Home › Cars › Audi › A6 › 2016
2016 Audi A6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
59% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Audi A6 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 51%).
Does the 2016 Audi A6 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 26 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%), and the largest group is filed under engine (17). On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Audi A6 years
Of the 7 Audi A6 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (59%). The best is the 2020 (12%). By volume, the 2016 drew 51 complaints (26 drivetrain), against 22 for the 2015 and 20 for the 2017.
Audi A6 years to avoid and best years →
2012 A6 problems · 2013 A6 problems · 2014 A6 problems · 2016 · 2019 A6 problems · 2020 A6 problems · 2021 A6 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Audi A6
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 26 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Audi A6 fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Audi A6? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Audi A6
Does the 2016 Audi A6 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 26 of 44 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Audi A6?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Audi A6 is engine: 17 of 51 complaints (33%) name it, followed by air bags (8) and electrical system (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Audi A6 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 59% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Audi A6 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Audi A6?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Audi A6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 19V035000 (fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Audi A6 years are better?
Among the Audi A6 years we track, the 2020 (12%), the 2014 (32%) and the 2019 (35%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (59%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/audi-a6
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.