RoadVitals

2016 Audi S6 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jan 15, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
74%
of 19 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Audi S6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 15, 2024

Hi - The Crankcase Ventilation Valve Extended Warranty [XXX] covers only ten years or 120k miles. My car has close to 160k miles. According to NHTSA or Audi, “Audi has determined that, in some vehicles, it is possible for the crankcase ventilation valve to malfunction, causing a whistling noise in the engine compartment and the MIL to illuminate due to the presence of specific fault codes caused by this component. This condition may impact the vehicle tailpipe emissions, and the presence of a MIL-on condition may cause the vehicle to fail an IM (smog) test.” This is causing the engine to rev on its own, foul odor, consume more oil and gas, MIL-on, and potentially cause the IM (smog) test to fail regardless of years or miles and a safety issue. Please add this matter to recall rather than extended warranty and is likely related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 which is causing oil separator and coolant pipe issues that need to be covered. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11565497
Incident
Jan 14, 2024
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 9, 2023

While driving with my wife and kids, on the highway, in the rain a warning message was displayed. The warning stated: steering malfunction, please stop the vehicle!. At which point the power steering locked-up & the engine powered down. As a result, I was unable to steer the vehicle. Thankfully, I was able to “muscle” the car off the highway and onto a secondary roadway. Vehicle was towed. With the power steering locking-up and not being able to effectively steer the vehicle this is a HUGE safety issue and needs to be addressed with Audi. This could have ended tragically if it were to happen to a driver who was unable to “muscle” the vehicle to safety.

NHTSA ID
11543563
Incident
Jun 16, 2022
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Audi S6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the repair had been previously completed by an independent mechanic, a year prior to receiving the recall letter. The contact filed paperwork to be reimbursed after receiving the recall letter. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer, and the dealer stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The dealer had not performed the recall repair, stating that the vehicle had been modified. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11525586
Incident
Mar 20, 2021
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2022

I was driving my car and it stalled out in the middle of an intersection which was totally unsafe and it would barely start. I was able to limp it to safety but it would not run or idle correctly. I had it towed to the local Audi dealership and they diagnosed the issue as being the turbos. The turbos failed and need to be replaced. The obvious known issue with the oil screen starving the turbos and causing collateral damage is well documented hence Audi issued an extended warranty on turbos and the recall on the oil screen however the dealer is refusing to do any repair and has had the vehicle for over a week.

NHTSA ID
11476289
Incident
Jul 21, 2022
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 6, 2022

I am having a transmission malfunction warning light on the dashboard that comes on. The car will not shift gears which is dangerous when driving in streets/highway. This is a known issue with the Audi S6 and related models and a class action lawsuit is in process. Audi is trying to charge few thousands dollars $8000-$12,000 to replace the mechatronic and clutch transmission system which is very prone to failure. Thank you

NHTSA ID
11450651
Incident
Feb 4, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 13, 2021

Loss of power on freeway, due to known turbo issue on these cars. Filter for turbo oil clogs, and burns the turbo's without warning causing loss of power. Not to mention it often sends metal into your engines oil and the repair for that is more than the car is worth.

NHTSA ID
11443657
Incident
Dec 1, 2021
Engine
Filed May 22, 2021

The Passenger Side Turbo failed. Yes it’s available for inspection. I was driving and I felt a pop, like a backfire from under the hood. The car lost power instantly and was any under power anymore on the road. It could have been a lot worse if I was on a busy highway but luckily was on a street with do one behind me. It was confirmed it was the turbo failure and the turbo has been inspected. No warning lamps or any prior symptoms before hand. Once it happened it started throwing warning lights for pretty much everything. Limited slip diff, air bags, EPC, TPMS, check engine light and traction control warning lights all went off one after the other.

NHTSA ID
11418135
Incident
May 6, 2021
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2021

ON 09APR2021 I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY DOGS FROM DAYCARE. DURING MY RIDE THE CAR SEEMED HESITANT WITH POWER. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DAYCARE AND PARKED THE CAR ESSENTIALLY SEEMED LIKE IT WAS CHOKING AND AT ONE POINT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON IT'S OWN. AFTER I PICKED UP MY DOG I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT TOOK 3 ATTEMPTS FOR IT TO START. ON THE WAY HOME I HAD TO TRY AND KEEP THE CAR IN MOTION IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ENGINE ON, SO EVERY RED LIGHT WAS A GAME. MOVING THOUGH RUSH OUR IN THE CITY WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE CARE NEARLY DIED 3 TIMES. I MADE IT HOME AND THE CAR TURNED OFF ON IT'S OWN, WHEN I PARKED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AUDI AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING - ON THE WAY IN THE CAR DIED ON WHILE IN MOTION APPROACHING A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. IT INADVERTENTLY STOPPED TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK, AND ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE TWICE, BEFORE IT STARTED AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BLOWN TURBOS.

