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2016 Audi A6

Gas Diesel Midsize car

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
D
Safety Signal
62 / 100
DSafety Signal · 62 / 100
3Recalls · 2 critical
51Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
30 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2016 Audi A6 is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel midsize car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A6 quattro, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 51 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
A6GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243428$2,750
A6 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223225$3,100
A6 quattroGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl202924$3,250
A6 quattroDieselAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo253830$3,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline

critical
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.

NHTSA campaign 19V035000 · reported Jan 16, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Electrical System

critical
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.

NHTSA campaign 18V862000 · reported Dec 5, 2018 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Air Bags

high
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.

NHTSA campaign 18V370000 · reported Jun 4, 2018 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

51 complaints filed

0 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2016: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 17
  • Air Bags — 10
  • Electrical System — 8
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 6
  • Power Train — 5
“VEHICLE HAS PODS RECALL. CALLED AUDI USA REP TODAY AT CONTACT US (800-253-2834) INSTRUCTED NO FIX IN YET AND TO KEEP DRIVING, THAT THEY WERE NOT REPLACING NOR SUBSTITUTING VEHICLE UNTIL FIX. I DO NOT FEEL PASSENGER ENDANGERMENT IS APPROPRIATE WITH RECALL ON PODS.”Aug 9, 2018 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“MY SMALLISH SIZED PURSE SLIPPED OFF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE FLOOR BOARD BELOW THE DOOR, LANDING ON THE ELECTRONIC SEAT CONTROLS THAT RECLINE THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT RECLINED THE BACK WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AND COULDN'T PULL OVER OR STOP, SMASHING MY GRANDSON'S LEGS, WHO WAS IN HIS…”Aug 8, 2018 · Seats · NHTSA owner report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V370000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI BAKERSFIELD, 6000 WIBLE RD, B…”Jul 17, 2018 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other A6 model years

A

2026 A6

1 recalls · 8 complaints

B

2025 A6

2 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2024 A6

1 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2023 A6

1 recalls · 3 complaints

D

2022 A6

5 recalls · 4 complaints

F

2021 A6

12 recalls · 25 complaints

F

2020 A6

9 recalls · 33 complaints

F

2019 A6

7 recalls · 114 complaints

C

2018 A6

2 recalls · 11 complaints

D

2017 A6

3 recalls · 20 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 36113, 36133, 35996, 36055). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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