The most-reported S6 run is WAUF2AFC5EN (2014 builds) with 5 complaints, 3.3× the typical run. Engine problems make up 44% of reports; 2013 is the worst model year at 2 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns for S6 model years 1995–2025.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Audi S6 has 80 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 19% of every S6 complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAUF2AFC5EN•••••• | 2014 | — | — | |
| WAUF2AFC6DN•••••• | 2013 | — | — | |
| WAUF2AFC0DN•••••• | 2013 | — | — | |
| WAUF2AFC8DN•••••• | 2013 | — | — | |
| WAUJ2AFC3DN•••••• | 2013 | — | — | |
| WAULA84A3SN•••••• | 1995 | — | — | |
| WAUJ2AFCXDN•••••• | 2013 | — | — | |
| WAUKA84A9SN•••••• | 1995 | — | — | |
| WAUF2AFC3EN•••••• | 2014 | — | — | |
| WAUF2AFC2EN•••••• | 2014 | — | — | |
| WAUH2AFC1GN•••••• | 2016 | — | — | |
| WAUKA84A8SN•••••• | 1995 | — | — |
Each of the other 68 S6 runs has 2 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 29 S6 VINs so far, most often 2016, 2025, 2018 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Audi S6 the gap between build years is 2×: a 2013 car draws 2 complaints per run, a 2015 one 1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | — | |
| 2016 | 19 | 15 | — | |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 19 | 11 | — | |
| 2013 | 40 | 20 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 20 | 13 | — |
Heaviest year here is 2013 at 2 complaints per run; lightest is 2015 at 1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 44% of everything Audi S6 owners report: Engine, 68 of 120 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | — | 1 | |
| Gasoline | — | 1 | |
| Power Train | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System | — | 1 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | — | 1 | |
| Suspension | — | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 21 recall campaigns on the Audi S6; the 6 below cover build years 2007 to 2025. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 25V900000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 2020–2025 |
| 18V370000 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification | 2013–2018 |
| 22V178000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger | 2013–2017 |
| 18V427000 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module | 2007–2011 |
| 22V861000 | Electrical System | 2020–2022 |
| 22V155000 | Electrical System:instrument Panel:fuel Gauge:fuel Level Float/sensor/sending Unit | 2020–2022 |
25V900000 was opened in 2025 on cars built from 2020: 5 years on the road before the recall.
The S6 against its rivals
The S6 draws 1.5 complaints per production run; the Honda Accord 4, the Tesla Model 3 18.3 and the Infiniti Q50 2.6. That is the lowest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi S6 | 120 | 80 | 1.7% | |
| Honda Accord | 20,581 | 5,117 | 7.8% | |
| Tesla Model 3 | 4,173 | 228 | 9.8% | |
| Infiniti Q50 | 466 | 180 | 7.5% |
How serious were they
Of the 120 reports on the Audi S6, 1.7% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.
| Outcome | Audi S6 | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 120 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 2 (1.7%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 2 (1.7%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 71% below the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Audi S6 share of that is 120 complaints over 80 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Audi S6 VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 120 NHTSA complaints from 80 S6 runs and 21 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which S6 production run has the most complaints?
WAUF2AFC5EN, a 2014 build, with 5 complaints. The typical S6 run has 1.5.
Which S6 years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2013 is heaviest at 2 complaints per run and 2015 lightest at 1.
Does the S6 get more complaints than the Honda Accord?
No: 1.5 complaints per production run for the S6 against 4 for the Honda Accord.
How many S6 complaints involve a crash?
1.7% of 120 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 2 involved a fire.
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