2016 Audi A6 Engine Problems

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.

During annual oil change inspection the mechanic found that the coolant was leaking and that the water pump needed to be replaced. The car has under 48000 miles.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A6. The contact stated while having routine maintenance on the vehicle, the independent mechanic became aware that the water pump was leaking. The contact was informed that the water pump, the thermostat assembly, and the upper coolant pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 26,205.

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.

Water pump and engine thermostat malfunction, check engine light is on.

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 engine caught fire without being used for 24 hours before

IN FEBRUARY 2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, NHTSA 19V035, FROM AUDI TELLING ME MY CAR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FUEL RAILS WHICH COULD LEAK FUEL CAUSING A FIRE! I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY DEALER AUDI OF WALLINGFORD CT AND PUT MY NAME ON A WAITING LIST FOR REPAIR. I HAVE NOW BEEN WAITING SEVEN MONTHS AND DESPITE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPT, IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY TELL ME THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE PARTS FROM AUDI. TODAY THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NEEDED PARTS IN MONTHS! THIS IS FOR A DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IS THIS PERMISSIBLE? WHAT CAN BE DONE?

WHEN OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES UNEXPECTED LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. I HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS IN MANEUVERS SUCH AS PARKING OR BACKING INTO OR OUT OF A GARAGE PARKING PLACE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN FORWARD OR REVERSE AND TYPICALLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND YOU ARE SLOWLY EASING INTO OR OUT OF A PLACE LIKE A PARKING SPOT OR GARAGE. THIS CONCERNS ME FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE SINCE A PRIME TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS MIGHT BE WHEN I AM PULLING INTO OR OUT OF MY GARAGE AT THE BEGINNING OR END OF A TRAVEL. MY CONCERN IS THAT A CHILD OR ADULT MAY BE CROSSING IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND THE CAR BEFORE IT STARTS MOVING AND THEN THE CAR UNEXPECTED LURCHES FORWARD OR BACK AND HITS THE PEDESTRIAN. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE ENGINE MISFIRES AND THE ENGINE AND CAR "JUMPS" AFTER THE MISFIRE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT "REPRODUCE" THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL HAS THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE AS ME AND SAYS HE KNOWS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE HE HAS EXPERIENCED IT AS WELL. IT HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THOUGH I CAN NOT TELL YOU ANY EXACT DATES.

I THINK THE AUDI RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE MORE YEARS. IT ENDS AT 2015 A6. I HAVE A 2016 A6 THAT NEEDED TOWED IN MARCH. I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS GONE, AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS THE SAME AS THE RECALL FOR THE COOLANT SYSTEM THAT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED. THEY REPLACED THE COOLANT SYSTEM IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 26K MILES.

MY WIFE WAS SLOWING THIS CAR DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY, AFTER SHE MADE THE TURN, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE 'STOP/START DEACTIVATED MANUALLY RESTART YOUR CAR" LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WELL WAS LOCKED, THE CAR DEAD ON THE STREET, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO WERE WORKING NORMALLY, HER SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED, ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED. THANKFULLY THE OTHER DRIVERS DID NOT HIT OUR CAR, SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER 2 MINUTES AND WE DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE STOP/START FUNCTION OFTEN HESITATED WHEN I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR BUT NEVER SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY LIKE THIS BEFORE.