Short answer
Among Audi S6 model years through 2024, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 3 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2021 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi S6: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 22 (2000–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 21
- Fewest recalls
- 2000, 2001, 2004 and 3 more years (1)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (19)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2 more years
Audi S6 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | Not rated | Seat belts, Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 10 | Not rated | Electrical system, Back over prevention, Air bags |
| 2020 | 6 | Not rated | Electrical system, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2016 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2015 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2014 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2008 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, other |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, other |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2000 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20253 recalls
- 20241 recall
- 20231 recall
- 20224 recalls
- 202110 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20172 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20112 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20082 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20041 recall
- 20032 recalls
- 20022 recalls
- 20011 recall
- 20001 recall
Audi S6: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi S6 recalls are air bags (19), electrical system (12), back over prevention (7), engine and engine cooling (5) and seat belts (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 5 of these 22 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Audi S6 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi S6?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 3 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Audi S6 model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "S6", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy