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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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63,482 miles · May 28, 2014
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING AND HAD THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GO OUT. THE FAULT INDICATOR STATED THAT THE RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT HAD A FAULT, THEN THAT THE BULB WAS BAD. I KEPT DRIVING, AS I THOUGHT THAT I COULD SEE WELL ENOUGH WITH THE LEFT LIGHT. AFTER A WHILE, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE LEFT …

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I WAS DRIVING AND HAD THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GO OUT. THE FAULT INDICATOR STATED THAT THE RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT HAD A FAULT, THEN THAT THE BULB WAS BAD. I KEPT DRIVING, AS I THOUGHT THAT I COULD SEE WELL ENOUGH WITH THE LEFT LIGHT. AFTER A WHILE, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT. AGAIN, I KEPT DRIVING, AS I THOUGHT THAT I COULD SEE WELL ENOUGH WITH THE RIGHT LIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I ENTERED THE INTERSTATE, AND INCREASED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 65 MPH, AND DROVE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AS I ANTICIPATED GOING TO THE LEFT SIDE WHEN THE ROAD SPLIT IN ABOUT THREE MILES AND THEN EXITING SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THEN BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD TO SIGNAL TO GO TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, THROUGH TWO LANES OF FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND STOPPED. LUCKILY, ANOTHER DRIVER WHO HAD NOTICED THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS OFFERED TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN FRONT OF ME TO ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY ON OFF-HIGHWAY STREETS TO GET HOME, BUT BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD THREE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594582

50,000 miles · Feb 20, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPS OCCASIONALLY, WITHOUT WARNING, RANDOMLY. THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT/RESET THE HEADLIGHT. IT'S CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565102

54,500 miles · Nov 27, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING ON I-45 S TO HOUSTON AND AT 9 PM, I TRIED TURNING MY FRONT FOG LIGHT ON AS IT WAS GETTING FOGGY OCCASIONALLY. I WAS AT 75 MPH SPEED ON RIGHT LANE, ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND AFTER PLAYING AROUND SOME KIND OF LIGHT CAME BACK, DROVE TO NEAREST EXIT TO GAS STATION …

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I WAS DRIVING ON I-45 S TO HOUSTON AND AT 9 PM, I TRIED TURNING MY FRONT FOG LIGHT ON AS IT WAS GETTING FOGGY OCCASIONALLY. I WAS AT 75 MPH SPEED ON RIGHT LANE, ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND AFTER PLAYING AROUND SOME KIND OF LIGHT CAME BACK, DROVE TO NEAREST EXIT TO GAS STATION ABOUT A MILE FURTHER AND CHECKED ALL LIGHTS, IT WAS WORKING FINE NOW. I HAVE READ SIMILAR KIND OF COMPLAINT HERE AND NOT SURE IF IT IS GETTING ATTENTION. DOES DEATH HAS TO OCCUR BEFORE NHSTA AND AUDI LISTEN TO THIS PROBLEM. 75 MPH IN INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS ON, CAN YOU IMAGINE MY SITUATION. IT CAN EASILY CAUSE DEATH AND DAMAGE. FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT BULB ISSUE, IT IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553964

70,000 miles · Nov 16, 2013
Exterior Lighting

2006 AUDI A4 DIPPED HEADLIGHT / FLICKER / PROBLEM. LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND GO OUT, HAPPENS AT RANDOM, AT SPEEDS FROM 0 TO 70 MPH. AUDI DEALER SAID THE GAS LEVEL IN THE HEADLAMP IS LOW, RECOMMENDED NOT TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME, TO ADDRESS, TURN LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WHEN IT OCCURS. HAVE HAD TO DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITH…

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2006 AUDI A4 DIPPED HEADLIGHT / FLICKER / PROBLEM. LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND GO OUT, HAPPENS AT RANDOM, AT SPEEDS FROM 0 TO 70 MPH. AUDI DEALER SAID THE GAS LEVEL IN THE HEADLAMP IS LOW, RECOMMENDED NOT TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME, TO ADDRESS, TURN LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WHEN IT OCCURS. HAVE HAD TO DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A 10 MINUTE PERIOD TO KEEP THE HEADLAMP ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552533

48,000 miles · Nov 9, 2013
Exterior LightingService Brakes

THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE REACH APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED, BUT DEACTIVATED WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS, THIS MALFUNCTION COMPLETELY DRAINED MY BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551633

51,000 miles · Nov 9, 2013
Exterior Lighting

AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE LEFT HAND LIGHT FLICKERED THEN WENT OUT. THE DISPLAY AREA GAVE ME A WARNING THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS OUT. IT HAPPENS EACH NIGHT AND IS REMEDIED BY DEACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS THEN TURNING THEM ON AGAIN. I HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS CHANGED IN JUNE, BUT THE RIGHT HAND HEADLIGHT DOES THE SAME N…

