Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S6 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI S6 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
AUDI S6 vs FORD F 150: The Audi S6 has 39 complaints and 30 recalls over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus 1 crash and 0 injuries for the S6. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI S6
The Audi S6 is a high-performance luxury sedan that demands careful maintenance. Over 10 years, it has 39 complaints (3.9 per year) and 30 recalls, with engine issues dominating. Owners report sudden power loss and turbo failures, often without warning, which can be dangerous. Electrical and steering problems also appear, making it a car for those who budget for repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a best-selling pickup with a huge complaint volume: 11,621 over 10 years (1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. Power train and electrical issues are most common, including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. There are 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported. This suggests that while popular, many owners experience serious reliability problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 39 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.9 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
AUDI S6
- 01ENGINE21
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04STEERING4
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
Owners report clogged oil screens that starve turbochargers of oil, leading to turbo failure and engine stalling. This can happen at low speeds, causing sudden power loss and steering difficulty. It's a costly repair and a safety concern.
Complaints include sudden electrical shutdowns while driving, often in rain, with no warning. This can leave the car dead and unable to restart, requiring expensive diagnostics and repairs.
Some owners experience steering system faults, sometimes after battery issues, which can make steering heavy or unresponsive. This adds to the list of potential sudden failures.
There are reports of fuel system problems, though fewer than engine issues. These can cause stalling or poor performance, and may be related to the engine's turbo setup.
“OIL SCREEN INTERIOR OF ENGINE (NON-SERVICEABLE) CLOGGED WHICH PREVENTED TURBO CHARGERS FROM RECEIVING OIL. BOTH TURBO CHARGERS FAILED WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON TWO LANE CITY STREET. ENGINE DIED, POWER WAS LOST, AND STEERED VEHICLE…”
“While driving my 2020 Audi S6, the vehicle suddenly lost power and completely shut off in the middle of the road without warning. There were no warning lights or messages beforehand. I was unable to accelerate or steer out of the way, which created a major cr…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures. These can cause sudden loss of power and near-collisions, with some cases resulting in injuries.
Electrical issues include lead frame faults and rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These problems can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Many complaints involve exterior lighting failures, which can reduce visibility and increase crash risk. This is a common and relatively simple fix, but frequent.
Engine complaints include various issues, though less frequent than power train. Some relate to stalling or performance loss, requiring diagnostic work.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
AUDI S6 — 30 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occ…
The risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occ…
The risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
The defect: 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…
The risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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-…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
AUDI S6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi S6 has far fewer complaints per year (3.9 vs 1,162) and fewer recalls (30 vs 151), but its issues often involve sudden engine or electrical failure. The Ford F-150's higher volume means more reported problems, including crashes and injuries. In practice, the S6 may have fewer overall incidents, but each can be severe; the F-150's issues are more widespread but may be more familiar to mechanics.
Key differences
- The Audi S6 has 39 complaints over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621, but the S6's engine failures can cause sudden stall.
- Ford F-150 complaints include 330 crash-related and 297 injuries, while Audi S6 has 1 crash-related and 0 injuries.
- Audi S6 recalls often involve air bags and turbos; Ford F-150 recalls include engines, seat belts, and door latches.
- Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; Audi S6 owners report turbo oil starvation and electrical shutdowns.
- Check for turbocharger health and oil screen condition; listen for whining or loss of power.
- Inspect electrical system for signs of water intrusion or battery drain, especially after rain.
- Test transmission for smooth shifting and check for lead frame replacement history; look for limp mode symptoms.
- Inspect rear window defroster for shorts and ensure window is intact; check for recalls on door latches and seat belts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Audi S6 for turbo and electrical issues, including oil screen.
- For the Ford F-150, test drive extensively to check transmission behavior and scan for error codes.
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed, especially for air bags and powertrain.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model's common problems.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | AUDI S6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 2 | 44 |
| 2018 | 4 | 79 |
| 2017 | 5 | 59 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific AUDI S6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S6 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI S6 total complaints
- 39
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- AUDI S6 total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- AUDI S6 avg complaints/year
- 3.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S6
- AUDI S6 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN