The 2006 Audi A8 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 7,432 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS06V4540002006-11-305,902 affected
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…
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.
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.
AIR BAGS05V5220002005-11-161,530 affected
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
Total complaints10
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 Audi A8 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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