Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Audi A8. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE UPDATE
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
PASSENGER SEAT WIRING HARNESS
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (6)
6 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 33.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 16.7% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 16.7% |
| Structure | 1 | 16.7% |
How 2006 compares with other A8 years
Best and worst A8 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 |
| 2004 | 20 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 | 2 |
| 2008 | 8 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 15 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 18 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 494 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 18 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 4.2 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 6 L 12-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 / 19 / 15 | $5,500 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2006 A8 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2006 Audi A8 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2006 Audi A8 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 06V454000 (air bag), 05V522000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2006 Audi A8 problems?
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (3), Electrical system (2), Exterior lighting (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2006 Audi A8 get?
EPA rates the 4.2 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 16 city, 22 highway and 18 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2006 A8 compare with other years?
Among the 2002–2011 Audi A8 model years at least five years old, the 2002 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2004 the most (20). The 2006 drew 6. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.