2016 Audi A6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Mar 29, 2026 · 51 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other A6 years
More complaints than other years 14th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A6. That ranks 14th out of 32 A6 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (17 complaints, 33%), typically at around 29,644 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Audi A6
Audi_A6_C9_IAA_2025 at IAA 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2016 Audi A6 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine17 · ~29,644 mi
Air Bags8 · ~22,000 mi
Electrical System8 · ~43,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion System6
Power Train5 · ~51,000 mi
Service Brakes3 · ~29,250 mi
Unknown or Other3 · ~19,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control3 · ~6,500 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling2 · ~37,103 mi
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine1733%29,644——
Air Bags816%22,000——
Electrical System816%43,500——
Fuel/propulsion System612%———
Power Train510%51,000——
Service Brakes36%29,250——
Unknown or Other36%19,000——
Vehicle Speed Control36%6,500——
Engine and Engine Cooling24%37,103——
Forward Collision Avoidance24%———
Fuel System, Gasoline24%48,000——
Steering24%———
Structure24%6,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)12%———
Equipment12%15,000——
Fuel System, Diesel12%70,240——
Seat Belts12%———
Seats12%40,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12%17,000——
Suspension12%———
Tires12%———
Wheels12%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2018, with 10 complaints
2016: 2201622017: 4201742018: 102018102019: 7201972020: 1202012021: 4202142022: 5202252023: 9202392024: 5202452025: 3202532026: 120261

n = 51 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2016 Audi A6 recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railJan 16, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V035000 · 74,881 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.

Electrical system:wiringDec 5, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V862000 · 845 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi A6 Sedans and 2015 Audi A7 vehicles. The auxiliary heater electrical connector on these vehicles may have been incorrectly inserted into the auxiliary heater, possibly resulting in increased electrical resistance.

Risk: The extra resistance can cause the connector to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater connector, replacing the auxiliary heater and connector, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 82C1.

Air bags:sensor:occupant classificationJun 4, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V370000 · 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

There is a recall out for “2016 Audi A6 vehicles” the recalls are “fuel system rail” as well as “coolant pump”. Both recalls are vin specific and what I find to be devastating is that both recall risk pertains to possible fire! I have the exact issues with my vehicle I even have the epc…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Mar 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11727798

I own a 2016 Audi A6 3.0T. After filling the fuel tank completely, the vehicle only traveled approximately 190–200 miles before the fuel gauge indicated empty. This represents a sudden and significant loss of fuel range compared to normal operation. There are no warning lights, check engine…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Dec 30, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11707949

The water pump on my 2016 Audi A6 has failed multiple times prematurely. The first water pump failed at 36,965 miles in May 2019. That repair was covered under an extended warranty I purchased. The second water pump failed around 83,000 miles in September 2025, and Audi is now quoting me $2,350 out…

Engine · received Sep 10, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11686225

This vehicle had a claim for water pump replacement and the 3.0 model has a recall for the turbo charger. This vehicle is experiencing the same issues and went from 70 mph to 0 and stalled on the freeway. Thankfully the semi and other vehicles were able to avoid me or my family would be reaching…

Engine · received Mar 25, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11650550

Engine area of car caught fire with ignition off

Electrical System · received Nov 18, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11625896

Other Audi A6 years

← 2015 A6 · 2017 A6 →

See all Audi A6 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A6?

Owners most often report engine, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 17 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Audi A6?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2016 Audi A6 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A6 model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.