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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

159 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2009
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 3.2L AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. THEN I GET A WARNING MESSAGE THAT SAYS "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". BUT WHEN I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM ON AGAIN, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN ON JUST FINE. BUT THEN FEW MI…

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I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 3.2L AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. THEN I GET A WARNING MESSAGE THAT SAYS "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". BUT WHEN I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM ON AGAIN, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN ON JUST FINE. BUT THEN FEW MINUTES LATER, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT STARTS FLICKERING AGAIN AND TURNS OFF, REPEATS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS TO ME FREQUENTLY AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR VERY DARK AREAS, AS I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS TO RESET THEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND IT LOOKS LIKE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262356

35,000 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Exterior Lighting

THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN FLICKERING FOR ALMOST A YEAR IN MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0. ORIGINALLY (ALMOST A YEAR AGO, APPROX 35K MILES) I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND THEN EXTINGUISH, LEAVING ME DRIVING IN THE DAR…

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THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN FLICKERING FOR ALMOST A YEAR IN MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0. ORIGINALLY (ALMOST A YEAR AGO, APPROX 35K MILES) I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND THEN EXTINGUISH, LEAVING ME DRIVING IN THE DARK, OR WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. THE DISPLAY IN MY CAR WOULD INDICATE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT 'DIPPED'. IF I SHUT THE LIGHT SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THEN TO THE ON POSITION, THE HEADLIGHT WOULD RE-IGNITE. I RECENTLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AGAIN, AND THEY INDICATED THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BULB WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING IT (AT A COST OF $515), AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK, I NOTICED THE CONDITION WAS STILL PRESENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INDICATED THE OTHER BULB WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IN THIS INSTANCE COVERED THE COST OF THE BULB AND LABOR. I FEAR THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BY SIMPLY REPLACING THE BULBS, AND I WILL BE AGAIN DRIVING THE CAR WITH A FAULTY HEADLIGHT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE WRONG CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260867

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2009
Exterior Lighting

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS 2. IT THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. IF I TURN THE LIGHT OFF (NOTE: WE'RE TALKING…

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THE LEFT HEADLIGHT OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS 2. IT THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. 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. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING A LOT RECENTLY WITH THE COLD WEATHER. MY AUDI DEALER SAID THAT AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. NUMEROUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY POSTINGS ON USER FORUMS. HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T593349-AUDI_A4_LEFT_DIPPED_HEADLIGHT_PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257092

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2009
Exterior Lighting

THE XENON HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER (THE LEFT ONE WAS RECENTLY FIXED) 2. AFTER FLICKERING THE HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN IN…

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THE XENON HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER (THE LEFT ONE WAS RECENTLY FIXED) 2. AFTER FLICKERING THE HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. IF I TURN THE LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH TO OFF (NOTE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRIVING AT NIGHT HERE) AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT WILL BECOME NORMAL AGAIN. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254060

45,597 miles · Jan 6, 2009
Exterior Lighting

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT OF MY 2005.5 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS 2. IT THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254045

62,000 miles · Dec 31, 2008
Exterior Lighting

HID LIGHT ON LEFT SIDE FLICKERS THEN CAN FAIL AND GO TO A DIPPED STATUS DISPLAYING IN THE CONSOLE. TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND BACK ON WILL RESTORE THEM. FORUMS CANNOT ISOLATE THE ISSUE TO BULB-FLASH UPDATE FOR HEADLIGHTS-OR BALLAST. JUST GOOGLE AUDI DIPPED OR HID FLICKER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE LIGHT MAKE OTHER DRIVERS THINK YOU…

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HID LIGHT ON LEFT SIDE FLICKERS THEN CAN FAIL AND GO TO A DIPPED STATUS DISPLAYING IN THE CONSOLE. TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND BACK ON WILL RESTORE THEM. FORUMS CANNOT ISOLATE THE ISSUE TO BULB-FLASH UPDATE FOR HEADLIGHTS-OR BALLAST. JUST GOOGLE AUDI DIPPED OR HID FLICKER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE LIGHT MAKE OTHER DRIVERS THINK YOUR FLASHING THEM. ITS A DISTRACTION TO OTHER DRIVERS. FAILURE IN A CORNER IS DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253326

24,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Exterior Lighting

THE XENON HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER (THE LEFT ONE WAS RECENTLY FIXED) 2. AFTER FLICKERING THE HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SI…

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THE XENON HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS THIS ANNOYING -- AND DANGEROUS -- PROBLEM: 1. THE LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER (THE LEFT ONE WAS RECENTLY FIXED) 2. AFTER FLICKERING THE HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. IF I TURN THE LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH TO 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. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ONE OF THESE VERY EXPENSIVE BULBS, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY CAUSING PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OVER THE INTERNET. IN FACT, AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME SORT OF REDESIGN OF THE BULB AND A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CARS THAT ARE LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO RECALL THESE CARS ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE TO TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253214

18,000 miles · Dec 4, 2008
Exterior Lighting

MY 2006 AUDI A4 AVANT 2.0 HAS THE XENON HEADLIGHTS. ONE OF THE LIGHTS HAS BEEN FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP IN SUNNYVALE CAN'T POINT TO THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND WANTS TO CHARGE ME $500 TO REPLACE THE XENON BULB WHICH IS NOT BROKEN. IT WORKS AFTER YOU TURN OF THE LIGHT AND THEN ON AGAIN. IT'…

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MY 2006 AUDI A4 AVANT 2.0 HAS THE XENON HEADLIGHTS. ONE OF THE LIGHTS HAS BEEN FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP IN SUNNYVALE CAN'T POINT TO THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND WANTS TO CHARGE ME $500 TO REPLACE THE XENON BULB WHICH IS NOT BROKEN. IT WORKS AFTER YOU TURN OF THE LIGHT AND THEN ON AGAIN. IT'S HAPPENING IN COLD WEATHER MOSTLY LATE AT NIGHT OR VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING. IT WORKS FINE OTHERWISE. I SUSPECT THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE LIGHT CONTROL BLAST. A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE REVEALS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS RELEASED BUT NO REAL SOLUTION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FOUND. THOSE WHO HAD THE BULB REPLACED STILL HAVE THE PROBLEMS. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN TO ME SINCE MY LIGHT TURNS OF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVE WHEN IT'S DARK. I'D LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO RECALL THIS AND REALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT MAKING ME PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250774

28,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Exterior Lighting

LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN GOES OUT RANDOMLY ON MY 2006 AUDI A4 WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR SO WHEN YOU TURN THE …

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LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND THEN GOES OUT RANDOMLY ON MY 2006 AUDI A4 WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR SO WHEN YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF TO RESET THE LEFT LIGHT, YOU WON'T BE DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND SOMETIMES IT IS OK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249695

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.