This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Audi S6 engine problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 28 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Audi S6, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Audi S6 we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 28.
Owners have filed 28 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on VIN Plates, Safety Certification labels, and the ordering procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information when the MIL is on; DTCs for misfire, air/fuel ratio imbalance, or lean fuel system stored in the ECM P030000.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Audi S6 turbocharged engine suffers from a systemic turbocharger oil inlet screen clogging issue that owners report causes sudden, catastrophic failure. The failure pattern is consistent: the oil strainer clogs, starving the turbochargers of lubrication. Heat builds, turbine wheels seize or disintegrate, and the engine shuts down without warning—sometimes mid-highway at speed. Owners report mostly no check engine light beforehand, only a rough idle or startup metallic sounds hours or days earlier.
Failures occur reliably between 40,000 and 75,000 miles, even on dealer-maintained vehicles. Both turbos fail together. The engine cranks but will not restart. Tow trucks are required.
Audi acknowledges the defect through multiple Technical Service Bulletins but has not issued a recall. The manufacturer has revised the oil strainer and PCV components several times since the car was built. Repair involves replacing both turbochargers, the oil strainer, and related gaskets—$9,000 to $15,000 out-of-pocket typically, though some owners report Audi covering 50–75% as a goodwill gesture if the failure occurs just outside the 48-month/50,000-mile warranty on a dealer-maintained car. One recall (NHTSA 22V178000) addresses the issue, but owners who repaired the car before notification were denied reimbursement.
Same Audi S6 engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Turbocharger catastrophic failure due to oil starvation
Both turbochargers fail suddenly, typically at 40,000–75,000 miles, caused by clogging of the turbocharger oil inlet screen or strainer. Oil starvation leads to overheating, turbine wheel seizure or disintegration, and complete loss of engine power with no restart capability.
When: 40,000–75,000 miles; multiple reports between 42,000 and 73,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of engine power while driving or at idle; Rough idle with shaking 1–2 inches back and forth; Intermittent metallic grinding or clanking sounds at startup; Turbo lag and decreased gas mileage in days leading to failure; Engine stalls and fails to restart; Limp mode activation before stall; No check engine light or warning in most cases; Turbine wheel broken, seized, or showing excessive end play
Codes mentioned: EPC (Electronic Power Control) error, OBD-II codes indicating turbo boost issues
Repairs/costs cited: Both turbochargers replaced; turbo oil screen, PCV gaskets, and oil strainer replaced or upgraded. Repair cost $9,000–$15,000. One owner paid $5,607.06 out-of-pocket after partial manufacturer defraying. Another owner paid $2,674.26 after Audi covered 75% following warranty review. One independent repair; several at Audi dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for the turbocharger oil inlet screen defect; multiple TSB revisions made since production. No factory recall issued. Some owners report partial cost coverage by Audi after goodwill review if car is barely out of warranty or properly dealer-maintained. One owner (#2) paid $2,300 for engine TSB repair and later received refund when the issue became a recall (NHTSA Campaign 22V178000). One owner (#6) submitted reimbursement claim under recall 22V178000 but was denied because repair was done prior to recall notification. Recall 22V178000 covers Engine and Engine Cooling.
Oil separator / crankcase leak
Engine leaks from the bottom of the crankcase where the block connects; one owner reports Audi requested full engine rebuild to address the issue.
When: Affects 2013–2015 S6, S7, S8 models with 4.0T engine
Symptoms owners cite: Leaking from bottom of crankcase
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine rebuild requested by dealership; no specific cost stated
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
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 sounds at startup but then still ran normally. Then, the next day the car had the same startup sounds but then had a…
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 this happened on a rural highway and not the big city freeway system we had recently driven through. Cause of the problem…
Turbocharged failed while driving in afternoon traffic, leaving car stranded at heavy traffic stoplight until tow could be arranged. Failure occurred while idling at the stop light. Failed turbochargers are available for inspection. Failure was initially diagnosed / confirmed by dealership (Audi Chantilly) but due to extreme cost of repair quoted by dealer, car was transported to an…
the 2013 Audi 4.0T generation have a massive issue where the engine start leaking from the bottom of the crankcase where the block connects to it and to fix all these issues audi is asking a rebuild of the entire engine this issue is very common on the 2013 2014 2015 S6 S7 S8 with the 4.0T worldwide problem
While driving in city traffic, the car went into limp mode with some new lights on the dashboard. Before I could get to a safe place, it completely died and almost caused an accident. I was stuck until I had help pushing the car off the road. Upon reading the OBDII computer codes and then confirming with a professional mechanic, both turbos had blown. There was little warning, and no time to…
My turbochargers failed, which I understand is not uncommon with this engine. It was driving normally. I stopped for an errand and it restarted with great difficulty. I then drove some additional distance and it stalled in traffic. It stalled repeatedly whenever the RPM's fell below 2000. I ended up running a red light, to avoid slowing down, knowing it would stall. Fortunately, I was in an…
Both turbos on my 2013 Audi S6 spontaneously blew after a month of ownership at 105,000 miles
Vehicle was in motion when it started shaking roughly. The car stalled and wouldn't turn back on. I had it towed home and was able to diagnose seized turbo compressors. Replaced the turbos which fixed the problem but at an enormous cost.
The contact owns a 2013 Audi S6. The contact stated upon test driving the vehicle after an oil change, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the oil strainer was clogged and the turbine wheel was desegregated. The oil strainer and gasket, the PCV head gasket, and two turbochargers were replaced. Additionally, three consecutive oil changes were completed in order to flush the metal fragments…
The turbos on the car both broke at the intermediate shaft before 75,000 miles. The car was cruising on the freeway, and the moment I slowed down to take the exit, the car lost power and shut down. I had to make an emergency stop on the side of the exit with little to no room to pull over.
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Audi S6?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Audi S6?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 55,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Audi/S6.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.