RoadVitals

2006 Audi A8

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Feb 11, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Nov 30, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Audi A8, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and body & structure categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 279 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance333.3%
  • Electrical222.2%
  • Body & structure111.1%
  • Fuel system111.1%
  • Interior & seats111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06V454000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Nov 30, 2006
5,902 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE 'PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF' TELLTALE IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL ILLUMINATE AND PROVIDE VISUAL WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
The risk: IF THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number JRView on NHTSA.gov
05V522000

AIR BAGS

Nov 16, 2005
1,530 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" TELLTALE IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL PROPERLY ILLUMINATE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE WIRING HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number JJView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 11, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID
11641952
Incident
Feb 11, 2025
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Nov 29, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10928573
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Mileage
13,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10592058
Incident
Jun 14, 2013
Mileage
145,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10573657
Incident
Mar 15, 2014
Mileage
78,865 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 5, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10275799
Incident
Jul 3, 2009
Mileage
44,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 7, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10237329
Incident
Jan 26, 2008
Mileage
95 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

A0023742052680_4

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.

A9122752024323_9

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SENSORS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SOFTWARE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:WARNING

This bulletin contains technical information regarding when the parking aid sporadically warns of obstacles that don't exist or it is inoperative/constant warning.

A6922772025730_2

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SEAT BELTS

This bulletin provides direction in order to address a customer complaint that the front seat belt(s) retract slowly.

A4021312024318_1

WHEELS

This technical service bulletin provides instructions for correcting a clicking sound from the wheel bearing(s).

A002155201173212

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.

DC 20210928

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Dealer Communication - Vehicle Sales Reporting, Reinstatement, and Audit Policy Update - Effective September 30, 2021

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A8 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010—
2025010—
2024020—
2023020—
2022030—
20215100—
2020350—
2019143054.2
2018020—
2017830—
2016114255.5
2015315254.5
2014185249.2
2013496255.9
2012111030.2
2011151039.6
2010110—
2009510—
2008810—
2007420—
2006Viewing620—
2005610—
2004201038.9
2003310—
2002110—
2001620—
2000320—
1999940—
1998430—
1997102046.1
1996120—
1995010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.