Audi · S4 · 2006
2
Recalls
30
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2006 Audi S4 has 2 recalls and 30 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: exterior lighting (17 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STARTS ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I GET A HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF.
TAKATA RECALL RECALL ISSUED JUNE '18, LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY STILL DON'T HAVE PARTS TO COMPLETE RECALL WORK.
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE NOTICED ON THE B7 MODELS OF AUDI'S. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES, IT IS NOT A BULB PROBLEM IT HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS CONCERNING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND RANDOMLY MY HEADLIGHT WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK IN IT WILL RETURN. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE HEADLIGHTS AS I HAVE READ IN OTHER PLACES. VERY DANGEROUS AND CONCERNING THEY WANT TO CHARGE 1000+ DOLLARS FOR EVERY CUSTOMER TO PUT IN A NEW HEADLIGHT. IT IS THEIR DUTY TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
TAKATA RECALL NHSTA RECALL HV032, AUDI RECALL 69P6, JAN '17, LOCAL DEALER SAYS CANNOT COMPLETE RECALL WORK.
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED MY FIRST NOTICE OF THIS RECALL ON 1/17/17. IT IS CURRENTLY 10/31/17 WITH THE REPAIR NOT YET AVAILABLE. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS AT DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. WHEN WILL THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS RECALL REPAIR BE AVAILABLE? THANK YOU.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V382000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V382000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI S4. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. NOTIFIED 1 YEAR AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED TO HAVE THE AIR BAG REPLACED. CALLED FOR AN UPDATE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS FOR MY VEHICLE YET.
BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. BULBS ARE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. ERROR CODE 'DIPPING HEADLIGHT' THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM WITH AUDI AND IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR
RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND FAILS. VEHICLE MUST BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO GET HEADLIGHT WORKING AGAIN. *TR
FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT. BULBS ARE NOT BURNED OUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER ISSUE. THROWS A CODE OF DIPPED FRONT HEAD LIGHT ALTERNATES BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT ON ANY GIVEN DAY. SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR AUDI BETWEEN 2006 AND 2008 HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE WARRANTED DO TO THE FACT IT CANT BE FIXED BY CHANGING THE BULBS.
RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT REPEATEDLY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED AND WENT OFF (HID LIGHTS). THE INFORMATION SYSTEM REGISTERED AN ERROR "DIPPED RIGHT HEADLIGHT" HEAD LIGHT COMES ON WHEN EVER THE CAR IS STARTED, AND GOES OUT WITH THE SAME ERROR AGAIN AT A LATER TIME. SO FAR THIS ERROR HAS OCCURRED THE LAST 3 TIMES I HAVE DRIVEN (ALL THREE TIMES SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE NIGHT ILLUMINATION IS INVOLVED. I HAVE READ ON INTERNET AUDI WEBSITES THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM, THAT AUDI OF AMERICA IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY AS FAR AS OFFERING A CLEAR SOLUTION. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, THEN THE DASH SAYS THEY ARE DIPPING, THEN THEY GO OUT. IF YOU STOP THE CAR TURN IT OFF THEN BACK ON THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE WIDE SPREAD REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THESE AUDI'S AND THE HID LIGHTS. *TR
THIS ISSUE AFFECTS AUDI A4 AND S4 VEHICLES WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. ONE OR BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY FAILS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT BULB. IF THE OPERATOR TURNS OFF THE IGNITION AFTER ONE OR BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILS, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS THE CAR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL OPERATE PROPERLY. THE ISSUE OCCURS PRIMARILY WITHIN THE FIRST 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN "WARMED UP", OPERATING FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES, THE ISSUE DOES NOT REOCCUR. THE SPECIFIC SCENARIO: I WILL START MY CAR. BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS INITIALLY SEEM TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. WITHIN A MINUTE, ONE OR BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BEGIN TO FLICKER, AND ONE OR BOTH OF THEM WILL FAIL, CAUSING A "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. THE ISSUE OFTEN OCCURS DURING BRAKING, ACCELERATION OR WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP. THE ISSUE MAY OCCUR WITH EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT OR BOTH LIGHTS, RESULTING IN A SEVERELY UNSAFE CONDITION. RESTARTING THE CAR WILL CURE THE PROBLEM BUT IT OFTEN REOCCURS UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS ISSUE OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, USUALLY EVERY DAY, OR AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK. MOISTURE (RAIN/CAR WASH) DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE THE ISSUE WORSE. AUDI OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. AUDI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SPECIFIC REPAIR TECHNIQUE THAT WILL DEFINITELY FIX THE ISSUE. THE REPAIR ATTEMPTS INCLUDE REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS, REPLACING THE HID BALLASTS AND/OR CONTROL MODULES, AND INSTALLING SHIMS AROUND THE LIGHT HOUSINGS TO QUELL THE VIBRATION THAT MAY BE A CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IT IS A TRIAL-AND-ERROR REPAIR PROCESS AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
