← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

295 reports
48,300 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AUTO A WARNING LIGHT FOR LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THIS HAPPENED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON MADE THE WARNING GO AWAY. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AUTO A WARNING LIGHT FOR LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THIS HAPPENED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON MADE THE WARNING GO AWAY. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT I LOSE BOTH LEFT OR RIGHT HEADLIGHT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONE LIGHT OR THE OTHER NEVER BOTH AT THE SAME TIME SO FAR. THIS NECESSITATES TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS AND THEN TURNING THEM ON AGAIN TO GET BOTH LIGHTS WORKING AGAIN, VERY DANGEROUS AND DISCONCERTING AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE LIGHTS FAIL IN THIS MANNER ONE TO THREE TIMES PER TRIP BEFORE STAYING ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SUCCESS WITH DEALERSHIP FIXING THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT AUDI DOES HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE HEADLIGHTS TO 4 YEARS / 50000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ON TIME BY THE TIME I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. BOTTOM LINE, THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM FIGURE OUT IF THE PROBLEM IS THE LIGHTS, OR THE MODULE, OR THE IGNITERS. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, VERY FRUSTRATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441471

35,000 miles · Dec 26, 2011
Exterior Lighting

LEFT AND RIGHT DIPPED LIGHT INDICATOR EVEN AFTER HAVING THEM REVIEWED AND ADJUSTED AND ULTIMATELY REPLACED. AUDI WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST DUE AS WE WERE SLIGHTLY OVER THE 50000 MILEAGE ALLOWANCE. ENDED UP PAYING ALMOST $300 FOR THE REPAIR. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE "DIPPED LIGHT" PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441235

60,000 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLAMP HAS "DIPPED" MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING (DAY AND NIGHT) SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (NOW AT 77K). THERE IS AN AUDI TSB OUT FOR THIS ISSUE BUT CAN NEVER GET A CERTIFIED AUDI DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THEY CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON COMMAND WHEN THEY INSPECT IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT IT IS AN ISSUE T…

Read full complaint

HEADLAMP HAS "DIPPED" MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING (DAY AND NIGHT) SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (NOW AT 77K). THERE IS AN AUDI TSB OUT FOR THIS ISSUE BUT CAN NEVER GET A CERTIFIED AUDI DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THEY CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON COMMAND WHEN THEY INSPECT IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT AUDI AND IT'S AFFILIATES DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY OR SHOW DETERMINED INTEREST IN FIXING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439759

50,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

GET DIPPED HEADLIGHT SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF AT RANDOM. LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON IF I TURN THE SWITCH TO OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AS NOTED BY MANY ONLINE AUDI FORUMS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AT RANDOM. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437786

75,000 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Exterior Lighting

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. A "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DRIVERS DISPLAY. IF YOU CYCLE THE SWITCH THE PROBLEM RESOLVES UNTIL THE NEXT INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. APPARENTLY AUDI HAS NO IDEA WHY OR HOW TO FIX. THIS SEEMS L…

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. A "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DRIVERS DISPLAY. IF YOU CYCLE THE SWITCH THE PROBLEM RESOLVES UNTIL THE NEXT INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. APPARENTLY AUDI HAS NO IDEA WHY OR HOW TO FIX. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FAULT AND WARRANTS A RECALL-FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435581

68,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING MY AUDI A4 A FEW NIGHTS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT TWO MILES FROM MY HOME THE AUDI A4 DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND THEN WENT OUT (VERY DANGEROUS) SO I THOUGHT THE LIGHT HAD BURNED OUT. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR GOING TO LOOK FOR A BULB TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, NOTICED THE L…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY AUDI A4 A FEW NIGHTS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT TWO MILES FROM MY HOME THE AUDI A4 DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND THEN WENT OUT (VERY DANGEROUS) SO I THOUGHT THE LIGHT HAD BURNED OUT. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR GOING TO LOOK FOR A BULB TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, NOTICED THE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS IN MY DARK GARAGE. THE LIGHT ONLY COMES BACK ON AFTER I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WHICH IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. I LIVE IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA THAT'S NOT WELL LIT SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI, BUT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE. I TOOK THE A4 TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP IN DENVER AND WAS TOLD AUDI DOESN'T KNOW IF THE ISSUE IS THE LIGHT ITSELF OR THE BALLAST/IGNITER. I'VE REPLACED THE BULB AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST SO I TOOK THE A4 TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT EURO SHOPS AND GOT THE SAME DIAGNOSIS, THE IGNITER IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI VEHICLES. I AM ASKING THE NTSB TO PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434932

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

OWNER WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED TO EXHIBIT A SLIGHT BUCKING, SMOKE CAME INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED SMALL FIRE ON TOP OF ENGINE. ANALYSIS REVEALED FIRE ORIGIN AT #1 IGNITION COIL ON TOP FRONT OF ENGINE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY AND VEHICLE IS REPAIRABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434871

127,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "LEFT (OR RIGHT) HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATE…

Read full complaint

"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "LEFT (OR RIGHT) HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROX. 40 TIMES, THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN GOES OUT, BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED OR CLEAR IF THE HEADLIGHT IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. IT WILL THEN BE FINE FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY GETTING MORE FREQUENT AND WORSE. AT TIMES, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND QUICK ACTION TO AVOID INJURY OR DEATH. THEN RANDOMLY TURN BACK ON. MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST 3 VISITS, AND HAS CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED/GUESSED THAT IT IS THE XENON LIGHT BULB ITSELF, OR BALLAST. ANNECDOTAL EVIDENCE (CONVERSATIONAL, AND VIA INTERNET OWNERS' FORUMS) SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AUDI'S MODEL RANGE AND YEARS." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433961

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2011
Exterior Lighting

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN FAILS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426710

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2011
Exterior Lighting

OUR 2006 AUDI A4 HAS A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT. IT WILL REGULARLY BEGIN TO FLICKER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF. THE CAR WILL TELL US WE HAVE A "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN BACK ON WILL FIX THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FLICKER…

Read full complaint

OUR 2006 AUDI A4 HAS A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT. IT WILL REGULARLY BEGIN TO FLICKER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF. THE CAR WILL TELL US WE HAVE A "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN BACK ON WILL FIX THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FLICKERING STARTS AGAIN AND REPEATS THE CYCLE. THIS HAD OCCURRED AS MANY AS 5 TO 6 TIMES BEFORE THE HEADLIGHT WILL STAY ON. EVEN THEN IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN LATER IN THE EVENING. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT AUDI DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAY THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS PROBABLY JUST A BULB GOING BAD. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN THE FALL OF 2008 AND THE BULB HAS BEEN GOING "BAD" FOR 3 YEARS. I'VE ASKED THAT THEY SWITCH THE BULBS TO TEST THEIR THEORY AND THEY WOULD DO IT BUT FOR $100. A REPLACEMENT BULB WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $500. BOTH VISITS OCCURRED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, UNFORTUNATELY FOR US WE ARE NO LONGER WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FACT THAT AUDI HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM AND FIX THIS ISSUE IS MOST DISCONCERTING. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425712

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.