Total Complaints
10 filings
AUDI A8 · model year
2006 AUDI A8
10 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006AUDIA8 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 A8 is vehicle speed control with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2006 A8. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recalls (2)
06V45400030/11/2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHERE A WEAK BATTERY EXISTS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT TO IMPROPERLY SET A FAULT CODE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL BECOME DEACTIVATED. HOWEVER, BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CL
05V52200016/11/2005
AIR BAGS
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A WIRING HARNESS CONDITION EXISTS THAT MAY DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG EVEN UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT SHOULD REMAIN ACTIVATED.
Recent Complaints
20250211EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlight warning light came on. The headlight on left had gone out. Opening the headlight assembly ( a 2,000 to 6000 dollar part) there are about 20 wires inside the assembly, every wire was partially bare, the insulation has cracked off every wire inside the assembly. A small wire harness connects everything inside the light, the harness is not available to fix it. The cost to have a harness for the car available, should not be a issue. We need lights and to replace a headlight is a 20 dollar fix not a 2500 dollar. Fix.
20250211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The headlight warning light came on. The headlight on left had gone out. Opening the headlight assembly ( a 2,000 to 6000 dollar part) there are about 20 wires inside the assembly, every wire was partially bare, the insulation has cracked off every wire inside the assembly. A small wire harness connects everything inside the light, the harness is not available to fix it. The cost to have a harness for the car available, should not be a issue. We need lights and to replace a headlight is a 20 dollar fix not a 2500 dollar. Fix.
20161129STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO INADVERTENTLY ATTEMPT TO CLOSE WHILE THE DRIVER WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE MECHANISM WOULD FAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR CLOSURE MODULE AND DOOR LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 02/07/2017*CT
Mileage: 13,000
20161129LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO INADVERTENTLY ATTEMPT TO CLOSE WHILE THE DRIVER WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE MECHANISM WOULD FAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR CLOSURE MODULE AND DOOR LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 02/07/2017*CT
Mileage: 13,000
20161129STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO INADVERTENTLY ATTEMPT TO CLOSE WHILE THE DRIVER WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE MECHANISM WOULD FAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR CLOSURE MODULE AND DOOR LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 02/07/2017*CT
Mileage: 13,000
20140516ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE DUE TO WATER IN FOOTWELLS OF THE CAR. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 145,000
20140320VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE PARKWAY MY CAR LOCKED AT 7000 RPM'S AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY IN THE CAR WAS AT 80 MPH AND QUICKLY RISING. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED AT 7000 RPM FOR ROUGHLY 20 SECONDS, ONLY AFTER CONTINUALLY TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR IT FINALLY BEGAN TO DECLINE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN ALL TIRES ARE AT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SETTINGS. *TR
Mileage: 78,865
20140320FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE PARKWAY MY CAR LOCKED AT 7000 RPM'S AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY IN THE CAR WAS AT 80 MPH AND QUICKLY RISING. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED AT 7000 RPM FOR ROUGHLY 20 SECONDS, ONLY AFTER CONTINUALLY TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR IT FINALLY BEGAN TO DECLINE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN ALL TIRES ARE AT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SETTINGS. *TR
Mileage: 78,865
20090705VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND PROPELLED US ACROSS AM INTERSECTION INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON A FREEWAY DEVOID OF OTHER TRAFFIC. I REPORTED THE FIRST EVENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVERS FACTORY FLOOR MAT COMING LOOSE FROM ITS RETAINING CLIPS, SLIDING FORWARD AND CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT WAS ONLY MY FAMILIARITY WITH THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT THAT ALLOWED ME TO REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THE SECOND TIME. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN BY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER OR IF THIS HAD BEEN THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATALITY. *TR
Mileage: 44,000
20080807VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A8 L. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE HARDER HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE FASTER THE ENGINE WOULD RACE. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FLOORMAT WAS RESTING ON THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI AND FILED A COMPLAINT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES FOR THE ISSUE WITH THE FLOORMAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AUGUST 7, 2008 AND ALMOST CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PEGS IN THE FLOOR AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE FLOORMAT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,683.
Mileage: 95
Compare 2006AUDIA8 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2006 AUDI A8 have?▼
The 2006 AUDI A8 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 AUDI A8?▼
Yes, the 2006 AUDI A8 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 AUDI A8?▼
The most-complained component for the 2006 AUDI A8 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Is the 2006 AUDI A8 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.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.