DIPPED HEADLIGHT ISSUE. THE EVENT IS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT AND MULTIPLE TIMES. MY HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2006 AUDI S4 CONTINUE TO GO OUT AS I DRIVE OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WHICH AUDI HAS CHOSEN NOT TO FIX. THEIR MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE AND NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY CHOSE TO REPLACE CARS HEADLIGHTS WITH THIS ISSUE. I ONLY HAVE UNDER 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN AND ONE THAT COULD LEAD TO A ACCIDENT AND DEATH. THIS IS MY 9TH AUDI AS WELL. *TR
MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ALMOST ALL THE TIME AND OCCASIONALLY GO OFF AS A RESULT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD AS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDI ONLINE FORUMS ARE REPORTING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. ONCE ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", "RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", OR BOTH. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THEY STILL FLICKER AND GO OUT AGAIN AT RANDOM INTERVALS AND RANDOM SIDES (LEFT AND RIGHT). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IN PLACE AS IT COSTS MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR, AND MANY TIMES, THE REPAIR DOESN'T FIX ANYTHING. IT IS SO WIDESPREAD, IT HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS AND IT HAS BECOME A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM EFFECTS A WIDE RANGE OF AUDI MODELS AND YEARS AS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES OF VARIOUS YEARS AND MODELS. IT IS ALSO GROUNDS FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION IN MY STATE AS WELL AS MOST OTHERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF, HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED IN ORDER TO RESTART THE HEADLIGHT. THIS ACTION PRESENTS A MYRIAD OF SAFETY CONCERNS ITSELF AS THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES DURING TRAFFIC. WITH THE REGULARITY OF THIS PROBLEM ACROSS MANY YEARS AND MODELS, AUDI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND PERFORM THE REPAIRS AT THEIR EXPENSE AS THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN OR IMPLEMENTATION FLAW. *TR
AUDI 2006 S4, THERE IS A MORE FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF MY "HEADLIGHTS DIPPING" MY XENON HEADLAMPS WILL STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD EITHER BE THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, BUT NOT UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WILL RESET ITSELF AND LIGHTS WILL THEN WORK, IT SEEMS TO STOP OCCURRING WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP AND IT IS WORSE WITH COLDER WEATHER AND VIBRATION OR BAD ROADS. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY OCCUR WHEN CAR IS EVEN WARM WELL AFTER 30 MINUTES, I AM NOW CONCERNED BECAUSE LAST WEEK BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, IT WAS ALWAYS ONE OR THE OTHER, IT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS OR SO. AUDI HAS NO ANSWER, THEY HAVE ERRONEOUSLY REPLACED WORKING XENON LIGHTS, BALLASTS, ETC AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR TO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT I READ UP ON IN AUDI FORUMS. FREQUENCY IS NOW EACH AND EVERY TIME I START CAR AND GET GOING LITERALLY FEET TO LESS THAN A BLOCK. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT WAS ONCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN ONCE A WEEK, TO ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, TO NOW EACH AND EVERY TIME AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES UNTIL WARM. I AM IN COLDER CLIMATE, DETROIT, MI. *LN
NO INCIDENTS OR CRASHES, YET. MY 2005.5 AUDI S4 WITH 35,800 MILES, HAS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS, LEFT OR RIGHT, FLICKER AND THEN TURN OFF INVOLUNTARILY. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE SIDE DOES THIS, MORE RECENTLY, BOTH HAVE BEEN TURNING OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT, A NOTICE APPEARS IN THE CENTER INFORMATION AREA OF "DIPPED HEADLIGHT," EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT RESPECTIVELY. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE LIGHT/S IS TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON MANUALLY. THIS ONLY TEMPORARILY RESETS THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THE SAME EVENTS START AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2006 Audi S4 has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 30 owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Audi S4.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2006 Audi S4.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2006 Audi S4 are exterior lighting (17 reports), air bags (7 reports), electrical system,exterior lighting (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2006 Audi S4. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.