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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

295 reports
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2016
Engine

HI. I HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE ON TWO DIFFERENT 2.0T FSI ENGINES. CARBON BUILD UP ON THE INTAKE VALVES WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE INTAKE VALVES, THUS ENGINE HEAD NEEDING REBUILDING. FIRST CAR WAS 2006 VW GOLF GTI AND NOW I JUST HAD SAME ISSUE WITH 2006 AUDI A4 2.0 T .DEALER QUOTED OVER $5,500, GOT IT FIXED AT LOCAL SHOP FOR …

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HI. I HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE ON TWO DIFFERENT 2.0T FSI ENGINES. CARBON BUILD UP ON THE INTAKE VALVES WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE INTAKE VALVES, THUS ENGINE HEAD NEEDING REBUILDING. FIRST CAR WAS 2006 VW GOLF GTI AND NOW I JUST HAD SAME ISSUE WITH 2006 AUDI A4 2.0 T .DEALER QUOTED OVER $5,500, GOT IT FIXED AT LOCAL SHOP FOR $2,700. THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENGINES....

NHTSA ODI #10862974

123,800 miles · Nov 22, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

GLANCING SIDE IMPACT HEAD ON COLLISION - VEHICLE ROLLED 270 DEGREES - RIGHT, UPSIDE DOWN, THEN ENDED ON LEFT SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IMPACT SPEED WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO ROLL VEHICLE, THUS THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. VEHICLE PROCEEDING IN MOTION - PROBABLY 20 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY (OTHER VEH…

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GLANCING SIDE IMPACT HEAD ON COLLISION - VEHICLE ROLLED 270 DEGREES - RIGHT, UPSIDE DOWN, THEN ENDED ON LEFT SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IMPACT SPEED WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO ROLL VEHICLE, THUS THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. VEHICLE PROCEEDING IN MOTION - PROBABLY 20 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY (OTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER) APPROX 35-40 WHEN FIRST OBSERVED OTHER VEHICLE MOVING ERRATICALLY

NHTSA ODI #10795306

74,000 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER / TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKING OR TRAVELING OVER SMALL BUMPS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VISION AT NIGHT. THIS WILL SOMETIMES GIVE THE ERROR "DIPPED HEADLIGHT" AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT TO TURN OFF AND REMAIN OFF UNTIL IT IS RESET.

NHTSA ODI #10783712

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10780931

12,000 miles · Sep 11, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I HAVE THE A4 W/ 3.1 LITER V6. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED BUMPY LURCHING START FROM STOP. AUDI DIAGNOSE SAID THAT'S SYMPTOMATIC OF THIS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMBINATION. NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT. WITHIN 1ST YEAR, THE CAR WOULD STALL AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, NECESSITATING A RE-START.…

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I HAVE THE A4 W/ 3.1 LITER V6. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED BUMPY LURCHING START FROM STOP. AUDI DIAGNOSE SAID THAT'S SYMPTOMATIC OF THIS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMBINATION. NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT. WITHIN 1ST YEAR, THE CAR WOULD STALL AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, NECESSITATING A RE-START. SOMETIMES UPON START, AND MOST NOTABLY (AND THE EXAMPLE CITED ABOVE) WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED. (I SUSPECT THE STALL PROBLEMS DESCRIBED RELATES TO THE LURCHING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM). ON THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO AUDI, THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM. I TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT -- THEY DETERMINED PROBLEM AS FUEL PUMP. REPLACED FUEL PUMP. MOST RECENTLY THE CAR STALLED WHEN INITIATING A LEFT TURN FROM A SLOW 10-15 MPH ROLL. AS I SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR, CAR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF LEFT TURN -- HAD TO RE-START MID-TURN TO RESTORE POWER STEERING AND FINISH TURN (TURN WAS DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE SO CAR WAS ABLE TO COAST). THIS HAPPENED AROUND 2/15. I TOOK IT TO AUDI, THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY SAID BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I CALLED AUDI USA -- THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION OR DATABASE RESEARCH OF PROBLEM W/ OTHER AUDIES. A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WAS 8/14 WHEN I EXITED FREEWAY AND AS I ROLLED TO A STOP, @10-15 MPH THE CAR STALLED. HAD TO BE RESTARTED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I MAY HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER BUT DON'T RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY RISK IF THIS OCCURS WITH MY WIFE DRIVING AND AN ONCOMING CAR IS UNABLE TO STOP IF THE VEHICLE STALLS IN SIMILAR MANNER IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT TURN. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10763136

60,000 miles · Aug 14, 2015
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE AN AUDI A4 2006 THAT I PURCHACED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER IN NOVEMBER 2009 I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM AUDI OF AMERICA "UPCOMING VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE ACTION 28F2/JI IGNITION COIL INSPECTION REPLACEMENT"'. AT THE TIME I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS BUT TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT …

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I HAVE AN AUDI A4 2006 THAT I PURCHACED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER IN NOVEMBER 2009 I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM AUDI OF AMERICA "UPCOMING VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE ACTION 28F2/JI IGNITION COIL INSPECTION REPLACEMENT"'. AT THE TIME I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS BUT TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAD THE COILS CHECKED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WENT STRAIGHT BACK TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THERE WAS NEVER ANYTHING ''WRONG"' SO I COULDN'T TRUST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS SEEMED TO BECOME A ROUTINE WHENEVER I WENT TO THE DEALER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS SURELY TO COME ON. SO MUCH SO THAT I STOPPED GOING TO THAT DEALER FOR SERVICING, ITS NOT UNCOMMON TO HEAR THAT WOMEN THAT GO TO GET THEIR CAR SERVICED GET "SPECIAL'' TREATMENT. I AM ALWAYS SKEPTICAL OF THAT. NOW I HAVE 60,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND AFTER EXPERIENCING SEVERE SHAKING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND BLINKING ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT AROSE AGAIN WAS THE COILS REPLACED FOR $424.22 A MISFIRE CYL 4 CAUSED BY IGNITION COIL MISFIRE IN CYL 4. APPARENTLY THE RECALL "'IS OVER" THAT WAS THE DETAILED AND THOUGHTFUL EXPLANATION I WAS GIVEN BY THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW COUNTRY AUDI IN GREENWICH, CT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A RECALL COULD EVER BE OVER AS IT WILL BE UNSAFE AND COSTLY TO THE CUSTOMER FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10748654

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2015
Unknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED

NHTSA ODI #10731636

140,000 miles · Jun 26, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP, A WORN INTAKE CAMSHAFT, AND A FAULTY CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP, A WORN INTAKE CAMSHAFT, AND A FAULTY CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10730643

131,982 miles · May 15, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT STOP WORKING

NHTSA ODI #10716621

65,000 miles · Apr 26, 2015
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES JUST THE LEFT, SOMETIMES JUST THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. THE DASH READS "RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED" OR "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED". TO CORRECT THE ERROR ONE MUST TURN HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN RESULTING IN A FEW SECONDS OF DARKNESS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS VERY DA…

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HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES JUST THE LEFT, SOMETIMES JUST THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES BOTH. THE DASH READS "RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED" OR "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED". TO CORRECT THE ERROR ONE MUST TURN HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN RESULTING IN A FEW SECONDS OF DARKNESS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS NO APPARENT REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FROM EXTENSIVE RESEARCH SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712931

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.