The 2020 Audi S6 with its 2.9L twin-turbo V6 (EA839 engine) is a high-performance sedan that shares powertrain DNA with the RS models, bringing serious performance but also some serious reliability concerns, particularly with catastrophic engine failures that have plagued early examples of this generation.
Symptoms: metallic knocking from engine bay at idle, sudden loss of oil pressure warning, engine seizure without prior warning, metal shavings in oil during changes, rough idle that progressively worsens
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required. Rod bearings and/or piston rings fail prematurely, often taking out cylinder walls and crankshaft. This is a known issue with early EA839 engines. Expect 40-60 labor hours for full engine-out rebuild or replacement. Some cases covered under warranty extension, but out-of-warranty owners face nightmare bills.
Estimated cost: $18,000-35,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid in coolant (milky pink coolant), transmission overheating warnings, harsh shifting or slipping, coolant level dropping without visible leaks, check engine light with transmission temp codes
Fix: The ZF8 transmission oil cooler integrated into the radiator fails, allowing cross-contamination between coolant and ATF. Requires replacement of radiator assembly, complete transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple flushes), and possibly internal transmission components if contamination was severe. 8-12 labor hours depending on contamination extent.
Estimated cost: $2,500-6,500
Rear Axle Carrier Cracking
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking from rear end during acceleration/deceleration, vibration under hard acceleration, visible cracks in differential carrier housing, whining noise from rear differential, fluid leaks from rear diff area
Fix: The rear axle carrier housing can develop stress cracks, particularly on vehicles driven hard or with performance driving. This is recall-addressed on some VINs (NHTSA recall) but not all. Requires complete rear differential assembly replacement. 6-10 labor hours with proper alignment afterwards.
Estimated cost: $4,000-7,000
Backup Camera Failure/Water Intrusion
Common · low severity
Symptoms: intermittent or complete camera failure, foggy/condensation in camera lens, no image when in reverse, parking assist malfunction warnings, water visible inside trunk lid
Fix: Backup camera seal fails allowing water intrusion. Common enough that NHTSA issued recall for some units. Camera module replacement required, typically 1-2 labor hours. Check if your VIN is covered under recall before paying out of pocket.
Estimated cost: $450-900
High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: long cranking before start especially when warm, rough idle and misfires under load, loss of power during acceleration, fuel pressure fault codes P0087/P0088, metallic ticking from engine bay
Fix: Continental HPFP used on EA839 engines can fail prematurely, scattering metal debris through the fuel system. Requires HPFP replacement plus complete fuel system inspection for debris. If metal contamination severe, injectors and fuel rails also need replacement. 4-8 labor hours depending on extent of contamination.
Estimated cost: $2,000-5,500
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive drivetrain movement on throttle tip-in, clunk when shifting from park to drive, vibration at idle that worsens with AC on, visible torn rubber on transmission mount, harsh shifts particularly 1st to 2nd
Fix: The hydraulic transmission mount wears prematurely, especially with spirited driving. Relatively straightforward replacement but requires proper support of transmission. 2-3 labor hours. Do both motor and transmission mounts together if one has failed.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Fuel Level Sensor Erratic Reading
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: fuel gauge reading empty when tank is full, intermittent range calculations jumping wildly, fuel warning light coming on with plenty of fuel, gauge stuck at one level regardless of fuel added, range display showing implausible numbers
Fix: Fuel level sending unit in tank develops electrical issues. Subject to NHTSA recall on certain VINs. Requires fuel tank drop and sending unit replacement. 3-4 labor hours. Check recall status before paying for repair.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Owner tips
Change engine oil every 5,000 miles maximum with high-quality synthetic (0W-40 or 5W-40) and send samples to lab for analysis to catch bearing wear early — this platform demands religious oil maintenance
Inspect transmission fluid color at every oil change — any pink tint in coolant or brown color in trans fluid means immediate oil cooler attention needed
Budget $3,000-5,000 annually for repairs beyond maintenance after warranty expires — these are not cheap to keep running
Check if your VIN has open recalls for rear axle, camera, or fuel sender before purchasing used
Consider extended warranty coverage that specifically includes engine internal components if buying used — the engine failure risk is real and financially catastrophic
Only buy if you're prepared for potentially catastrophic engine repair bills and have either warranty coverage or a $20k+ emergency fund — the performance is incredible but the EA839 reliability is proving deeply problematic on early examples.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 25V900000
2025-12-19
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 22V861000
2022-11-21
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, A6 Allroad, 2021-2022 RS7, RS6 Avant, 2019-2022 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90V2.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT · 22V155000
2022-03-14
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RS6 Avant and RS7, 2020-2022 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, and S7, and 2019-2022 A6 Sedan and A7 vehicles. The fuel level sender may stick, causing an inaccurate fuel level reading to be displayed on the instrument cluster.
Consequence: An inaccurate fuel reading may cause an engine stall due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DN.
TIRES · 22V034000
2022-01-26
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
AIR BAGS · 21V159000
2021-03-10
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
Consequence: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70i2.
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