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2016 Audi A6

Gas Diesel

Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

72 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 3

Complaints2 fire · 1 injured reported 51

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 30 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Audi A6 is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel midsize sedan 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, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 51 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Audi A6 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Audi A6 · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
A6	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	34	28	$2,950
A6 quattro	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	32	25	$3,300
A6 quattro	Gas	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl	20	29	24	$3,400
A6 quattro	Diesel	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	25	38	30	$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36113, 36133, 35996, 36055.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
A6	6 / 10	LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
A6 quattro	6 / 10	LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
A6 quattro	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

252 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Premium, Premium Plus, quattro Premium Plus, quattro Premium, quattro Premium Plus). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	193.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	73.6 in
Height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	114.6 in
Track, front	64.2 in
Track, rear	63.8 in
Curb weight	3,957–4,178 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	55/45

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door Sedan 2.0 Tfsi Quattro, 4-door Sedan 3.0 Tfsi Quattro, 4-door Sedan Tdi Quattro. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

24DP

74,881 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Nov 3, 2018 – Feb 1, 2018

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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V035000 reported Jan 16, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Electrical System

82C1

845 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Oct 29, 2014 – Oct 31, 2014

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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V862000 reported Dec 5, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

74D5

139,249 vehicles 85% reported repaired built Oct 29, 2014 – Apr 30, 2018

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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V370000 reported Jun 4, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific A6

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Audi publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Audi’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Audi A6, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

51complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per 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 19

Air Bags 10

Fuel/Propulsion System 9

Electrical System 8

Power Train 5

Forward Collision Avoidance 5

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Ok purchased the car october 2019, immediately noticed a burning smell, in the car. Took out to Audi multiple times ask if there was a leak, before the warranty ran out. They said no, now a year later my check engine light has come on. One diagnostic done at jiffy lube read a code that says it is the computer auxiliary output.

Electrical System at 38,000 miles Feb 11, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11395680

Problem#1 fuel door clip suddenly stopped closing, therefore I couldn't fully close it. Problem #2 trunk latch stuck, therefore I have to get into the trunk using the rear seats, then releasing the latch from inside. All this happened within 1 year of financing the vehicle

Structure Nov 18, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11375203

The vehicle vibrates heavily when the brakes are applied at highway speeds. No accident has occurred but is of great concern

Service Brakes at 33,500 miles Dec 8, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11287720

Audi recalled 2012-2015 A6 cars with the 2.0l tfsi engine, along with other Audi models, due to faulty coolant/water pump (NHTSA recall # 18v-229 MFG recall #19n3/19n4). For the A6, the bracketing was for cars built from 4/4/2011 - 12/22/2014. The bracketing for other models impacted by the recalled varied from 2012-2017.

Fuel/Propulsion System Sep 18, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11256340

In february 2019 I received a recall letter, NHTSA 19v035, from Audi telling me my car may have a defect in the fuel rails which could leak fuel causing a fire! I immediately contacted my dealer Audi of wallingford ct and put my name on a waiting list for repair.

Engine Sep 12, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11255113

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 18v370000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall letter in july of 2018. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the parts were unavailable for repair.

Air Bags Oct 26, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11142839

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.

Reported by Audi itself: 10 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 9 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every A6 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 26k

miles, typically

Half the 23 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 21,000 and 40,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 23 on file: 3 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 7 20k–30k, 3 30k–40k, 4 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k, 1 90k–100k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	9%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Audi warranty extension AWA 24-04Diagnosed and confirmed malfunction of the vehicle’s AEB system that resulted from failure or malfunction of the AEB system’s control unit, camera(s), LIDAR, and/or sensor(s) which enable automatic…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 974

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 967 service bulletins, 5 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Structure.

TSB_2083409_1 Service bulletin
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
TSB_2052680_2 Service bulletin
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
TSB_2074846_5 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Steering
This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
TSB_2020552_15 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Visibility/Wiper
This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
TSB_2030471_9 Service bulletin
2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
TSB_2068999_5 Service bulletin
2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
TSB_2051095_12 Service bulletin
2026-09-08 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.
TSB_2074436_3 Service bulletin
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other
This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0461 P0461 on Audi →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	3 bulletins
P0441	The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.	Fuel/Propulsion System · EVAP purge valve →	2 bulletins
P0451	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 4.4%

failed emissions

838 initial inspections of 811 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 A6	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	4.4%	4.2%	837
Failed the safety inspection	1.8%	2.2%	838
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.72%	0.27%	838
Miles driven a year	9,339	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	96,067	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

A6 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 2026 A 1 9 24 mpg 2025 B 2 7 26 mpg 2024 A 1 3 26 mpg 2023 A 1 3 27 mpg 2022 C 5 4 26 mpg 2021 D 12 27 26 mpg 2020 F 9 34 27 mpg 2019 D 7 114 27 mpg 2018 B 2 11 28 mpg 2017 C 3 20 28 mpg 2016 this page C 3 51 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 A6

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Audi A6 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi A6, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V862000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Audi A6?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Audi A6 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Audi A6?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Audi A6, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Audi A6?

Transport Canada measured it at 193.7 in long, 73.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 114.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,957–4,178 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Audi A6?

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A6, most often about engine, air bags, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 2 a fire, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Audi A6?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Audi A6 runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Audi A6?

The manufacturer has filed 974 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Audi A6, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Audi A6 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Audi A6 failed the emissions check on 4.4% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	3 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	51	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	974	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	10 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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