AUDI · vehicle model

AUDI S6

184 NHTSA complaints and 15 safety recalls across model years 1995–2022.

Complaints
184
Recalls
15
Model years
18

The AUDIS6 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 184 consumer safety complaints and 15 safety recalls across 18 model years (1995–2022). That averages roughly 10 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even — most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration — which the table below isolates for the S6 by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 9 investigation files tied to this model. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing AUDIS6 risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20224
20205
20185
20176
201630
20158
201430
201356
20101
20082
20071
20031
20029
20011
19981
19971
19961
199522

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

1
98
7
99
10
00
3
01
2
02
1
03
2
04
1
05
2
09
2
10
1
11
2
13
1
14
4
15
4
16
4
17
4
18
21
19
13
20
44
21
23
22
9
23
8
24
14
25
1
26
View all trending models →

Compare AUDIS6 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the AUDI S6?
The AUDI S6 has received 184 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1995 to 2022, with 15 recalls. That averages about 10 complaints per model year.
What years of AUDI S6 are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the AUDI S6 from 1995 to 2022 (18 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the AUDI S6 have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many AUDI S6 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common AUDI S6 complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the AUDI S6 are categorized by component — common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my AUDI S6 has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.