Audi A6 · model year

2006 Audi A6

83 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
83
Recalls
4

The verdict

The 2006 Audi A6 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

32nd pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2006AudiA6 carries 83 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2006 A6 is air bags with 39 filings, followed by electrical system (12) and steering (4). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2006 A6. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

83
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2006 Audi A6

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

83 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS39
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
STEERING4
ENGINE4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
TIRES2
POWER TRAIN2
SEAT BELTS2
SERVICE BRAKES2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recalls (4)

18V42700022/06/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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

17V03200011/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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, N

07V33400001/08/2007

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

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 MOVEME

16V38200001/06/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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, th

Recent Complaints

20230427AIR BAGS

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 the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20210211ENGINE

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 THE VEHICLE WITH 119,00 MILES, BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THE ACTUAL MILEAGE WAS OVER 200,000. *JS

20200214ENGINE

FAILED FUEL INJECTOR SEAL CAUSING FUEL LEAK

Mileage: 170,000

20200214FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FAILED FUEL INJECTOR SEAL CAUSING FUEL LEAK

Mileage: 170,000

20191127AIR BAGS

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 LAST AND THIS MONTH THROUGH THE AUDI IN RANCHO MIRAGE, CA. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY OF THOSE OF MY FAMILY, AS THE RECALL POINTS OUT THAT A METAL MESH WOULD DEPLOY ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG CAUSING POTENTIAL DEATH. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF AUDI OF AMERICA WAS TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE BACK.

20180721AIR BAGS

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 AIRBAG AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAGS AND WILL LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE. IS AUDI COMPLIANT WITH REQUIREMENTS SIMPLY BY NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS OF THE RECALL OR MUST THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME? I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY GRANDCHILDREN.

20180711AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE FOR MONTHS BUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S PRETTY BAD TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES CONSTANTLY BUT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO FIX IT.

20180708ENGINE

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THIS IS A "NORMAL" PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE CONSUMER AND THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS CORD BROKE OFF. WILL NOT TURN WITH VEHICLE

Mileage: 138,000

20180708EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THIS IS A "NORMAL" PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE CONSUMER AND THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS CORD BROKE OFF. WILL NOT TURN WITH VEHICLE

Mileage: 138,000

20180620AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V382000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (RUSNAK/PASADENA AUDI, 267 W COLORADO BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91105, (626) 714-3159) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PART WAS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180323ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AT 150K MILES, EXPERIENCED NO CRANK, NO START. TOW TO DEALER, AND I HAD ALREADY DONE SOME TRIAGE. THEY DID 2 HRS OF TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT EVEN RELATED, SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK. FOUND A TRUST WORTHY MECHANIC AND HIS DIAG SUGGESTED THE SCM BURNED OUT TAKING THE PCM AND ECM ALONG WITH IT. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE $6000 RANGE AS HE STATED A %40 FAILURE RATE AFTER 150K IN ALLDATA. HE ALSO SAID, IF I REPAIR IT, I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL BECAUSE I WILL JUST HAVE ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD IF I DONT. THE CAR ALSO HAD A SLOW OIL LEAK. THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR SAID THE REPAIR IS NOT WORTH THE COST, SO THAT FACTORED INTO MY DECISION NOT TO INVEST IN REPAIRS. THE OIL LEAK WAS SLOW AND I NEVER HAD TO TOP OFF THE OIL, BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO KNOW IT WAS AN ISSUE. THAT LEAK WAS PRESENT AFTER 80K MILES. SO I HAD TO MAKE THE UNFORTUNATE DECISION NOT TO INVEST ANY MONEY INTO AN ATTEMPTED FIX. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION, HAD JUST FILLED UP THE

Mileage: 150,000

20180323UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AT 150K MILES, EXPERIENCED NO CRANK, NO START. TOW TO DEALER, AND I HAD ALREADY DONE SOME TRIAGE. THEY DID 2 HRS OF TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT EVEN RELATED, SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK. FOUND A TRUST WORTHY MECHANIC AND HIS DIAG SUGGESTED THE SCM BURNED OUT TAKING THE PCM AND ECM ALONG WITH IT. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE $6000 RANGE AS HE STATED A %40 FAILURE RATE AFTER 150K IN ALLDATA. HE ALSO SAID, IF I REPAIR IT, I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL BECAUSE I WILL JUST HAVE ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD IF I DONT. THE CAR ALSO HAD A SLOW OIL LEAK. THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR SAID THE REPAIR IS NOT WORTH THE COST, SO THAT FACTORED INTO MY DECISION NOT TO INVEST IN REPAIRS. THE OIL LEAK WAS SLOW AND I NEVER HAD TO TOP OFF THE OIL, BUT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO KNOW IT WAS AN ISSUE. THAT LEAK WAS PRESENT AFTER 80K MILES. SO I HAD TO MAKE THE UNFORTUNATE DECISION NOT TO INVEST ANY MONEY INTO AN ATTEMPTED FIX. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION, HAD JUST FILLED UP THE

Mileage: 150,000

20171210AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL THERE IS STILL NO REMEDY LISTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY MANUFACTURER FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT.

20171113AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, NO REMEDY YET. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V032. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER -69P6

20171112AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL #17V032 NO FIX AVAILABLE

20171030AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN WILL PARTS BE AVAILABLE?

20171026AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. NO TIMELY RESPONSE TO THE AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT.

20171018AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALLED AIRBAGS IN CAR. DEALER STILL DOESNT HAVE IN STOCK, I HAVE NO OTHER CAR TO DRIVE

20170923SERVICE BRAKES

SEE ATTACHED MEMO.

Mileage: 64,669

20170908AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" AUDI OF SMITHTOWN FAILS, AFTER SIX MONTHS OF REQUESTING, TO REPLACE THE TAKATA AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUBJECT CAR. AUDI OF SMITHTOWN REJECTS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND CLAIMS THAT NHTSA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS. AUDI OF SMITHTOWN IS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE REPLACEMENT. AUDI OF SMITHTOWN CLAIMS TOTAL IGNORANCE ABOUT ALL MATTERS REGARDING AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE.

Mileage: 45,934

Compare 2006AudiA6 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 Audi A6 have?
The 2006 Audi A6 has 83 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 Audi A6?
Yes, the 2006 Audi A6 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Audi A6?
The most-complained component for the 2006 Audi A6 is AIR BAGS with 39 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and STEERING.
Is the 2006 Audi A6 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2006 Audi A6; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.