2006 Audi A3 problems
The 2006 Audi A3 has 140 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (40%) concerns air bags. Next are drivetrain & axles (15%) and transmission (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 140 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 40% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 91 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 34 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 91 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 72,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 120,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 4 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Audi A3 with enough data (54 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 audi a3. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. Three occupants were injured. The contact sustained head, left arm, and left leg injuries that needed medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown area. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
I totaled my car about two weeks ago. And none of my passenger side airbags deployed ( front , front side, nor rear passenger side)
I totaled my car about two weeks ago, and none of my passenger side airbags deployed. (Front passenger, front side, or Rear passenger side)
Since the day I bought my 2006 audi a3 2.0t, I am having this issue. When I start moving from a complete stop (such as on a red light), the car jerks back and forth 1-2 times roughly. This happens all the time without fail. The jerk is so powerful that it makes all passengers' bodies shift forward with its momentum. It feels as if I slammed on the brake suddenly.
From a stopped position on a side street in a left hand turn lane I stepped on the gas pedal and the car started to move then immediately had a loss of power in making a left hand turn onto a major street. The car lurched forward then hesitated. It is really dangerous because it can surprise people and cause cars to crash into me. It has done this a few other times. I feel given the right circumstances this could cause an accident.