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2013 Audi S6 engine problems

34 complaints (81% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 60,000.

owner complaints
34
of this car's complaints
81%
typical mileage
60,000
crashes
0
recalls
1

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Audi S6 engine problems in other years

2013201420152016201720202022

Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Audi S6 engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Stalling 9Loss of power 8

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/superchargerReported March 23, 2022 · 26,093 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 22V178000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Engine Stall - Turbo FailureOpened April 4, 2022, closed May 26, 2023

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE 21-009) after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7 equipped with the 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported the vehicles would stall with no warning while driving at highway or city traffic speeds. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints alleged the major contributing factor to the engine stalling was the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints cited the turbocharger failure was a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making servicing the component difficult. The oil strainer removes particles and carbon deposits from the oil before lubricating the turbochargers. Over time, if the debris is not removed from the oil strainer, it becomes clogged and prevents oil from flowing to the turbochargers. This causes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat resulting in turbine shaft failure due to thermal stress.On April 04, 2022, PE21-009 was upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA22-001) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect. Volkswagen filed recall 22V‑178 to replace the 30?m mesh oil strainer with a 90?m mesh oil strainer in the subject vehicles. VW introduced the larger mesh oil strainer into production in March of 2017 effecting the 2017-2018MY vehicles.ODI reviewed information from VW for vehicles that had the larger mesh installed in production. The data received showed, since the new oil strainer size of 90?m went into production for the 2017-2018MY, there has not been any reported incidents of turbocharger failures due to oil starvation or other failures that could be related to the larger screen mesh. In view of the recall being conducted by VW and lack of any detrimental side effect to the turbocharger caused by the larger mesh, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.11502847,11506565,11494663,11488813,11486393,11480926,11479882,11476289,11466761 11464663,11463254,11460580,11460496,11458973,11458804,11457556,11454753,11452668 11452589,11452584,11452383,11452175,11452111,11451724,11451724,11450995,11450988 11449661,11447092,11443657,11442867,11440536,11440052,11439959,11438691,11436461 11435619,11433925,11433733,11432336,11431661,11431421,11429704,11429584,11428128 11426929,11424203,11423603,11423337,11422431,11421084,11420626,11420342,11419693 11418884,11418437,11418433,11418135,11417635,11417351,11416095,11414578,11414235 11414064,11413359,11413285,11413214,11407510,11407450,11406897,11406821,11406637 11406460,11406416,11406291,11406287,11406277,11406273,11406263,11406256,11406251 11406229,11406222,11406208,11406204,11406197,11406182,11406015,11404665,11404426 11404348,11403823,11403430,11403268,11402684,11399435,11397821,11396241,11394763 11391037

EA22001

Engine Stall - Turbo FailureOpened March 29, 2021, closed May 27, 2022

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 21-009 after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7. The subject vehicles are equipped with 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported that the vehicles stall suddenly with no warning while driving on the highway or in city traffic. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints allege the major contributing factor to the engine stalling is the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints further allege the turbocharger failure is a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making regular service difficult. The oil strainer removes dirty particles and carbon deposits from the oil before flowing to lubricate the Turbochargers. Overtime if the debris are not removed from the oil strainer, it clogs the strainer and prevents free flow of oil to the turbochargers and makes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat which causes the turbine shaft to break due to thermal stress. In VW's response to ODI's Information Request letter, VW provided approximately 611 warranty claims with unique VINs, 70 Field Reports and 45 Consumer complaints. These reports allege engine stalling due to turbocharger failure similar to the federal safety agency reports described above. To date, the federal safety agency has received approximately 98 allegations of stall due to turbocharger failures. The total of 824 reports shown in the table above eliminates duplicate reports received by both ODI and the manufacturer.This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect of engine stalling due to turbocharger failureThe ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at under the following ODI identification numbers:11452589, 11452584, 11452383, 11450995, 11450988, 11449661, 11447092, 11442867 11440536, 11440052, 11439959, 11438691, 11436461, 11435619, 11431661, 11429704 11429584, 11426929, 11424203, 11423603, 11423337, 11421084, 11420626, 11420342 11418884, 11418437, 11418433, 11417635, 11417351, 11416095, 11414235, 11413359 11413214, 11413285, 11413133, 11407510, 11407450, 11407289, 11406821, 11406416 11406291, 11406277, 11406273, 11406256, 11406251, 11406229, 11406222, 11406204 11406197, 11406182, 11404665, 11404426, 11404348, 11403430, 11403268, 11399435 11397821, 11396241, 11394763, 11391037, 11388662, 11387166, 11377446, 11363283 11354107, 11344193, 11342497, 11342360, 11340302, 11325065, 11324163, 11322168, 11321144, 11318477, 11306754, 11279429, 11268109, 11256706, 11252723, 11246579 11234853, 11234714, 11231582, 11231013, 11230589, 11229484, 11222281, 11218822 11218749, 11217604, 11209168, 11209142, 11197149, 11191243, 11175842, 11170776 11164032, 11152418.

PE21009

What 2013 Audi S6 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 1, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · PA

Was just driving down the highway at normal speed and my car lost all power, every like came up on the dash and disabled my power steering causing me to almost crash. Took it to the shop mechanic tells me the turbos failed due to oil screen and it will cost me $8,000 Not sure why they failed I have amazing service records on my car. This needs to be a recall.

