audi A8 problems

1 safety recall. 6 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

Reliability score

8.8 / 10

Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 A8 · body

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…

11/29/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10928573.0

2006 A8 · cruise control

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…

08/07/2008 · NHTSA ODI #10237329.0

2006 A8 · cruise control

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…

07/05/2009 · NHTSA ODI #10275799.0

2006 A8 · electrical

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

05/16/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10592058.0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 05V522000 16/11/2005

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

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2006 Audi A8 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Audi A8 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Audi A8?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my Audi A8 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Audi A8?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 6 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 6 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with audi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.