There is a recall out for “2016 Audi A6 vehicles” the recalls are “fuel system rail” as well as “coolant pump”. Both recalls are vin specific and what I find to be devastating is that both recall risk pertains to possible fire! I have the exact issues with my vehicle I even have the epc light coming on and the code is “fuel rail system” I also have an ongoing issue with my coolant system. I have documentation that I’ve paid out of pocket to take care of these issues, however being that there is no current open recalls under my vin number I do not believe mechanics know exactly what to do to fix the issues. The vehicle is misfiring, shutting off and the EPC code is stating “fuel system rail” along with the coolant leaking. I have a [XXX] daughter and to be such an expensive vehicle, I thought I would feel safe and valued. I’ve worked as a service BDC manager for years and at other dealerships when a situation like this would occur, we still wanted them to bring the vehicle into the dealership and if it was in fact relatable to the recall we would take care of it, regardless to it being “vin specific”. There is a such thing as “silent recall”. I really hope that you all can take this as an emergency case and help with such terrible situation. Thank you so much. I can be reached at [XXX] my name is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2016 Audi A6: engine overheating
5 of the 51 complaints about the 2016 Audi A6 describe engine overheating.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- recalls
- 0
Engine overheating by model year
- 20211
- 20192
- 20182
- 20171
- 20165
- 20151
- 20134
- 20123
- 20101
- 20041
- 20031
- 20022
- 20003
- 19993
What owners say
The water pump on my 2016 Audi A6 has failed multiple times prematurely. The first water pump failed at 36,965 miles in May 2019. That repair was covered under an extended warranty I purchased. The second water pump failed around 83,000 miles in September 2025, and Audi is now quoting me $2,350 out of pocket to replace it. I am now facing a third water pump replacement, which is far earlier than expected for this type of component. These repeated failures create a significant safety concern, as sudden coolant loss can cause the engine to overheat, potentially leading to engine failure or loss of power while driving. Each problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Audi service center. The vehicle was inspected by Audi technicians, and repairs were recommended both times. The repeated failure of this critical component strongly suggests a systemic defect with the water pump design on this model. Despite a recent Audi water pump settlement, my vehicle was excluded, even though it has now experienced two failures and is requiring a third replacement.
I left a gas station located one mile from my house. All seemed well. I drove into my garage, shut the engine off, and saw steam coming from under the hood. Inspection showed coolant below minimum level. I had the car towed to a garage. The water pump seal and water pump had failed. The thermostat also failed. I had no warning that anything was about to happen. No warning lamps or alarms were presented. Had this happened on the freeway, the engine would have overheated and locked up before I knew that there was a problem. I would have lost control of the car. The mechanic said that this failure at such low mileage, 51, 803, was unusual. My experience is that a failed water pump should not be expected before at least 150,000 miles of use.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was overheating and the thermostat needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated the emergency lights were illuminated. The vehicle loss coolant and overheated. The stop immediately message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine coolant housing assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This bulletin provides information when the engine is not runing smoothly; all gas engines.
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts...
- This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.
- This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
- This bulletin provides information on VIN Plates, Safety Certification labels, and the ordering procedures.
- This bulletin provides information on the use of the Audi frequencly analysis app, and where the...
- This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.
- This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2016 Audi A6 overheating
Is engine overheating a common problem on the 2016 Audi A6?
5 of 51 owner complaints about the 2016 Audi A6 (10%) mention engine overheating. The model year with the most reports is 2016.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Audi A6?
There are 0 recalls and 141 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2016 Audi A6
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