MODEL
Audi S6
NHTSA safety across every Audi S6 model year we cover.
Across the 6 model years of the Audi S6 we cover (2020 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 99 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2021 at 90. 23 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Audi S6 is a performance-tuned executive sedan slotting into the competitive luxury sport segment, sitting above the standard A6 and aimed at drivers who want genuine performance credentials alongside premium refinement. Targeting affluent buyers who commute in comfort but want to feel the road on weekends, the S6 competes directly with the BMW 5 Series M Sport and Mercedes-Benz E53 AMG. For model years 2020 through 2025, MotorCaliber examined its federal safety record in detail.
From a pure safety-data standpoint, the Audi S6 presents a genuinely encouraging picture for the 2020-2025 generation. The headline number is a perfect NHTSA Safety Index of 100 out of 100 for the 2025 model year, placing it in the Exceptional band - the strongest rating in our scoring system. Rollover protection earns a full five stars, which is notable for a low-slung performance sedan where center-of-gravity management matters. Frontal and side crash-test ratings are listed as not rated for the years we cover, meaning shoppers cannot lean on those individual star counts when comparing this model head-to-head against rivals that have been fully tested in those categories. That gap in the data is worth acknowledging honestly. The recall count across the covered span stands at 22 - a figure that warrants attention. Twenty-two recall actions over roughly five model years is above what we consider a low-concern threshold, and buyers should verify that any specific vehicle they are considering has had all open recalls addressed through an authorized Audi dealer before purchase. On the complaint side, the picture is unusually quiet: only 3 owner complaints on file, with zero reported crashes, zero fires, zero injuries, and zero deaths. Those figures are unverified allegations as always, but their near-absence does suggest the ownership population has not been flooding federal channels with safety concerns. Bottom line: the S6 scores at the top of our index for 2025, but the recall history and incomplete crash-test data mean informed buyers should do their homework before signing.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Audi S6 as one of the more accomplished executive sport sedans on the market, praising its blend of composed everyday refinement and strong straight-line performance. Most professional assessments highlight its premium interior quality and driver-focused character as standout attributes, while occasionally noting that its pricing positions it against formidable German rivals that offer similarly complete packages.
- The 2025 Audi S6 earns a perfect NHTSA Safety Index score of 100 out of 100, placing it in the Exceptional band - the highest classification in our rating system for the covered model years.
- Frontal and side crash-test star ratings are listed as not rated across the 2020-2025 model years we cover, so shoppers cannot make direct star-for-star comparisons with rivals that have received full NHTSA crash-test evaluations in those categories.
- Twenty-two recalls have been issued across the 2020-2025 model years - a count that is meaningfully elevated. Before purchasing any used or new S6, confirm with an Audi dealer that all open recall repairs have been completed on that specific vehicle.
- Owner complaints filed with NHTSA total just 3 across all covered years, with zero reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths. While these are unverified allegations, the extremely low complaint volume suggests the S6 ownership population has raised very few federal safety concerns.
Most-recalled year on record: 2021 Audi S6 with 10 recalls.