Filed Oct 15, 2024 · Engine · KS

the 2013 Audi 4.0T generation have a massive issue where the engine start leaking from the bottom of the crankcase where the block connects to it and to fix all these issues audi is asking a rebuild of the entire engine this issue is very common on the 2013 2014 2015 S6 S7 S8 with the 4.0T worldwide problem

Filed Aug 10, 2022 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2013 Audi S6. The contact stated upon test driving the vehicle after an oil change, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the oil strainer was clogged and the turbine wheel was desegregated. The oil strainer and gasket, the PCV head gasket, and two turbochargers were replaced. Additionally, three consecutive oil changes were completed in order to flush the metal fragments from the turbocharger oil strainer. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) which he associated with the failure. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact submitted a claim for reimbursement as the vehicle had been repaired prior to the safety recall but the manufacturer denied the claim. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Mar 29, 2022 · Engine · CO

The Mfg defrayed some of the cost of replacing the two turbos but I was charged $5,607.06 on the repair on 9/24/20. The cause of the repair was do the mfg defect and they should pay 100% of the repair. The vehicle only had 42,040 miles at the time of the turbo failure.

Filed Jan 11, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · HI

Recently learned that my car broke down on my spouse in an extremely unsafe location due to turbo failure(s) probably caused by the turbo oil inlet screen. She was on a busy street when the car shut off on her putting her in an extremely unsafe situation to move the car and wait for tow truck service. The car is still with the Audi dealership for repairs but has been confirmed that this is the likely incident and fixing it will likely prevent further issues. This car has only been to Audi certified technicians at dealerships for the entire time I've owned the car and I was never notified that this is a common occurrence in these models with the turbo. Numerous online forums are dedicated to discuss the common occurrence when researching this particular issue going back a few years, mostly astounding a recall hasn't been issued. There was no warning lamp for the issue to warn us of the impending failure.

Filed Nov 10, 2021 · Engine · NM

Vehicle has had all recommended maintenance performed on schedule at the Audi dealer. Driving down a highway at about 73k miles, engine stopped running with no warning. Electronic systems appeared as though engine was running, but it was dead. We were extremely fortunate that this happened on a rural highway and not the big city freeway system we had recently driven through. Cause of the problem was a total engine failure, later discovered to be failure of the turbocharging system. Checking online reveals that it likely due to a defect in an oil strainer. Sudden catastrophic engine failure at only 73K miles in a dealer-maintained vehicle is a safety hazard, to the occupants of the vehicle as well as to surrounding cars that have to navigate around a suddenly powerless car.

Filed Oct 29, 2021 · Engine · VA

Turbocharged failed while driving in afternoon traffic, leaving car stranded at heavy traffic stoplight until tow could be arranged. Failure occurred while idling at the stop light. Failed turbochargers are available for inspection. Failure was initially diagnosed / confirmed by dealership (Audi Chantilly) but due to extreme cost of repair quoted by dealer, car was transported to an independent garage for the repair. Failed turbocharger was inspected at dealership using micro-camera for diagnosis of the problem. There were no warnings, check engine lights, strange noises, loss of power, etc..; failure was total and instantaneous. Additional information: This is a totally stock vehicle, no modifications or tuning performed. It has never been raced or abused. The 'launch mode' built into the car's design (for fast acceleration from stop) has never been used on this vehicle. Put simply, this vehicle was 'babied'. For the initial life of the car, all maintenance was performed at dealership (Audi Chantilly) under service contact. Upon expiration of service contract (~65K miles) all service was performed by owner. Knowing of the turbocharger oil feed defect present in this model Audi's design, owner increased oil change service frequency to (unsuccessfully) try preventing turbocharger failure. All owner supplied oil change materials (oil and filters) were consistent with Audi factory requirements.

Filed Oct 12, 2021 · Engine · CA

While driving in city traffic, the car went into limp mode with some new lights on the dashboard. Before I could get to a safe place, it completely died and almost caused an accident. I was stuck until I had help pushing the car off the road. Upon reading the OBDII computer codes and then confirming with a professional mechanic, both turbos had blown. There was little warning, and no time to have a safe option once the warning light came on. Upon reading up on this platform, Audi has a defective oil screen that gets clogged and oil starves the turbos which makes them fail prematurely. Hopefully, they will fix this issue moving forward.

Filed Sep 20, 2021 · Engine · OH

Both turbos on my 2013 Audi S6 spontaneously blew after a month of ownership at 105,000 miles

Filed Apr 11, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 53,000 miles · NJ

With only 53,000 miles on my 2013 audi s6 both turbo charges failed and audi is now charging me $9,000 to replace both turbo charges which are supposed to last 100,000 to 125,000 miles. This issue occured while on the road idling at a light and caused the car not to be able to start and to shake the vehicle violently.

Questions about the 2013 Audi S6 engine

Does the 2013 Audi S6 have engine problems?

Owners have filed 34 complaints about the engine of the 2013 Audi S6, 81% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2013 Audi S6 engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 60,000 miles.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Audi S6 engine?

Yes, 1 recall: 22V178000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

Other 2013 Audi S6 problems

Transmission 8Electrical 3Fuel system 3Airbags 2Suspension 2Acceleration 1Seats 1Steering 1

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