The contact owns a 2006 Audi A3. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, he heard an abnormal rattling sound coming from the passenger’s side of the dashboard where the air bag was located. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was informed that parts were not available for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V082000 (Air Bags); for the driver's side air bag, but the passenger’s side air bag was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
2006 Audi A3 airbags problems
56 complaints (46% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 120,000. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 56
- of this car's complaints
- 46%
- typical mileage
- 120,000
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- On-off switch assembly1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Audi A3 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V‑078.
Recall number 18V082000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834.
Recall number 16V079000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, during production of the air bag, either the left or the right side curtain air bag inflation module may leak.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the air bag may not inflate as designed increasing the risk of injury to a seat occupant.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the side curtain air bag free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1‑800‑822‑2834.
Recall number 06V293000 · Recall details
What 2006 Audi A3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I totaled my car about two weeks ago. And none of my passenger side airbags deployed ( front , front side, nor rear passenger side)
I totaled my car about two weeks ago, and none of my passenger side airbags deployed. (Front passenger, front side, or Rear passenger side)
Replaced airbags by audi in latham, new york and charged over $176 for diagnostic for bad airbags and warning lights for airbags. Bad airbargs installed during recall. Audi never replaced the bad airbags. Very bad.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 audi a3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number 18v082000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (unknown dealer information) was contacted and stated the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of this issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Replaced airbags by audi are off and defective. Dealer requires hundreds of dollars to inspect bad airbag changed by recall of airbags. Airbag off warning light from replaced airbag changed by dealer. Incredible, replaced recalled airbags to have bad airbags installed and be charged hundreds of dollars by audi dealer in latham new york.
Takata recall I have been calling the audi dealer for over 4 months about this air bag. They keep telling me that they are waiting for parts from takata, nothing much else that they can do. I need to know that if something were to happen that I can depend on the air bag in my car to help keep me safe, at this point I am very worried.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 audi a3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair as the recall notice was received over a year ago. The dealer (audi farmington hills, 37911 grand river ave, farmington hills, mi 48335, (248) 471-0800) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted several times and was unable to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 audi a3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called audi service portland dealer ((877) 868-3792, 14811 ne airport way, portland, or 97230) and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and did not offer any assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall: we keep receiving urgent safety recall notices for our airbags but there are no dealerships that have the parts to complete this recall. Every single dealership that I have contacted inside and outside of the bay area have all said the materials are 'on back order' 'this continues to be so since january 2017. We have two children and rely on our audi which is also our only car. We cannot afford to get another car at this time and try to use public transit as much as possible but not always realistic or safe for a baby who was born prematurely. We have to have our car fixed but audi simply mailing out recall notices without the supplies in place to correct this potentially fatal defect is nothing more than their legal due diligence on paper and not corrective. Please help us.
Questions about the 2006 Audi A3 airbags
Does the 2006 Audi A3 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 56 complaints about the airbags of the 2006 Audi A3, 46% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2006 Audi A3 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 120,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Audi A3 airbags?
Yes, 3 recalls: 18V082000, 16V079000, 06V293000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Audi A3 have bad airbags?
The Audi A3 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (56 complaints), 2015 (45 complaints) and 2016 (37 complaints).
Other 2006 Audi A3 problems
Transmission 37Fuel system 10Lights 10Engine 7Electrical 6Suspension 4Acceleration 2Driver assistance 1Locks 1Seat belts 1Steering 1Visibility 1
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