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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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86,000 miles · May 8, 2016
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT GOING AT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY I RECEIVED LEFT DIP LIGHT WARNING AND AFTER 2 MINUTES RECEIVED RIGHT DIP LIGHT WARNING. I QUICKLY HAVE TO RESET THE LIGHT AFTER WHICH BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT LIGHTS CAME UP. AFTER SOME 20-30 MIN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.THERE ERE HIGH CHANCES OF FATAL CRASH AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHW…

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I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT GOING AT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY I RECEIVED LEFT DIP LIGHT WARNING AND AFTER 2 MINUTES RECEIVED RIGHT DIP LIGHT WARNING. I QUICKLY HAVE TO RESET THE LIGHT AFTER WHICH BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT LIGHTS CAME UP. AFTER SOME 20-30 MIN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.THERE ERE HIGH CHANCES OF FATAL CRASH AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ESCAPE THIS. THIS ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10863785

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

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

95,000 miles · Jan 17, 2015
Exterior Lighting

RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHTS. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY TURN OFF, THEN SOME TIME LATER COME BACK ON. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, BUT THE WORST IS WHEN I AM DRIVING 60MPH+ AT NIGHT AND LOSE ALL MY LIGHTS. RUNNING LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, FOG LIGHTS, A…

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RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHTS. MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY TURN OFF, THEN SOME TIME LATER COME BACK ON. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, BUT THE WORST IS WHEN I AM DRIVING 60MPH+ AT NIGHT AND LOSE ALL MY LIGHTS. RUNNING LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, FOG LIGHTS, ALL OF IT. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY EVERY WEEK. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND NEVER CAME BACK ON. I RECEIVED AN ERROR ON MY DASH THAT STATES "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." I CHECKED IT OUT AND DECIDED TO CHANGE THE BULB. WELL, I DID AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. I LOOKED UP MORE INTO IT ONLINE AND IT'S QUITE AN EXPENSIVE FIX, AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO EVEN WORK. MY HEADLIGHT IS OUT AND ABOUT EVERY WEEK SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK MY LIGHTS COMPLETELY GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE I DISCOVERED ON GOOGLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676212

84,000 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM AS FOLLOWS: 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. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I NEED TO TURN ON MY…

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THE LEFT HEADLIGHT OF MY 2006 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM AS FOLLOWS: 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. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I NEED TO TURN ON MY HEAD LIGHTS, I TOOK TO DEALER, THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT PART MIGHT BE BAD, SO THEY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE ALMOST ALL PARTS INVOLVE WITH THAT, AND ITS COSTLY. I CHECKED ON LINE TO FIND A SOLUTION, I FIGURED OUT IT'S NOT ONLY ME, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF AUDI DRIVERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IN HERE AND EVEN IN EUROPE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672876

68,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES IT SAYS RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT AND SOMETIMES LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT AND SOMETIMES BOTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659496

94,780 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONE RANDOMLY TURNS OFF AND THEN I GET A DISPLAY IN THE DASH THAT'S SAYS "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED" THIS ALSO HAPPENS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE TO TURN THE KNOB KN THE DASHBOARD ON THE OFF POSITION AND TURN THEM BACK ON THE ON POSITION AND THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND…

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WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONE RANDOMLY TURNS OFF AND THEN I GET A DISPLAY IN THE DASH THAT'S SAYS "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED" THIS ALSO HAPPENS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE TO TURN THE KNOB KN THE DASHBOARD ON THE OFF POSITION AND TURN THEM BACK ON THE ON POSITION AND THEY START WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND UNSAFE. PLEASE HELP. ALSO MY ENGINE IS BURNING OIL VERY FAST I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND DROVE THE CAR FOR 80 MILES AND THE DIP STICK ALREADY SHOWS HALF WAY FULL. I HAD THE HEAD GASKET AND VACUUM PUMP GASKET REPLACED BUT IT STILL HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641913

95,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

AUGUST 2014, DRIVING AT NIGHT, HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65MPH+) BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND WENT OUT, NO ILLUMINATION. TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO RESET BY LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. WOULD RESET, THEN FLICKER AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS OUT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND ABLE TO GET THERE OK. VEHICLE IS IN AT SERVICE FOR …

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AUGUST 2014, DRIVING AT NIGHT, HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65MPH+) BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND WENT OUT, NO ILLUMINATION. TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO RESET BY LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. WOULD RESET, THEN FLICKER AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS OUT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND ABLE TO GET THERE OK. VEHICLE IS IN AT SERVICE FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622450

66,000 miles · Jun 29, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT WENT OUT CAUSED LIGHT TO COME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606736

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.