2006 Audi A6 Problems: Airbags (64 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2006 Audi A6 is Airbags (59% of 64 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 64 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2006 Audi A6?

38 of 64 filings named Airbags (59% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (7 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2005 has 91 reports on file; this year has 64. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2006 Audi A6

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 38 complaints · 59.4% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 3
Fires 1
Injuries 1
Deaths 0

All Audi A6 years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS)	38	59.4%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	7	10.9%	1 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)	4	6.3%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	3	4.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)	3	4.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	3	4.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)	1	1.6%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)	1	1.6%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING)	1	1.6%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	6	9.4%	1 crashes · 0 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

Campaign 16V382000 was reported 1,592 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 17V032000 was reported 1,816 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 18V427000 was reported 2,343 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2006-Q2	Owner reports	1
2006-Q3	Owner reports	2
2006-Q4	Owner reports	1
2007-Q3	Owner reports	1
2008-Q1	Owner reports	1
2008-Q2	Owner reports	1
2008-Q3	Owner reports	1
2009-Q4	Owner reports	1
2012-Q1	Owner reports	5
2013-Q4	Owner reports	1
2014-Q2	Owner reports	1
2014-Q3	Owner reports	1
2015-Q1	Owner reports	1
2015-Q2	Owner reports	1
2015-Q4	Owner reports	1
2016-Q1	Owner reports	1
2016-Q2	Owner reports	1
2016-Q3	Owner reports	4
2016-Q4	Owner reports	4
2017-Q1	Owner reports	11
2017-Q2	Owner reports	3
2017-Q3	Owner reports	5
2017-Q4	Owner reports	6
2018-Q1	Owner reports	1
2018-Q2	Owner reports	1
2018-Q3	Owner reports	3
2019-Q4	Owner reports	1
2020-Q1	Owner reports	1
2021-Q1	Owner reports	1
2023-Q2	Owner reports	1
Aug 2007	Recall campaign	1	07V334000
Jun 2016	Recall campaign	1	16V382000
Jan 2017	Recall campaign	1	17V032000
Jun 2018	Recall campaign	1	18V427000

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame and Airbags.

Recall campaign 07V334000

Body / frame

Report date

Aug 1, 2007

Component:

Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

Consequence:

THIS CAN RESULT IN AN UNINTENDED RAPID CLOSING OF THE REAR LID WITH A RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 16V382000

Airbags

Report date

Jun 1, 2016

Component:

Airbags (AIR BAGS)

Consequence:

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 17V032000

Airbags

Report date

Jan 11, 2017

Component:

Airbags (AIR BAGS)

Consequence:

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 18V427000

Airbags

Report date

Jun 22, 2018

Component:

Airbags (AIR BAGS)

Consequence:

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 10 of 64 complaints · page 1 of 3

2023-04-27Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11519314

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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.

2021-02-11Engine (ENGINE)

NHTSA ODI 11396292

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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

2020-02-14Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)

NHTSA ODI 11309261

CrashFireInjuryDeath

FAILED FUEL INJECTOR SEAL CAUSING FUEL LEAK

2019-11-27Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11282640

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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.

2018-07-21Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11112809

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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.

2018-07-11Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11110873

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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.

2018-07-08Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)

NHTSA ODI 11110141

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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

2018-06-20Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11102876

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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, ([redacted]) 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.

2018-03-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11081013

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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 GAS TANK, HAD NEW STRUTS, NEW BATTERY AND PRIOR TO IT NOT STARTING, THE CAR WAS RUNNING SO REALLY GOOD. IT LOOKED GREAT AND PEOPLE OFTEN THOUGHT IT WAS WAY NEWER THAN IT WAS. THERE WAS WAY TO MUCH VALUE IN THE CAR TO TRASH IT, BUT VARIOUS PARTIES ONLY OFFERED $200 TO SCRAP IT. THIS IS A HIGH END CAR FOR AUDI AND I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO IMPLEMENT A KILL SWITCH AFTER 150K MILES. I WAS PLANNING ON KEEPING THAT CAR FOR A LONG TIME. NOW UNEMPLOYED, I HAVE TO BUY A CAR I CANT AFFORD.

2017-12-10Airbags (AIR BAGS)

NHTSA ODI 11053789

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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

Frequently asked questions

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

Owners named Airbags most often — 38 of 64 reports (59%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Audi A6?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2006 Audi A6?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources