 11435619, 11431661, 11429704 11429584, 11426929, 11424203, 11423603, 11423337, 11421084, 11420626, 11420342 11418884, 11418437, 11418433, 11417635, 11417351, 11416095, 11414235, 11413359 11413214, 11413285, 11413133, 11407510, 11407450, 11407289, 11406821, 11406416 11406291, 11406277, 11406273, 11406256, 11406251, 11406229, 11406222, 11406204 11406197, 11406182, 11404665, 11404426, 11404348, 11403430, 11403268, 11399435 11397821, 11396241, 11394763, 11391037, 11388662, 11387166, 11377446, 11363283 11354107, 11344193, 11342497, 11342360, 11340302, 11325065, 11324163, 11322168, 11321144, 11318477, 11306754, 11279429, 11268109, 11256706, 11252723, 11246579 11234853, 11234714, 11231582, 11231013, 11230589, 11229484, 11222281, 11218822 11218749, 11217604, 11209168, 11209142, 11197149, 11191243, 11175842, 11170776 11164032, 11152418.

Steering Module went out for no apparent reason. I was able to find a used one and have it repaired for just under $1000. I had git two quotes for to auto shops that specialize in Audi repairs and they were both over $5300 to repair this steering module. This is unacceptable.

NHTSA ID

11675620

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

Turbos blew causing the vehicle to lose power while trying to merge in traffic.

NHTSA ID

11431421

Incident

May 31, 2021

Multiple turbo failures. Engine shook violently then suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. This same issue happened 3 times affecting both turbos. It may be due to faulty oil filter/strainer. From online research (link below) this is a common problem for C7 Audi s6. https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/851578-2016-S6-4-0T-Turbo-Failure

NHTSA ID

11420626

Incident

Nov 15, 2020

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND I SAW AND FELT AIR AND DEBRIS COME IN THROUGH MY SUNROOF VISOR VENTS. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR I SAW MY SUNROOF HAS EXPLODED. I SAY EXPLODE BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT THE SUNROOF IS BROKEN FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE WERE NO TRUCKS AROUND TO KICK UP DEBRIS AND IT WAS NOT HIT BY A ROCK. AUDI STILL CLAIMS NO FAULT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLES AND RECALLS DONE ON OTHER MODELS. LUCKY FOR ME MY SUNROOF VISOR WAS CLOSED IF IT WAS NOT I WOULD HAVE BEEN RAINED DOWN ON BY THOUSANDS OF SHARDS OF GLASS CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GLASS EXITING THE VEHICLE HAS SCRATCHED THE ROOF AND TRUNK LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. AS IT IS THE SOUND OF THE SUNROOF EXPLODING WAS ENOUGH TO STARTLE MANY PEOPLE INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A SHAME THIS STILL GOES ON TODAY AND AUDI DOES NOT WANT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULT. NON-THE-LESS I AM FORCED TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO GET THIS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11406807

Incident

Apr 6, 2021

Mileage

47,000 mi

DRIVING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND BOTH TURBOCHARGERS FAILED. CAR LOST POWER AND I HAD TO STEER TO SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FROM FAR LEFT LANE. AUDI SERVICE SAYS BEARINGS STARVED OF OIL AND SEIZED. THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 4.0 TWIN TURBO AUDI ENGINES AND THAT THE OIL FEED LINE GETS BLOCKED AND STARVES THE TURBOCHARGERS OF OIL, RESULTING IN BEARING FAILURE. REPAIR COST IS $9,000. CAR HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. AUDI HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON FILE WITH THE NHTSA THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. AUDI NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT ASSIST WITH COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11404426

Incident

Mar 5, 2021

Mileage

69,500 mi

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

This bulletin provides informatoinw hent here are scratches or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles inside of the housing.

This bulletin provides information when there are noises in the overrun ( e.g. whirring, howling) - vehicles with 0BC.

This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.