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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Audi A6 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

67 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 67 complaints (58.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues69.0%
Steering behavior69.0%
Braking behavior46.0%
Transmission and shifting34.5%
Fuel system concerns23.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
39
Electrical System
12
Engine
4
Steering
4
Exterior Lighting
3
Power Train
2
Seat Belts
2
Service Brakes
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags39
Electrical System12
Engine4
Steering4
Exterior Lighting3
Power Train2
Seat Belts2
Service Brakes2

Air Bags: 39; Electrical System: 12; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Service Brakes: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
4
2007
1
2008
3
2009
2
2011
1
2012
5
2013
2
2014
2
2015
3
2016
10
2017
25
2018
5
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20064
20071
20083
20092
20111
20125
20132
20142
20153
201610
201725
20185
20191
20201
20211
20231

2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 10; 2017: 25; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10160974 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 01/27/2005 FOR RECALL REMEDY REPAIRS, #04V133000. DURING THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT'S KNEE PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, WHICH MADE CONTACT WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN A FIRE. UPDATED 8/14/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10234665 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)

I BOUGHT A USED 2006 AUDI A6 TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN USING THE "KEYLESS" OPTION WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED AT A LIBRARY, PUSHED THE BUTTON TWICE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS ROLLING FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP IT; I OPENED THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND AS I WAS GETTING IN THE DOOR STRUCK A TRASH CAN IN THE PARKING LOT, KNOCKING ME DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL CAUGHT MY LEFT HEEL AND DRUG ME ACROSS A CURB BEFORE STOPPING ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234665 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10222212 · 2008-03-24 (March 24, 2008)

MY 2006 AUDI A6 LOST ALL ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS HAPPENED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, DESPITE THE LIFE THREATENING SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER POSTED COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222212 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10444769 · 2012-01-22 (January 22, 2012)

CAR WON'T START, OR TURN OVER, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK. HAVE TO TOW ON DOLLIES ACCOUNT WHEELS LOCKED UP TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAYS STEERING LOCK STUCK IN OPEN POSITION AND HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ACCOUNT PART IS INTEGRATED WITH STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 63,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197564 · 2007-07-26 (July 26, 2007)

I WAS PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT FACING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTERWARDS, UPON INSPECTION, IT IS POSSIBLE WHILE AT IDLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE TO THE FLOOR. MY FOOT MUST HAVE HIT THE ACCELERATOR WHILE THE BRAKE WAS SLOWLY BEING DEPRESSED. THE HARDER I TRIED TO BRAKE THE FASTER THE CAR WENT. I VISITED THE AUDI DEALER AND WE TRIED THIS EXPERIMENT IN A SIMILAR MODEL WITH THE SAME RESULT. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS PART OF THE DESIGN! IT IS NOT POS…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10170950 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)

I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A6 WITH VIN NUMBER [VIN removed]. ON SEPTEMBER 21ST WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MY OFFICE PARKING LOT, THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED DEAD WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. I STOPPED THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT CAME BACK. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, AFTER PULLING OFF MY DRIVEWAY AND AFTER I WAS EXITING MY HOME THE CAR DIED AGAIN LUCKILY I WAS ON LOCAL ROAD AND THIS TIME AFTER STARTING THE CAR, I STARTED GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CONTACTED AUDI DEALER AND WAS ABLE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170950 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11081013 · 2018-03-23 (March 23, 2018)

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 A…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11309261 · 2020-02-14 (February 14, 2020)

FAILED FUEL INJECTOR SEAL CAUSING FUEL LEAK

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309261 at NHTSA ↗