NHTSA vehicle safety data

2006 Audi A8 Recalls & Complaints

The 2006 Audi A8 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2006 Audi A8. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2006 Audi A8 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Audi A8, describing incidents dated January 26, 2008 to February 11, 2025.

Most-cited components

Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11641952 · Filed February 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…
ODI #10928573 · Filed November 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…
ODI #10592058 · 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

Read all 6 complaints

AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE UPDATE

NHTSA #06V454000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported November 30, 2006 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 5,902 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign JR · Owners notified December 5, 2006 · Vehicles built June 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

VW/AUDI RECALL NO. JR.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

PASSENGER SEAT WIRING HARNESS

NHTSA #05V522000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported November 16, 2005 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 1,530 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign JJ · Owners notified November 30, 2005 · Vehicles built June 1, 2005 – October 31, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. JJ. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2006 Audi A8 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Audi A8.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11641952

Incident: February 11, 2025 · Filed: February 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.

Structure; Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10928573

Incident: November 1, 2016 · Filed: November 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

Electrical System

ODI #10592058

Incident: June 14, 2013 · 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

Fuel System, Gasoline; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10573657

Incident: March 15, 2014 · Filed: March 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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10275799

Incident: July 3, 2009 · Filed: July 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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10237329

Incident: January 26, 2008 · Filed: August 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.

Other Audi A8 model years

Check your 2006 Audi A8 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A8 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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