Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2013-AUDI-S6 NHTSA data synced 3 days ago
Audi

2013 Audi S6 problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 42 owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

Ask A Mechanic

The 2013 Audi S6 has 42 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 28 complaints, typically surfacing around 66,228 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Audi S6 owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2010 S6 1 2
2011 S6 0 2
2013 S6 (this page) 42 3
2014 S6 20 3
2015 S6 5 2
2016 S6 19 2
2013 Audi S6
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Audi S6
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.6 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 S6?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2013 Audi S6? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 43,000 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2013 Audi S6

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2013-audi-s6/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2013 Audi S6 reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2013-audi-s6/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2013 Audi S6 reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
28 reports · fails ~66,228 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
powertrain
7 reports · fails ~43,000 mi · avg $2,500
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2013 S6's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2013 S6?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2013 S6 · powertrain
I noticed my car wouldn’t engage in reverse when shifted so I took it in for a transmission flush and it was performed and 2 days later I got a light on dash saying transmission overheating . And the car completely lost power while on freeway and went from 60 to 20 miles per…
2013 S6 · powertrain
Transmission coolant valve failure. Audi has issued tsb for several models related to same failure mode. Coolant sprays from coolant valve onto electrical connectors internal to transmission causing corrosion within the connectors. Two fault modes. 1. Vehicle fails to…
11/16/2019 · at 58,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11280475.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2013 S6 · engine
There have been numerous recalls for my 2013 Audi s6 pertaining to the turbocharged engine. Most recently, over the last 2 weeks I noticed decreasing gas mileage and increasing turbo lag but the car still ran "normally" overall. Then, 1 day ago it made intermittent metallic…
11/11/2019 · at 60,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11279408.0 · see engine pattern →
2013 S6 · engine
Vehicle has had all recommended maintenance performed on schedule at the Audi dealer. Driving down a highway at about 73k miles, engine stopped running with no warning. Electronic systems appeared as though engine was running, but it was dead. We were extremely fortunate that…
View all 42 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2013 Audi S6? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 22V178000 March 23, 2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
severe NHTSA 18V370000 June 4, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

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.
severe NHTSA 13V450000 September 23, 2013

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The safety recall is planned to begin in late October 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this campaign is 20U6/L8.

Common questions

Is the 2013 Audi S6 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Audi S6 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2013 Audi S6?

The 2013 Audi S6 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2013 Audi S6?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 28 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 66,228 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2013 Audi S6 a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 42 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 66,228 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2013 Audi S6?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 28 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 66,228 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 66,228 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Audi S6 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Audi S6?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 42 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Audi/S6. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Audi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
Sponsored
Get a free warranty quote →