YearToAvoid

2015 Audi S6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

62/100

#6 most-complained of 14 S6 years

The 2015 Audi S6 has a complaint index of 62, ranking 6th worst of 14 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 60% of complaints, with two recalls covering turbocharger oil supply and airbag seat wiring.

Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 27 hwy

Top 2015 Audi S6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine3 (60%)
  2. Electrical System1 (20%)
  3. Fuel System1 (20%)
  4. Other1 (20%)
  5. Steering1 (20%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (20%)

What owners report

  • Both turbochargers can fail together, causing the engine to shake violently and lose power suddenly while driving.
  • Turbo bearings starve of oil when the oil feed line or strainer becomes blocked, a failure Audi service described as common on the 4.0 twin-turbo engine.
  • Loss of power steering and braking assist has occurred at the same time as turbo failure, forcing drivers to steer to the shoulder without power assist.
  • The steering module has failed with no apparent cause, requiring replacement.
2015 Audi S6 complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2021Apr 2021Jun 2021Sep 2021Jul 2025
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Jul 2025; peak Jul 2025 (3).

2015 Audi S6 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V178000Mar 23, 2022Engine26,093 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V370000Jun 4, 2018Airbags139,249 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

2015 Audi S6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
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.

2015 compared with other S6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’13’14’15’16’17’18’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid10042320
2014Avoid9220320
2015Caution625220
2016Avoid8519221
2017Caution545221

All Audi S6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi S6 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2015 Audi S6 a complaint index of 62, ranking 6th worst among 14 model years, which puts it in the Caution category relative to other S6 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Audi S6?
Engine problems are the top issue, accounting for 60% of complaints, mostly involving turbocharger failures with a median failure mileage of 69,500.
Does the 2015 Audi S6 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a turbocharger oil supply strainer that can block and starve the bearings, and one for airbag seat wiring stress and wear.
How does the 2015 Audi S6 compare to other S6 years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 62 is lower than 2013 (100), 2014 (92), and 2016 (85), which are all rated Avoid, but higher than 2017 (54) and later years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.