Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Audi A6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V427000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall the problem with the Takata airbags has been absolutely confirmed for years and this is the first notice from Audi in the time we have owned the car (over one year). How is it that they can casually suggest that, "Audi recommends avoiding use of the front passenger seat whenever possible until the the recall repair has been performed.", and state that the use May result, "in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants.", without offering an immediate remedy. Though ten years old, this is our family car and there is no other remedy offered than to stop driving it?? The government has facilitated an agreement regarding emissions with vw/Audi and yet you have done nothing in this case to prevent possible death. When can we expect this recall to be implemented? It has been a long time already and yet they offer no time line to a safe usable vehicle. …
"Takata recall" Audi of smithtown fails, after six months of requesting, to replace the Takata airbag on the passenger side of the subject car. Audi of smithtown rejects responsibility to replace the airbag and claims that NHTSA is responsible for providing replacement airbags. Audi of smithtown is unable to schedule replacement. Audi of smithtown claims total ignorance about all matters regarding airbag replacement. Please advise.
Takata recall - I was notified in July of 2016 that the airbag for my Audi A6 was part of the Takata recall and that no remedy was currently available. It has been 6 months and Audi has not issued a solutions for the affected recall the r than to not let passengers sit in the front seat. This is an unacceptable request and puts a burden on me as the consumer to limit liability and forgo the use of my vehicle as described and purchased.
Takata airbag I received a recall notice from Audi in May 2006. I have periodically called my dealership newport imports in newport beach ca. Eleven months later I am still being told that Audi does not have a solution to repair or replace the air bags. This seems like an extremely long wait to have a safety issue corrected, especially as there is no date by which Audi expects to have a solution.
Received recall notice 8/1/2016 dated July 2016. Danger (even death) can occur regarding airbag on passenger side. No date as to when replacement will be available. Asked for loaner car in the interim and got denied.
Takata recall. I just found out my car has a important safety recall involving faulty air bags. I called Audi to have this issue fix and they have told that this is a very big claim and they will not be able to fix my vehicle just yet, I told them this could put my family in risk and I needed a clear time frame of when they will be able to replace the faulty airbags, they said one to two years we don't know, because Audi do not have the part available. I told the Audi representative that they are acting like it was an insignificant faulty part of the vehicle what it's faulty and not a life saver component. So they told me is not their fault it is the manufactures fault and is nothing they can do. I hung up and call an Audi dealership to order new airbags for my year and model, and they provided price and a few days for delivery. How is that they don't have the parts then?? …
The 2005-2007 Audi A6 has an integrated dashboard system that controls and manages the audio, navigation, telephone and other non-safety related features. The same module controls the driver's side air-bag. I recently had the display module for the radio/navigation fail. This also caused the driver's side air bag system to fail. Shouldn't safety systems in a car be on separated from the entertainment systems ? This would be similar to having your seatbelts fail if the rear seat dvd player failed, or your driving lights stop working if a vanity mirror bulb burned out....I hope you get my point. In virginia, the state I live in, all cars require an annual safety check - air bags included. The fact that a car radio can cause your airbag to fail just seems like poor planning and putting passenger safety at risk. …
Takata recall- we received a recall notice 13 months(May 2016) ago regarding the passenger Takata airbag in one of our two audis. In April 2017, even tho we are labeled by NHTSA a zone a, we received another recall notice that an interim repair would be made but not one that would allow us to sit in the passenger seat according to Audi in this car. This is not acceptable. To not be allowed to sit in the passenger seat for safety concerns for 13 months and no one knows how much longer for a $40,000+ car is beyond comprehension. I have contacted Audi ceo to no avail. Ethe dealership cannot help either. So, the car sits in the garage as my husband is on oxygen and broke his hip and cannot sit in the back seat. Either Audi or someone needs to replace the airbag or replace the car with a car we can drive.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact's employer owns a 2006 Audi A6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called Audi morton grove [phone] located at 7000 golf rd, morton grove, il 60053) where it was confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 10/26/17 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey,…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Airbag complaints in other A6 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Audi A6?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Audi A6, 60% of the model year's 67 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Audi A6 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-427 (inflator module, Jun 22, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-032 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-382 (inflator module, Jun 1, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Audi A6 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.