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AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE LEFT HAND LIGHT FLICKERED THEN WENT OUT. THE DISPLAY AREA GAVE ME A WARNING THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS OUT. IT HAPPENS EACH NIGHT AND IS REMEDIED BY DEACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS THEN TURNING THEM ON AGAIN. I HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS CHANGED IN JUNE, BUT THE RIGHT HAND HEADLIGHT DOES THE SAME NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551632

84,000 miles · Oct 18, 2013
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND SOMETIMES EMIT A WARNING THAT STATES "TIPPED HEADLIGHT" WHICH TRIGGERS THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT OFF--THIS CAN OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. IT USUALLY HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I AM DRIVING, BUT THERE IS NO PATTERN AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS…

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HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND SOMETIMES EMIT A WARNING THAT STATES "TIPPED HEADLIGHT" WHICH TRIGGERS THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT OFF--THIS CAN OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. IT USUALLY HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I AM DRIVING, BUT THERE IS NO PATTERN AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST AUDI WHERE THEY WILL REFUND A PORTION OF YOUR REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2006 AUDI A4, BUT AUDI STILL CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE AND NOT AT FAULT (HTTP://WWW.HIDHEADLIGHTSETTLEMENT.COM/). PLEASE FORCE AUDI TO RECALL THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM--I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY MY LOCAL DEALER CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO SAFETY REASONS (THE CLASS ACTION SUIT ONLY REFUNDS REPAIRS PRIOR TO AUGUST 2013 AND WON'T EVEN COVER THE ENTIRE COST). THERE ARE A LOT OF 2006 AUDI A4'S OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM--THE COMPLAINTS ARE ALL OVER MULTIPLE MESSAGE BOARDS, AND THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM OR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548343

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING.AUDI: THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE CONDITIONS THAT BOTH OCCUR IN VEHICLES WITH BI-XENON, WITH OR WITHOUT ADAPTIVE LIGHTING (AFS): ONE XENON LIGHT ON EITHER SIDE SPORADICALLY FLICKERS OR FLASHES AND GOES OUT. WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN OR AT IGNITION CYCLE, T…

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THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING.AUDI: THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE CONDITIONS THAT BOTH OCCUR IN VEHICLES WITH BI-XENON, WITH OR WITHOUT ADAPTIVE LIGHTING (AFS): ONE XENON LIGHT ON EITHER SIDE SPORADICALLY FLICKERS OR FLASHES AND GOES OUT. WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN OR AT IGNITION CYCLE, THE HEADLAMPS MAY FUNCTION PROPERLY OR EXHIBIT THE SAME BEHAVIOR; ONE XENON LIGHT ON ONE SIDE FAILS PERMANENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545755

70,000 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT FLICKERS THEN GOES OUT. WHEN CAR IS RESTARTED THE LIGHT WORKS BUT THEN GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541974

65,000 miles · Aug 14, 2013
Exterior Lighting

IN REGARDS TO HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2006 AUDI A4 MODELS AND SPEAKS TO MY EXACT FRUSTRATION & NON-ACTION TAKEN BY AUDI TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS I FEEL IT IS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THAT OF THE OWNERS. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS AUDI, ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALLY FLICKER WHILE I WAS DRIV…

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IN REGARDS TO HID HEADLIGHTS ON 2006 AUDI A4 MODELS AND SPEAKS TO MY EXACT FRUSTRATION & NON-ACTION TAKEN BY AUDI TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS I FEEL IT IS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THAT OF THE OWNERS. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS AUDI, ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALLY FLICKER WHILE I WAS DRIVING, & THEN PRODUCE AN ERROR CODE: "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." THE PROBLEM EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY.THE BULBS STILL PRODUCE LIGHT, BUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER,"RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" AND "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". ONE WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS TO START WORKING AGAIN IS TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAUSES ME TO PULL OVER FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS. THE BULBS ARE SOMEWHAT NEW AND ALL THE HEADLIGHT PARTS ARE OEM, AND THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE DARK. I UNDERSTAND FROM ONLINE BLOGS THAT SEVERAL OTHER 2006 AUDI A4 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH TIES BACK TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE GIVEN THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF A CAR WHILE AND THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. I HAVE RECENTLY SERVICED MY CAR AND FELT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE THIS MATTER INTO MY OWN HANDS AND HAVE FAITH THAT THE AUDI DEALER SERVICE WILL RESOLVE THIS. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE TAKEN IT THERE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE HEADLAMPS AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. TODAY, THEY SEEM TO HAVE FIGURED IT OUT BUT IT WILL BE VERY COSTLY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE AUDI AS A MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME SORT OF RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY SERVICES DONE REGARDING THE HID HEADLAMPS AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535412

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.