IllustrationFLICKERING LIGHT CAUSES DIPPED HEADLIGHT RESULTING IN ONLY ONE FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHT ONLY RESOLVED BY TURNING OFF AND THEN BACK ON, TEMP FIX. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →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
130–25K
5425–50K
6550–75K
3875–100K
20100–150K
4150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
159 reportsLEFT DIPPED HEADLAMP THAT AUDI CLAIMS THEY, "KNOW ABOUT BUT DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION." *TR
AUDI HEADLIGHT SHUTTERS AND SHUTS DOWN. INDICATOR STATES 'RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED'. FAILURE STARTED AS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOW AS OFTEN AS EVERYDAY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. WHEN THE LIGHT IS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL WORK AND THEN WILL SHUTTER/SHUT DOWN AGAIN. CONSE…
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AUDI HEADLIGHT SHUTTERS AND SHUTS DOWN. INDICATOR STATES 'RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED'. FAILURE STARTED AS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOW AS OFTEN AS EVERYDAY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. WHEN THE LIGHT IS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL WORK AND THEN WILL SHUTTER/SHUT DOWN AGAIN. CONSEQUENCE IS A MISSING HEADLIGHT AT NIGHT WHICH CAN CAUSE OTHER VEHICLES NOT TO SEE ME OR LACK OF LIGHTING IN THE DRIVING PATHWAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT (PEDESTRIAN, OTHER VEHICLES, BIKES, ANIMALS, ETC..). CAR WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT DEALER HAS CLAIMED THAT NO ISSUE IS REPORTED IN THE CARS SOFTWARE AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE FIXED. *TR
AUDI A4 RIGHT DIPPED HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR RHYME OR REASON. MULTIPLE PEOPLE REPORT SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHANGED BULB BUT WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR
EVERY TIME YOU GO OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ROAD DIPS THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. EVENTUALLY ONE SIDE WILL FAIL AND YOU ARE FORCED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONE HEADLIGHT AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. *TR
OUR AUDI A4 HAS AN ISSUE WITH A DIPPED HEADLIGHT. THE DEALER WON'T CORRECT EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GOES OUT AND HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN TO RELIGHT. THIS WILL HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. IT ISN'T THE BULB BUT SOME SORT OF IGNITER OR BALLAST ISSUE WE THINK. THIS PRESENTS A REAL DANGER ON A DARK ROAD AS WELL AS AN O…
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OUR AUDI A4 HAS AN ISSUE WITH A DIPPED HEADLIGHT. THE DEALER WON'T CORRECT EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GOES OUT AND HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN TO RELIGHT. THIS WILL HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. IT ISN'T THE BULB BUT SOME SORT OF IGNITER OR BALLAST ISSUE WE THINK. THIS PRESENTS A REAL DANGER ON A DARK ROAD AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A TRAFFIC CITATION. AUDI QUOTES US OVER 300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BULB BUT THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND THE BULB WOULD HAVE GONE OUT PERMANENTLY IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO AND THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE XENON HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WONDERFUL, WHEN THEY WORK OF COURSE. HOWEVER, AT NIGHT THEY FLICKER AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES EVEN GO OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE WORST PART IS, …
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I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO AND THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE XENON HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WONDERFUL, WHEN THEY WORK OF COURSE. HOWEVER, AT NIGHT THEY FLICKER AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES EVEN GO OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE WORST PART IS, I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT WHEN CLEARLY THERE IS. AUDI NEEDS TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. *TR
2006 AUDI A4 HEADLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING... THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS. IF I TURN THE LIGHT OFF (NOTE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRIVING AT NIGHT HERE) AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL BECOME NORMAL AGAIN, …
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2006 AUDI A4 HEADLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING... THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS. IF I TURN THE LIGHT OFF (NOTE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRIVING AT NIGHT HERE) AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL BECOME NORMAL AGAIN, FOR ABOUT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF. *TR
FLICKERING OF BOTH XENON HEADLIGHTS WITH NO APPARENT REASON. IT OCCURS ABOUT EVERY 45 SECONDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE BALLAST (CONTROL UNIT) FOR OVER 1000 USD, WHEREAS IN MANY OTHERS' EXPERIENCE, THIS HAS NOT HAD A POSITIVE RESOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR
AUDI A4 2006 HEADLIGHT DIPS AND GOES OUT DURING DRIVING AT NIGHT. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY AUDI. *TR
Official recalls
318V427000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.