2008 Audi S6 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2008 Audi S6 has 2 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls, giving it a complaint index of 44, ranked 10th worst out of 17 model years. That places it in the middle of the pack, well below the higher-complaint 2013–2016 model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 44/100
- #10 of 17 S6 years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 2
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 19 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2008 Audi S6 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags1 (50%)
- Seat Belts1 (50%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the front seat belts sit twisted when fastened, unlike other Audi models, raising concern about how the pretensioner would perform in a crash.
- One owner reported waiting an extended period for replacement airbag parts under the Takata recall, with no repair completed and no failure experienced in the meantime.
2008 Audi S6 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V427000Jun 22, 2018Airbags237,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
- NHTSA 17V032000Jan 11, 2017Airbags33,421 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
2008 Audi S6 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $5,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other S6 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Audi S6 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 2 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2008 Audi S6, giving it a complaint index of 44 and a rank of 10th worst among the model's 17 covered years, putting it in the middle of the range.
- What problems does the 2008 Audi S6 have?
- The top problem area is airbags, followed by seat belts, each accounting for 50% of complaints. One report described twisted front seat belts and another described a delayed Takata airbag recall repair.
- Does the 2008 Audi S6 have a recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this year, both involving airbags, including a passenger frontal airbag inflator replacement and a passenger frontal airbag replacement with an alternate part.
- How does the 2008 S6 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 44 is lower than the 2013 (100), 2014 (94), and 2016 (88) model years, all rated Avoid, but higher than the 2011 (6) and 2009 (0) model years.