2018 Audi A6 vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2018 Audi A6
2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Stories from the shop
If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2018 Audi A6. Reliability score's a solid 4.5 versus 3.8 on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the complaint counts back it up — 2 versus 124. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.
Going with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class? Watch the engine and body. The 2018 Audi A6 has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.
Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.
Side-by-side by problem area
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2018 Audi A6 or the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2018 Audi A6 comes out ahead with a reliability score of 4.5 versus 3.8. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.
What goes wrong more often on the 2018 Audi A6?
On the categories we tracked, the 2018 Audi A6 doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Both have similar issue patterns.
What goes wrong more often on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Compared to the 2018 Audi A6, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has more complaints in engine and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.
Which has more recalls?
The 2018 Audi A6 has more active recalls (2 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $10,750 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.