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2006 Audi A3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A3 years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Audi A3 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 48 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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100,000 miles · Apr 15, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING ( AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL). WHILE DRIVING UP A BRIDGE IT JUST STOPPED WORKING AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND NOW WILL NOT WORK AT ALL .ITS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AUDI RECALLED THIS TRANSMISSION IN THE UK.

NHTSA ODI #11085169

78,800 miles · Jul 4, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

LOSS OF POWER AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHILE IN MOTION, ON A HIGHWAY, JUST DRIVING DOWN A STREET OR TURNING. ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11002964

90,000 miles · Apr 13, 2017
Electrical System

JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 1 MONTH AGO AND I GOT A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. CAR DOES NOT WANT TO REVERSE.IT JERKS FROM 1ST-2ND GEAR, AND IT ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN KM TRYING TO STOP. ITS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME ANS MY FAMILY. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 AUDI S4'S DSG TRANSMISSION. AUDI OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE AT NO COS…

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JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 1 MONTH AGO AND I GOT A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. CAR DOES NOT WANT TO REVERSE.IT JERKS FROM 1ST-2ND GEAR, AND IT ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN KM TRYING TO STOP. ITS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME ANS MY FAMILY. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 AUDI S4'S DSG TRANSMISSION. AUDI OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE AT NO COST.

NHTSA ODI #10972339

94,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Electrical System

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED USED - SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PREVIOUS ISSUE. HOWEVER, INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD PANEL INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." THEN THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE WOULD SWITCH TO THE LEFT AND IT WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF I TOGGLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD BA…

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THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED USED - SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PREVIOUS ISSUE. HOWEVER, INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD PANEL INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." THEN THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE WOULD SWITCH TO THE LEFT AND IT WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF I TOGGLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD BACK AND FORTH - THE LIGHTS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER, NOW THE ISSUE DOES NOT RESOLVE ITSELF BY DOING THIS. AND, ON OCCASION IN THE DARK - BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE RESEARCHED PUBLIC FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMUNITY ISSUE WITH SOME AUDI VEHICLES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND SOMEONE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET HURT OR WORSE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THIS IS A FORUM LISTING YEARS OF COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL AUDI DRIVERS: HTTP://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-332613.HTML *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545081

40,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH AN INTERMITTENT RIGHT HEADLIGHT TILT MESSAGE. THE RIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED PER TSB 2013829/6 ON 4/15/09 BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR THE PAST YEAR OR MORE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT NOW TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE DIP WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE…

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THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH AN INTERMITTENT RIGHT HEADLIGHT TILT MESSAGE. THE RIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED PER TSB 2013829/6 ON 4/15/09 BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR THE PAST YEAR OR MORE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT NOW TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE DIP WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT TURNS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AND FEEL BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL TSB WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE BULBS ARE XENON AND VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S BASED ON THE SERVICE ORDER AND INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435689

300 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHADE COVERING THE SUNROOF FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EACH TIME …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHADE COVERING THE SUNROOF FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EACH TIME A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THEY WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, THE BATTERY FAILED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY $257 FOR THE REPAIR. IN JULY OF 2007, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER MANY TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED HER FOR THE BATTERY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,837 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.

NHTSA ODI #10245535

Official recalls

4

18V082000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 30, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

16V079000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

09V377000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 30, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUDI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.

06V293000 · Air Bags:side/window

Aug 7, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING PRODUCTION OF THE AIR BAG, EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INFLATION MODULE MAY LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.