Engines failing to start are the cause of complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Audi promotes the S6 as a vehicle where “sportiness meets efficiency.” It’s marketed as a performance model that’s in for “the long haul.” It’s getting good reviews too. But when owners can’t get their engines to start, it’s no surprise that they wonder how critics can say this is a sedan with near-perfect reliability.
There doesn’t seem to be a lot wrong with the 2022 Audi S6. But for owners who have bothered to file complaints with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), there is one major issue. Sometimes the engine doesn’t start.
If you’ve bought an expensive luxury sport sedan and it’s going nowhere, you’re not likely to be impressed.
So far, there are only 3 complaints on file with the NHTSA, all from owners in various parts of Texas. All of these were registered in August 2022 stating that the 3 owners believed that either the electrical system, engine, or the structure of the vehicle was at fault.
There are also 2 recalls for this model, one of which relates to engine power. The other is a problem that is haunting Audi vehicles in the form of inoperative rear view camera displays. When this fault occurs, the driver’s rear visibility is reduced and there’s more of a chance that the car will crash.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
|
Electrical System
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Engine
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|
Structure:body
|
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The first two complaints about engine and electrical problems are very basic. All they say is that the engine of their vehicles wouldn’t start and they wanted them to be fixed.
The third, filed under Engine and Electrical System, states that the owner tried to start the S6 multiple times. Each time, according to the complaint, the “Depress Brake Pedal and Press START button” messages appear on the instrument panel even though the owner was following the instructions. So, he called an independent mechanic and was referred to the NHTSA for assistance.
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It’s not clear whether the recall relating to the electrical system could have anything to do with this problem. The safety recall report states that a control module shutdown can reduce engine power. It doesn’t say the problem will shut the car down. Nevertheless, Audi has recalled 50,883 of its vehicles including some S6 sedans. This is because “a gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.”
The explanation is that any liquid spilled in the rear seat of the car can penetrate through the seat and cause the gateway control to shut down.
There is also a technical service bulletin (TSB) that relates to Audi’s Start/Stop system. This is designed to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions by automatically turning off the car’s engine when the vehicle is stopped. It then starts up before the car starts moving again.
But this has more to do with the car restarting rather than stopping!
So, all in all, the issue with 2022 S6 engines shutting down remains a mystery that is unanswered by Audi… remembering that these are all new cars.
You don’t necessarily need to own a 2022 Audi S6 with the engine or electrical problems described here to believe you might have bought a lemon. If there is anything wrong with your 2022 Audi S6 that affects the use or value of your vehicle, you have every right to try and find out if it is a lemon. This is where a lemon law firm like Lemberg Law comes in.
Every year automakers like Audi buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners? Better still, the law makes Audi pay the legal fees for lemon-related legal fees.
If you’d like Lemberg Law to assess your 2022 Audi S6 problems free of charge, call our Helpline or fill out a contact form.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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