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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

Other model years Selected 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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158,000 miles · Sep 28, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS IS VERY KNOW PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 2.0T ENGINES THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE IT HAPPENED TO ME. BASICALLY CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND CAMSHAFT. THE CAM SHAFT FOLLOWER IS TOO WEAK AND IT BRAKES TOO OFTEN FOR SOME OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS TON OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TJIS …

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THIS IS VERY KNOW PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 2.0T ENGINES THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE IT HAPPENED TO ME. BASICALLY CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND CAMSHAFT. THE CAM SHAFT FOLLOWER IS TOO WEAK AND IT BRAKES TOO OFTEN FOR SOME OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS TON OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TJIS SPEVIFIC PROBLEM. NOW THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS ON BACK ORDER SINCE JULY AND NO ONE KNOWS WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M STOCK WITHOUT A CAR AND NO ONE CAN HELP OR EVEN TELL ME WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. AUDI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. PLEASE HELP! *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427701

70,755 miles · Dec 25, 2010
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION. IT DANGEROUSLY LOST ALMOST ALL OF ITS POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY IT FAILED TO START. THE PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT AUDI HAS PUBLISHED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 15 07 02 FOR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE CAMSHAFT AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PU…

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THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION. IT DANGEROUSLY LOST ALMOST ALL OF ITS POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY IT FAILED TO START. THE PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT AUDI HAS PUBLISHED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 15 07 02 FOR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE CAMSHAFT AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOLLOWER. AUDI IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND WORKMANSHIP. FAILED COMPONENTS: 1) INTAKE CAMSHAFT 2) FOLLOWER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP

NHTSA ODI #10372950

67,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP DEFECTIVE. CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF LACK OF COMBUSTION IN ENGINE. HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WHEN CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THIS. MANY TIMES THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE ACCELERATION OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321090

60,800 miles · Sep 7, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER ON MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2006 AUDI A3 WAS PUNCHED CLEAN THROUGH AND THE PLUNGER ON MY FUEL PUMP WAS EATING AWAY AT MY CAMSHAFT... I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, BUT HAD FUEL CUTS AND BOOST CUTS IN MEDIUM TO HIGH RPMS. 3. I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAMSHAFT, CA…

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1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER ON MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2006 AUDI A3 WAS PUNCHED CLEAN THROUGH AND THE PLUNGER ON MY FUEL PUMP WAS EATING AWAY AT MY CAMSHAFT... I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, BUT HAD FUEL CUTS AND BOOST CUTS IN MEDIUM TO HIGH RPMS. 3. I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAMSHAFT, CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER, AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. VW/AUDI REFUSED TO HELP ME BECAUSE I AM AT 60,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH MY MANUAL SAYS THE PART SHOULD BE CHECK, AND MAYBE REPLACED STARTING AT 100,000 MILES... THEY SAID THAT MY AFTERMARKET INTAKE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE BY "OVER SPINNING THE ENGINE"... THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, AS THE ENGINE HAS A REV LIMITER, AND I NEVER HAVE GONE OVER 4K RPM YET, PLUS MY "AFTERMARKET INTAKE" IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE STOCK INTAKE, BUT WRAPPED IN CARBON FIBER, WITH A K&N FILTER REPLACING THE FACTORY ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283048

66,000 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN WEATHER HEAT CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE 90F THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP WILL SPORADICALLY GLITCH/SHUT -OFF AND PREVENT FUEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. THIS MAKES THE CAR STALL MOMENTARILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A START POINT AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY VERIFIED A…

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WHEN WEATHER HEAT CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE 90F THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP WILL SPORADICALLY GLITCH/SHUT -OFF AND PREVENT FUEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. THIS MAKES THE CAR STALL MOMENTARILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A START POINT AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE WITH A SUPERCEEDING PUMP. AUDI SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2006-2008 A3, AND A4 VEHICLES. MY CAR HAS 66,000 MILES AND HAS GONE PAST THE WARRANTY LIMITS FOR A NO-CHARGE REPLACEMENT. THIS FAULT CONDITION IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238460

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.