2006 Audi A6 Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 19, 2026

Good

Ranks 9th of 22 A6 years we score.

Owner complaints: 67; 33 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 18.8; 18,115 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.60×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 13; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 4
NHTSA crash rating: –

← 2005 A6 2007 A6 →

Should You Buy the 2006 Audi A6?

Yes, with the usual checks. Our reliability score for the 2006 Audi A6 is 76 out of 100, which rates Good. Owners reported about half as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 9th of the 22 A6 years we score.

The most reported problem is the steering, mostly locking up (4 of 67 complaints). Owners also complain about engine oil leaks and the headlights. 13 of the 67 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 4 recalls. Audi also offers two warranty extensions that may still apply, for problems with the transmission and airbags. For comparison, the 2005 scores 72 and the 2007 scores 74.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done, ask an Audi dealer about warranty extension AWA-13-04 and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Good reliability score of 76
About half the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls
2 Audi warranty extensions may cover repairs

Cons

Steering: locking up4 complaints
Engine oil leak3 complaints
Headlights: works on and off2 complaints

How the 2006 A6 Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems	0.59×	−13
Everyday problems	0.60×	−5
Problems in the last two years	Not counted	–
Recalls	1.1×	−6
Score		76

Problems in the last two years are not counted for the 2006 A6. If it were exactly average, its 18,115 cars would draw about 0.6 complaints in two years at this age, too few to compare. Their 30% moves to serious and everyday problems, which count for 80% of this score instead of 50%.

What Owners Report

We read all 67 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Audi A6, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Steering: locking up
4 complaints (6%)
Locking up, sticking or stiffness and a failure that needed a new part. 3 of these 4 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often a car that would not start. Median mileage when it started: about 105,000 miles.
Engine oil leak
3 complaints (4%)
A leak.
Headlights: works on and off
2 complaints (3%)
Problems that come and go and parts breaking or coming apart. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of visibility.
Screen and audio: stopped working
2 complaints (3%)
A feature that stopped working. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a car that would not start.
Parking brake: warning lights
2 complaints (3%)
Warning lights and a failure that needed a new part.
Seat belts failure
2 complaints (3%)
A failure that needed a new part.
Car not starting (cause not stated)
2 complaints (3%)
The car not starting and hard starting. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a car that would not start.
Tires: damage
2 complaints (3%)
Damage and early wear.
Wiring, fuses or body control module: a fire
2 complaints (3%)
A fire and damage. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a fire.

Reported Once (16)

Show the 16 problems reported once

Battery drain: draining the battery
Brakes: loss of braking
Check engine light (cause not stated)
Engine: a loss of power
Engine oil sludge: a loss of power
Engine sensors or computer failure
Frontal airbags: stopped working
Fuel injector: a leak
Ignition or power mode (won't shut off): not shutting off
Ignition coils or spark plugs failure
Key fob: the car not starting
Loss of power (cause not stated)
Noise (cause not stated)
SCM failure
Tire valve: a leak
Transmission: failure or loss of drive

How the 2006 Audi A6 Compares With Other Years

The other A6 years of the 6th generation (C6), 2005 to 2011, and the years just before and after it.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2012	Good	70	0.88×	28.4	8	Cooling system: a leak
2011	Good	78	0.52×	15.2	3	Seats: parts breaking or coming apart
2010	Excellent	81	0.40×	11.6	3	Cooling system: a leak
2009	Good	79	0.45×	11.7	4	–
2008	Good	78	0.51×	18.0	4	Headlights: works on and off
2007	Good	74	0.72×	22.3	4	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2006 This year	Good	76	0.60×	18.8	4	Steering: locking up
2005	Good	72	0.84×	28.1	3	Parking brake: not releasing
2004	Good	77	0.51×	15.8	4	Fuel leak

See every A6 year

2006 Audi A6 Recalls

Four recalls cover the 2006 Audi A6. The most recent was issued in June 2018: “Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode.” A VIN check at NHTSA shows which are still open on a given car.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V427000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 22, 2018. By the third quarter of 2019, 41% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, January 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 17V032000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 11, 2017. By the second quarter of 2018, 17% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, June 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V382000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 1, 2016. By the second quarter of 2018, 33% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Automatic Rear Lid Software
If one of the struts has a total loss of pressure, the resultant slow movement of the rear lid is interpreted by the software as an intended manual close and the motor clutch releases to close the rear lid immediately. This can result in an unintended rapid closing of the rear lid with a risk of personal injury.
NHTSA 07V334000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Aug 1, 2007.

2006 Audi A6 Warranty Extensions and Programs

Audi has two warranty extensions for the 2006 Audi A6, separate from its recalls. They are for problems with the transmission and airbags. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which an Audi dealer can check.

Warranty extensionAudi AWA-13-04
CVT transmission and control module failures
The problem:
The bulletin names no symptom. Under a class action settlement, Audi extended the warranty on parts of the factory CVT transmission.
The fix:
An Audi dealer diagnoses and repairs or replaces the covered CVT parts. Which parts are covered depends on the model year.
Who qualifies:
Certain 2002 to 2006 A4 and A6 with the factory CVT. Control module: 2003 to 2006. Valve body: 2003 and 2004. Rest of the transmission: 2002 to 2004, only with proof of the owner's manual transmission maintenance.
Coverage:
10 years or 100,000 miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first.
Audi's bulletin (PDF)
Warranty extensionAudi AWA-22-04
Takata driver or passenger airbag inflator failure
The problem:
The driver or passenger Takata airbag inflator can fail from a defect. This extension is for cars in the Takata inflator recall.
The fix:
An Audi dealer diagnoses the inflators and replaces a failed inflator for free. Inoperable or totaled cars and salvage, rebuilt or flood titles are not covered.
Who qualifies:
Cars in the Takata recall. After the main term, coverage lasts 75,000 miles from the recall repair or a time limit, whichever is greater: November 10, 2023, or 2 years if repaired after November 10, 2021.
Coverage:
10 years from the recall repair or 150,000 miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first. Then a further period applies.
Audi's bulletin (PDF)

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2006 A6, from its four recalls, two Audi warranty extensions that may still apply and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA 18V427000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, January 2017 NHTSA 17V032000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, June 2016 NHTSA 16V382000
Automatic Rear Lid Software NHTSA 07V334000

Ask an Audi Dealer

Ask whether each of these warranty extensions applies to this VIN, and whether the work was done.

AWA-13-04: CVT transmission and control module failures
AWA-22-04: takata driver or passenger airbag inflator failure

On the Test Drive

Turn the wheel fully left and right, parked and at low speed. Sticking, notches or stiffness are warning signs.
Test the screen, audio and phone connection for freezing or rebooting.
Brake firmly from a moderate speed. A soft, hard or pulsing pedal, or a brake warning light, is a warning sign.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Steering
Engine oil leaks
Headlights
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All A6 Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Audi may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.