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Audi A8Model year report

2006 Audi A8 Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
44,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Audi A8 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2006 Audi A8. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and exterior lighting (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 44,000 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 278 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 58 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “While accelerating to get on the parkway my car locked at 7000 RPM's and continued to accelerate with my foot off the accelerator. I was forced to put the car in neutral to avoid an accident, if I were not an experienced driver this could have caused a fatality in the car was at 80 MPH and quickly rising. The tachometer continued at 7000 RPM for roughly 20 seconds, only after continually tapping the accelerator it finally began to decline. Please look into this life threatening situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10573657, filed 2014-03, 78,865 miles

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10592058, filed 2014-05, 145,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “The headlight warning light came on. The headlight on left had gone out. Opening the headlight assembly ( a 2,000 to 6000 dollar part) there are about 20 wires inside the assembly, every wire was partially bare, the insulation has cracked off every wire inside the assembly. A small wire harness connects everything inside the light, the harness is not available to fix it. The cost to have a harness for the car available, should not be a issue. We need lights and to replace a headlight is a 20 dollar fix not a 2500 dollar. Fix.”

NHTSA complaint #11641952, filed 2025-02

Mileage when problems were reported

60% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 78,865 miles.

20%0–1020%10–2520%25–500%50–7520%75–10020%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 44,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200820092014220162025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Audi A8 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
A8 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162218$4,550
A8 L 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162218$4,550
A8 L 4WD/AWD6.0L 12-cyl6-speed automatic131915$5,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Audi A8 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 278 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 278 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A8

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20215—10—21—Not enough data
20191424,5263—22—Not enough data
2017851,0003—22—Not enough data
20161143,5004—22—Not enough data
20153148,0005—22Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20141857,5345—21—Falling
20135062,5006—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20121179,6281—21—Not enough data
20111581,5001—21—Falling
200957,2121—18—Not enough data
2008855,1181—18—Not enough data
2006644,0002—18—Not enough data
2005612,0001—18—Not enough data
20042028,0001—18—Stable
2001686,0002—18—Not enough data
1999961,4044—18—Not enough data
19971069,0002—18—Not enough data

All Audi A8 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Audi A8 have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2006 Audi A8 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Audi A8 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2006 Audi A8 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Audi A8 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Audi A8 (A8, 4.2L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Audi A8 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 44,000 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 78,865 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.