Gas gauge displaying incorrect level of fuel. Oil level notification improperly displaying level of oil.
The worst 2006 Audi A4 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights159
- Airbags73
- Electrical21
- Engine21
- Transmission14
- Fuel system10
- Acceleration7
- Brakes5
- Steering5
- Visibility5
- Driver assistance4
- Body3
- Seats2
- Tires2
- Seat belts1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 Audi A4
Headlights 154Check engine light 7Fuel pump 5Stalling 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2006 Audi A4 mention
P0089 2P2293 2
Recalls 3
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 18V427000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 17V032000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 16V382000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 Audi A4 356
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
- Inside the Rings | Volume 12, Spring 2023
- In conjunction with the New Mexico DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to...
- In conjunction with the Massachusetts DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to...
- In conjunction with the Colorado DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to...
- Takata recall and 3G turndown
- In conjunction with the New York DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to...
- In conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Audi is sending Takata airbag recall...
- In conjunction with the Georgia Department of Revenue
- In conjunction with the Virginia DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to...
2006 Audi A4 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-21 | 30-31 | 24 |
| 1.8L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20 | 28 | 23 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 19-20 | 27-28 | 22-23 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 27 | 21 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15-17 | 25 | 19-20 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 23 | 18 |
What 2006 Audi A4 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2006 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the wife crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash the front driver side air bag did not deploy, however, the passenger side airbag did deploy, and both the front and rear driver side and passenger side headrest restraints activated. The contact indicated that no passengers were present in the vehicle during the crash. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The local dealer was notified. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Purchased the vehicle a few months ago (july of 2020). Before buying it I was told that the warning chime for the seatbelt had stopped working , so I took it to my local german auto shop to see what would needed to fix it. To my surprise, it's a part in the instrument cluster that would need to be replaced, but it's a common issue as these cars age for the warning chime to fail therefore not notifying or warning if the driver or passenger belt is buckled. Warning chime does not work whether stationary, or moving for any seat in the vehicle.
Audi issued a technical service bulletin that I found on your website. This bulletin was regarding the exact parts the dealer (audi) identified as being affected on my car (high pressure fuel pump, cam follower, and corresponding intake camshaft cam lobe). This bulletin (not a recall, but distributed internally to dealerships) clearly states that this is a widespread issue that affected all VIN ranges of specified audi models from 2005-2007 that included mine. Audi extended drivetrain coverage on these vehicles to 10yr/120k mi. This issue causes a worsening loss of power upon accelerating (making driving at all speeds dangerous) and eventual engine failure if left alone. I am the 3rd owner of this car, so I did not receive the intended letter from audi stating the specifics of this coverage extension. My vehicle is currently at ~110k miles at the time of this service (~4-5 days ago). Upon bringing this bulletin to the attention of audi service manager, he did not ask me for the bulletin number or revision, he just denied covering it verbally saying the coverage was "10yr/120k mi, whichever came first" but would not send me a copy of the extension letter proving this. The cost of repairs related to this issue is ~$5,600. I opened a case with audi of america. I provided the requested info, and was still not sent/emailed a copy of this letter, or proof that it was sent to the owner of the vehicle. I was told cases take up to a week to review (they would need me to provide service records for the vehicle, etc). I was called less than 24hrs later that the case was denied, before I provided any info or pled my case that a company with the slogan "truth in engineering" should stand behind an acknowledged engineering flaw. Repairs are ~1.5x the value of the car. I don't have the money to fix this and it creates an unsafe driving condition. Please help.
My personal audi a4 was involved in a front end collision on an inner-city road due to loss of friction on frozen ice. Despite there only being a driver present in the car, the driver side airbag from the steering wheel did not activate while the passenger side airbag did. I had already previously checked the takata recall, which affect the exact model of my vehicle, yet when I entered the VIN, it displayed that no recalls were present. The collision happened at a speed of less than 25 MPH, and the unneeded damage costs pf the passenger side airbags alongside the health risks of not having an airbag deploy for the driver has LED me to filing this complaint as it was a very unpleasant experience.
Left head light flickers and shuts itself off after vehicle is driven and the lights have been on for about 5 minutes. The warning display on the dashboard gives a "left headlight level" error code.
I purchased the car from john and he stated he drove it appx 30-40k miles since he received the car. But in 2016 the miles on the pink slip says 149214 and now the miles are at 150700. I believe he tampered with the odometer, turned it off and drove the car without the odometer on. When I asked him he said in the last 3- 4 years he drove it 30-40k miles. I asked him why is the odometer not showing those miles and he didnt know how to reply.
Vehicle is equipped with adaptive headlights. When I turn the passenger side low beam goes out.
The headlights will flicker on and off, and have to be manually turned off and turned back on. Repairs and replacements of lights did not solve the problem. Complete removal of the xenon ballast and sealing the ballast seemed to correct the problem, and seems to be a defect in the manufacture of the ballast that causes moisture to invade, and short the headlights out.
On 7/15/18 I had a mysterious accident in ottawa county, michigan, where I was knocked out for several hours and I have no recollection off anything at least a few minutes before the accident. My 2006 a6 quattro 3.2 avant (station wagon) was totaled by the insurance company. The county police rescued me and sent me to the holland hospital for a series of very costly procedures. The police report wrote that the airbag was deployed. And because it was not in a major intersection, a simple stop sign at the us-31, from the information in the report, I suspect I had not faced any impending crash to have had to push the breaks hard, and my vehicle only stopped because it hit a valley shaped ditch in the middle of the highway. Because of the number of related takata airbag failures on those types of cars, by the, on both sides, I suggest a thoughrough investigation of the case. I was blessed or lucky to have not lost my life nor became seriously injured, but my financial losses and legal complications amounted to a lot. I don't know how many people are at risk of not having their lives end because of an unnecessary mechanical failure in the audi vehicles.
Compare the 2006 Audi A4
A4 vs Mercedes-Benz C300A4 vs BMW 328IA4 vs Cadillac CTSA4 vs Lincoln MKZA4 vs Lexus ES350A4 vs Acura TLX
Other model years
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Questions about the 2006 Audi A4
Is the 2006 Audi A4 reliable?
Owners have filed 295 complaints about the 2006 Audi A4, 5.2 times a typical A4 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2006 Audi A4 year score?
The 2006 Audi A4 scores 15 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Audi A4: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Audi A4?
Lights, with 159 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles. Next is airbags (73).
How many recalls does the 2006 Audi A4 have?
3 recalls, covering air bags.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Audi A4 get?
Official estimates for the 2006 Audi A4 range from 18 to 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20-21 city and 30-31 highway.
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