Audi S6 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Audi S6 model year (2002–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Audi S6 Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 32 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 38
2 recalls · 14 complaints
4 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 28
1 recall · 25 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 28
Best Audi S6 Years to Buy
0 recalls · 1 complaint
Main area: SERVICE BRAKES
Problem score: 1
1 recall · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 3
0 recalls · 3 complaints
Main area: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Problem score: 3
Found the right year? Verify that specific S6 with a free VIN report.
Audi S6 — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2020 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 8 | Good |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 1 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2016 | 1 | 25 | — | — | 28 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | Good |
| 2014 | 2 | 14 | 4 | — | 28 | Avoid |
| 2013 | 2 | 32 | — | — | 38 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2008 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 7 | Good |
| 2007 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 7 | Good |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
All 25 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Audi S6 Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent S6 models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2015Mid-decade S6 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2015 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder S6 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year S6 should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2013 Audi S6 if possible. It has 2 recalls, 32 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 38 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year S6 to buy?+
The 2018 Audi S6 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 1. It has only 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.
Which S6 has the fewest problems?+
The 2018, 2004, 2025 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Audi S6 Research
Check a Specific Audi S6 VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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