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2006 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

194 reports with mileage · 101 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 159 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine complaints

15 reports
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98,000 miles · Apr 24, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILST DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN A DOWNPOUR ESP AND EPC LIGHTS LIT UP AND THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, DISABLING THE MAJORITY OF ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED PRIOR ONLY IN WET RAINY CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584695

61,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

IN OCTOBER 2006, PURCHASED A NEW 2006 AUDI A4 FROM CAROUSEL AUDI IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MN. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 62,000 MILES TODAY. IN LATE SUMMER OF 2013, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE CAR JERKED HEAVILY WHEN PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I THEN BE…

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IN OCTOBER 2006, PURCHASED A NEW 2006 AUDI A4 FROM CAROUSEL AUDI IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MN. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 62,000 MILES TODAY. IN LATE SUMMER OF 2013, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE CAR JERKED HEAVILY WHEN PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I THEN BEGAN NOTICING THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY AND LABORING WHEN NEARING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOTOR WOULD REV UP AND MAKE AN UNUSUAL SOUND AND IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE AUDI DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER MODULE WERE NOT COMMUNICATING PROPERLY AND THAT IT NEEDS A NEW MODULE AT A COST OF ABOUT $3800. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED BOTH THEM AND AUDI NORTH AMERICA ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH 61,000 OTHER AUDI OWNERS ACROSS THE U.S., THEY REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. I BELIEVE THAT AUDI HAS KNOWINGLY MADE AND SOLD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT IS DANGEROUS AND POSES GREAT RISK TO ITS OWNER AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THAT AUDI SHOULD BE FORCED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECALL VEHICLES WITH THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT AND PAY FOR MY REPAIR AS WELL AS FOR OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550901

89,000 miles · Apr 26, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SWEET, BURNING SMELL PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT WAS ALWAYS ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RADIATOR FAILED AT ONE POINT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL ME…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SWEET, BURNING SMELL PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT WAS ALWAYS ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RADIATOR FAILED AT ONE POINT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT A PLASTIC PIECE OF THE RADIATOR HAD FRACTURED ON AND ALLOWED ANTI -FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE SWEET, BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509650

92,000 miles · Nov 7, 2012
Engine

MY 2006 AUDI A4 JUST DIED ON THE ROAD THE DAY AFTER I DID THE 95K SERVICES.. COULDN'T START UP THE CAR AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS AND FINALLY WHEN I COULD, IT WAS VERY LOUD AND SHAKY.. GOT SOME SMELLS FROM THE FRONT ALSO BUT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I SENT IT BACK TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND GOING THROUGH SOME DIAGNOSIS, …

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MY 2006 AUDI A4 JUST DIED ON THE ROAD THE DAY AFTER I DID THE 95K SERVICES.. COULDN'T START UP THE CAR AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS AND FINALLY WHEN I COULD, IT WAS VERY LOUD AND SHAKY.. GOT SOME SMELLS FROM THE FRONT ALSO BUT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I SENT IT BACK TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND GOING THROUGH SOME DIAGNOSIS, WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT INSIDE THE ENGINE'S GOT BROKEN SLEEVES. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WERE RECALLS ON MY CAR, MY SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON FOR A WHILE AND IT WAS LINKED TO THE RECALL, THEY REPLACED THE BREATHER, BUT DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE TURBO PIPE.. WHEN MY CAR DIED ON THE ROAD, I WAS LUCKY THAT JUST TURNING OUT FROM DUNKIN DONUTS FOR AN VERY EARLY MORNING COFFEE (5AM), BECAUSE IT WAS SO EARLY, THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD VERY LIKELY BE A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483680

76,269 miles · Aug 29, 2012
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR HESITATED UNDER ACCELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE ACCELERATION AND IDLING PROBLEMS. ISSUES DUE TO CAM FOLLOWER WEARING PREMATURELY CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAMS, DAMAGE TO ENGINE REQUIRING TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472972

Official recalls

3

18V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 22, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 11, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

16V382000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 1, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service 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.