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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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100,500 miles · May 13, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

AUDI A4, 2006 CONVERTIBLE : AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 12 MILES IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A 2 LANE STREET I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NOT A LOT. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. TEMP OUTSIDE WAS 75. SO I DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES, THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD - I TURNED ON THE TURN SIGNAL TO GET IN…

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AUDI A4, 2006 CONVERTIBLE : AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 12 MILES IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A 2 LANE STREET I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NOT A LOT. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. TEMP OUTSIDE WAS 75. SO I DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES, THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD - I TURNED ON THE TURN SIGNAL TO GET INTO THE OTHER LANE AND THEN THE COOLANT LOW SIGN CAME ON THE DASH. THEN A LOT MORE SMOKE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR COOL IN A PARKING LOT, I ADDED THE COOLANT/WATER MIX AS CALLED FOR IN THE SERVICE BOOK ( HAD THE STAFF AT OREILLY AUTO PARTS LOOK UP THE CORRECT COOLANT). AS SOON AS I STARTED THE ENGINE ALL THE COOLANT RAN OUT. I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION. IT APPEARS TO BE A CRACKED VALVE. ALSO 3 RADIATOR HOSES ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR JUST HAD A FULL TUNE UP 2 MONTHS EARLIER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511688

50,000 miles · Feb 24, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES POWER WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. POWER LOSS GENERALLY LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. POWER LOSS IS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED WHILE ATTEMPTING PASS OTHER VEHICLES. ON OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP-MODE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #10385230

71,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0 WITH ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING OUT UNTO A HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE BOGS DOWN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC PROVIDED ME A BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. THE AUDI DEALER HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING ABNORMAL …

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I HAVE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0 WITH ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING OUT UNTO A HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE BOGS DOWN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC PROVIDED ME A BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM. THE AUDI DEALER HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING ABNORMAL CAMSHAFT WEAR AND FAILURE WITH THE STANDARD STOCK FACTORY INSTALLED PUMPS WHICH ARE FROM A DESIGN FLAW. THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE NHTSA HAS THREE ITEMS#10024427, 10030593 AND 10025965 REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. IN CHECKING ONLINE WITH A GOOGLE SEARCH, IT APPEARS MANY 2004-06 AUDI'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WHICH CREATE A DANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC. THE TSB IS NOT MAKING AUDI LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND I FEEL MANY CONSUMERS ARE PLANNING TO MAKE REPAIRS FOR AUDI'S DESIGN FLAW INCLUDING THEIR COVER-UP OF THE DESIGN FLAW. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THIS ISSUE BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME HE HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AND OR THE IGNITION COILS. NUMEROUS TIMES, THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN NOTED AN OIL PRESSURE ISSUE INVOLVING THE CYLINDER HEAD, BEARINGS AND SHORT BLOCK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT. UPDATED IVOQ 08/19/10*JB UPDATED IVOQ 10/18/10*JB *TR THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC NOTICED METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL WHEN PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PERIODICALLY FLASHED AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RUN SMOOTHLY. UPDATED IVOQ 01/12/11. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED IVOQ 02/09/11 UPDATED 05/25/11

NHTSA ODI #10343478

84,098 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS PRIOR TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES OF CHECK IN LIGHT APPEARING THE CAR BEGIN DRIVING ROUGH AND SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND QUICKLY CUT THE WIRES OF THE COIL PACK FROM THE HOUSING TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING, AS I GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326534

33,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE EXITED AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS WE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE EXITED AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FRONT HALF OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY FAILURES PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER, WHO WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LABELED AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10266227

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

EXTREME VIBRATIONS ARE OCCURRING WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IN GEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT NEW. IT NOW HAS ONLY 8000 MILES. THE VIBRATION LEVELS VARY AND CAN FLUCTUATE. WHEN VIBRATIONS ARE HIGH THE VIBRATION IS NAUSEATING, TINGLES MY EARS, AND RATTLES MY TEETH. MY KEYS VIBRATE ENOUGH TO PRO…

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EXTREME VIBRATIONS ARE OCCURRING WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IN GEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT NEW. IT NOW HAS ONLY 8000 MILES. THE VIBRATION LEVELS VARY AND CAN FLUCTUATE. WHEN VIBRATIONS ARE HIGH THE VIBRATION IS NAUSEATING, TINGLES MY EARS, AND RATTLES MY TEETH. MY KEYS VIBRATE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SOUND AND THEY APPEAR BLURRY. MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT CURRENTLY, BUT SUGGEST THERE MAY BE FUTURE REMEDIES. THEY DID TIGHTEN MY SEAT AND SAY THAT MY CAR IS OPERATING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. I DROVE AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE TO COMPARE FROM THEIR LOT AND MY CAR VIBRATED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. THESE SEVERE VIBRATIONS PROMPT ME TO PLACE MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS SO I DON'T FEEL ILL. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS SINCE MY CAR MAY NOT BE IN GEAR, AND IF I'M DISTRACTED, THEN NEED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY. I'M AFRAID I MAY GET REAR ENDED AT ONE OF THESE TIMES. THE VIBRATIONS MAKE ME FEEL SICK AND GIVE ME HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN DETRACT FROM MY ABILITY TO OPERATE THE CAR SAFELY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10173147

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.