IllustrationRANDOM LOSS OF POWER, THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY SLIP WHILE THE CAR IS IN REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. IT WILL ALSO SLIP RANDOMLY WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION AND DURING TURNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN BEING REAR ENDED. PLEASE HELP! LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 1/15/2017.
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
Compare all A3 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
30–25K
1525–50K
2250–75K
1975–100K
12100–150K
4150K+
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
What owners actually said
123 reportsHEADLIGHT INTERNAL COIL THAT IS REPONSIBLE FOR HEADLIGHTS HIGHBEAM TO COME ON GOES BAD TO CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT TO STOP COMING ON. KNOWN PROBLEM IN AUDI A3 2006 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY
TAKATA RECALL - THIS RECALL WAS STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016 YET I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY AUDI THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED THE AIR BAG FIXED AND THE AUDI WEBSITE STATES THAT A SOLUTION IS STILL PENDING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE CAN ALREADY BE FIXED AND UNTIL WHAT DATE I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO AN AUDI DEALER FOR REPAIR.
TAKATA RECALL. RECALL HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 02/09/2016 WITH NO REMEDY. DELAYED REMEDY CONTINUES TO PLACE THE DRIVER IN HARMS WAY. WHEN WILL THIS BE CORRECTED?
TAKATA RECALL - REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE YET
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 01/23/17 *BF UPDATED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 01/23/17 *BF UPDATED 03/01/17.*JB
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS NOTIFIED IN APRIL 2016 OF THE RECALL BY AUDI OF AMERICA. AS OF TODAY, OCT. 3, 2016 I WAS TOLD THAT THEY STILL HAVE NO TIMELINE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, POTENTIALLY FATAL, IT IS MIND BOGGLING THAT 6MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE INITIAL…
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"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS NOTIFIED IN APRIL 2016 OF THE RECALL BY AUDI OF AMERICA. AS OF TODAY, OCT. 3, 2016 I WAS TOLD THAT THEY STILL HAVE NO TIMELINE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, POTENTIALLY FATAL, IT IS MIND BOGGLING THAT 6MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE INITIAL NOTIFICATION.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL WAS ISSUED FEBRUARY9,2016.I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, AND LTHE LDEALERSHIP CERTAINLY KNOWS MY ADDRESS WHEN THEY SEND ME ADS. I LEARNED OF THIS RECALL ON MY OWN, NO NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN SENT TO ME.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISS…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND FAILED TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Official recalls
418V082000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.