The 2015 Audi S6 has 2 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (3 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints5filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
NHTSA recall 22V178000 · Mar 23, 2022 · 26,093 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
Risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
NHTSA recall 18V370000 · Jun 4, 2018 · 139,249 vehicles
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
Risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2015 Audi S6 4 DR AWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
9%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
S6
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine
3
1
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
1
1
0
0
—
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
—
Steering
1
0
0
0
—
Suspension
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 3, 2025Electrical system 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.
May 31, 2021Engine Turbos blew causing the vehicle to lose power while trying to merge in traffic.
Nov 15, 2020 · crashEngine 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
Apr 6, 2021 · 47,000 milesUnknown or other 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…
Mar 5, 2021 · 69,500 milesEngine 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.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA22001 · opened Apr 4, 2022 · closed May 26, 2023Engine Stall - Turbo Failure 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…
PE21009 · opened Mar 29, 2021 · closed May 27, 2022 · led to recall 22V178000Engine Stall - Turbo Failure 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…