NHTSA ID
11414235
Incident
Apr 9, 2021
Mileage
40,246 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2021

OIL SCREEN INTERIOR OF ENGINE (NON-SERVICEABLE) CLOGGED WHICH PREVENTED TURBO CHARGERS FROM RECEIVING OIL. BOTH TURBO CHARGERS FAILED WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON TWO LANE CITY STREET. ENGINE DIED, POWER WAS LOST, AND STEERED VEHICLE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH BRICK MAILBOX. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A STOP IN ROADWAY (NO SHOULDER) BUT WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED VEHICLE TO AUDI DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED TURBO FAILURE FROM CLOGGED OIL SCREEN AND PRESENTED A $12,732.74 QUOTE FOR LABOR AND REPLACEMENT TURBO CHARGERS. DEALERSHIP NOTED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE WITH STOCK AND TURNED CARS AND THEY PERFORM THIS REPLACEMENT MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH PER AUDI TSB. TUNED VEHICLES ARE IMMEDIATELY DENIED WARRANTY DESPITE THERE MORE THAN 131 REPORTED CASES ON ONE OWNERS GROUP/VOLUNTEER WEBSITE (HTTPS://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/POLL.PHP?POLLID=4500&DO=SHOWRESULTS). MY VEHICLE RECEIVED OIL CHANGE AND 40K SERVICE FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP LESS THAN 5,000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. OIL SCREEN REPLACEMENT REQUIRES 20 HOURS OF LABOR TO TEAR THE ENGINE DOWN TO GET TO THE PART (NON-SERVICEABLE) - TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 2044640/9 (REVISED 3 TIMES OVER 3 YEARS TO REPLACE OIL SCREEN WITH UPGRADED SCREEN - REV G). HAVE VISITED WITH MULTIPLE AUDI DEALERSHIPS TO OBTAIN COMPETITIVE QUOTES AND LEARNED THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 4.0 V8 ENGINE WITH FAILURES NORMALLY OCCURRING AT 65K - 85K MILES IN A8, S4, S6, S7 MODELS AND THAT THE REPAIR IS NORMALLY $11-12K PER INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11407510
Incident
Mar 20, 2021
Mileage
42,600 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2021

BOTH MY TURBOS FAILED ON MY CAR ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN 2019. I WAS COMING HOME FROM DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER 90 MINUTES AWAY. AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AND STARTING TO MOVE ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR DECIDED TO COMPLETELY STALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE TO SHOULDER AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP AS I WAS ON A ONE LANE ROAD. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY CAR HAD BOTH TURBOS FAIL. I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK A MONTH LATER AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD A COOLANT LOSS ISSUE AS WELL AS A SURGE ISSUE. THE COOLANT LOSS ISSUE REQUIRES ME TO PUT 4 OUNCE OF COOLANT INTO MY CAR EVERY MORNING. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO MY AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK BUT IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED. I'M UNSURE IF THE COOLANT ISSUE IS WHAT CAUSED THE TURBOS TO FAIL, OR PARTS OF MY TURBOS PROPELLERS WENT INTO MY ENGINE OR SOMEPLACE ELSE WHICH IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, THE CAR NOW SURGES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WILL SURGE A FOOT OR TWO AFTER IT'S COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHICH IS DANGEROUS. BOTH THESE ISSUES CAN BE SEEN ON MESSAGE BOARDS AT THE FOLLOWING SITE: HTTPS://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/808057-4-0TT-BLOWN-TURBO-POLL AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST A FEW CARS. THEY ARE RANGING FROM 10% TO 40% BLOWN TURBOS DEPENDING ON THE YEAR.

NHTSA ID
11406277
Incident
Dec 25, 2019
Mileage
76,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2021

POWER SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. CLEAR LOSS OF BOOST. EVENTUAL COMPLETE ENGINE STALL. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF UNCOMMANDED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE TURBOS HAD FAILED DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL SUPPLY. THE OIL SUPPLY IS CUT OFF DUE TO THE SINGULAR TURBO OIL SCREEN BEING CLOGGED. REGULAR OIL CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED AT CORRECT INTERVALS. AUDI AFTER THE MIDDLE OF MY2016 INSTALLED A REVISED TURBO OIL SCREEN TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IT IS A KNOWN FAULT AT AUDI AND SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE OIL SCREENS WITH THE REVISED VERSIONS. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE ENGINE CAN SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
11406256
Incident
Dec 28, 2020
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2021

I WAS ACCELERATING WITH TRAFFIC WHILE ON AN ON RAMP AND MERGING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER AND MY CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AT A RAPID PACE. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING PRESSED. SECONDS AFTER THAT I LOST POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARDS AND COAST THROUGH 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. DURING WHICH TIME, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND HAD TO FIGHT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. I HAD THE CAR BROUGHT TO MY AUDI MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR TURBOS BLEW AND THAT WAS INDEED THE CASE. HE SAID HE SEES IT ALL THE TIME ON THE 4.0 TT ENGINES BECAUSE OF AUDIS POOR OIL SCREEN DESIGN THAT STARVES THE TURBOS OF OIL AND LEADS TO THE SEIZING UP AND BREAKING.

NHTSA ID
11406182
Incident
Mar 5, 2021
Mileage
81,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 2020

TURBO FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES STATIONARY WOULD NOT START

NHTSA ID
11355614
Incident
Sep 8, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 16, 2019

TURBOCHARGER(S) FAILURE DUE TO OIL FILTER SCREEN CLOGGING WITH CONTAMINANTS AT 47000 MILES CAUSING TURBOCHARGER BEARING FAILURE DESTROYING THE TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR WHEELS ALONG WITH COMPRESSOR HOUSING AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE FAILURE OCCURRED INDUCING LOSS OF ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL. HARSH SURGING OF THE ENGINE OCCURED. ONCE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN IDLE AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID
11208147
Incident
Apr 4, 2019
Mileage
47,000 mi

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 .