YearToAvoid

2006 Audi A4 Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 73 airbag complaints for the 2006 Audi A4, 25% of all complaints filed for the year. Owners most often reported airbags that failed to deploy in crashes and a Takata inflator recall affecting the car. Median mileage at failure was 98,500.

Airbags complaints
73
25% of 295 complaints
All complaints this year
295
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
98,500 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Frontal or side airbags failed to deploy during crashes, including a rollover and multiple collision impacts.
  • Driver-side frontal airbag did not deploy while the passenger airbag deployed in the same crash.
  • Airbag warning light stayed on intermittently despite dealer wiring repairs and airbag component replacement.
  • Owners with Takata recall notices reported no replacement parts available and were told to keep driving the car.
  • Dealers reportedly refused to accept vehicles for Takata recall repair or provide a loaner while parts were on back order.

When 2006 Audi A4 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 17, 2010, latest Nov 8, 2021.

2006 Audi A4 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month8Jun 2010Jun 2016Dec 2016May 2017Sep 2017Feb 2018Jul 2018Aug 2020
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2010 to Nov 2021; peak Mar 2017 (8).

Airbags recalls for the 2006 Audi A4

  1. NHTSA 18V427000Jun 22, 2018Airbags237,947 vehicles

    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 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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 17V032000Jan 11, 2017Airbags33,421 vehicles

    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, 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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V382000Jun 1, 2016Airbags194,453 vehicles

    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, 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.

    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.

Airbags complaints by A4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200554 (25%)
  2. 200673 (25%)
  3. 2007119 (61%)
  4. 2008116 (66%)
  5. 200933 (28%)
  6. 20101 (2%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20131 (4%)
  10. 20140 (0%)
  11. 20151 (5%)
  12. 20160 (0%)
  13. 201713 (24%)
  14. 20184 (9%)
  15. 20191 (10%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20211 (9%)
  18. 20221 (17%)
  19. 20231 (10%)
  20. 20241 (50%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2006 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists 73 airbag complaints for the 2006 Audi A4, which is 25% of the 295 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall on the 2006 Audi A4?
Yes. Three airbag-related recalls apply, including campaign 16V382000 covering the Takata frontal airbag inflator, plus 17V032000 and 18V427000 for related inflator and frontal airbag replacements.
Did the airbags actually deploy in crashes?
Some sample complaints describe airbags that did not deploy during crashes, including cases with rollovers and rear-end and side impacts; NHTSA recorded 6 crashes and 4 injuries tied to this complaint area.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 98,500 at failure for airbag complaints on the 2006 Audi A4.
How does the 2006 A4 compare to other A4 years for airbag complaints?
The 2006 A4 had 73 airbag complaints (25% share), lower than 2007 (119 complaints, 61% share) and 2008 (116 complaints, 66% share), but higher than most years after 2009.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.