2006 Audi A6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 27, 2023 · 67 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other A6 years
More complaints than other years 9th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Audi A6. That ranks 9th out of 32 A6 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (40 complaints, 60%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

Audi A6
Audi_A6_C9_IAA_2025 at IAA 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2006 Audi A6 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags40 · ~80,000 mi
Electrical System13 · ~87,295 mi
Engine4 · ~170,000 mi
Steering4 · ~108,070 mi
Exterior Lighting3 · ~138,000 mi
Power Train3 · ~63,450 mi
Tires3 · ~42,505 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling2 · ~7,050 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~48,590 mi
Service Brakes2 · ~79,835 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags4060%80,000——
Electrical System1319%87,295——
Engine46%170,000——
Steering46%108,070——
Exterior Lighting34%138,000——
Power Train34%63,450——
Tires34%42,505——
Engine and Engine Cooling23%7,050——
Seat Belts23%48,590——
Service Brakes23%79,835——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic23%40,133——
Unknown or Other23%130,570——
Fuel/propulsion System11%170,000——
Parking Brake11%63,266——
Vehicle Speed Control11%5,320——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2017, with 25 complaints
2006: 4200642007: 112008: 3200832009: 222011: 1201112012: 552013: 2201322014: 222015: 3201532016: 10102017: 252017252018: 552019: 1201912020: 112021: 1202112023: 11

n = 67 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2006 Audi A6 recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJun 22, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V427000 · 237,947 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 11, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V032000 · 33,421 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJun 1, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V382000 · 194,453 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:trunk lidAug 1, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V334000 · 23,898 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the automatic rear lid includes an electric motor and clutch that work in conjunction with two gas struts to open and close the rear lid, including a manual close function. If one of the struts has a total loss of pressure, the resultant slow movement of the rear lid is interpreted by the software as an intended manual close and the motor clutch releases to close the rear lid immediately.

Risk: This can result in an unintended rapid closing of the rear lid with a risk of personal injury.

Fix: Dealers will install new software free of charge. The recall began on september 14, 2007. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2006 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V427000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…

Air Bags · received Apr 27, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11519314

2006 audi a6. Consumer writes in regards to illuminated check engine light. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle was leaking oil. The consumer was in contact with the previous owner, who stated they bought and sold the vehicle back to the same dealer for the same issue. Also the consumer purchased…

Engine · received Feb 11, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11396292

Failed fuel injector seal causing fuel leak

Engine · received Feb 14, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11309261

I have been scheduling appointments to rectify an open airbag recall through two different audi dealers. None of the dealers both in oxnard, ca and rancho mirage, ca have followed through. I originally scheduled appointment for 3/11/2019 for the oxnard, ca location, and the latest couple were for…

Air Bags · received Nov 27, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11282640

Takata recall - i have been receiving notices in the mail regarding an important safety recall 69r7 - passenger frontal airbag for 2 years or more. Each time i have taken my car for service in the past several years to byers audi on hamilton road in columbus, oh, i have asked them to replace the…

Air Bags · received Jul 21, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11112809

Other Audi A6 years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Audi A6?

Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 40 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2006 Audi A6?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2006 Audi A6 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A6 model years, the 2006 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.