Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Audi S4, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 57% |
| Air bags | 7 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STARTS ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I GET A HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 NIGH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TAKATA RECALL RECALL ISSUED JUNE '18, LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY STILL DON'T HAVE PARTS TO COMPLETE RECALL WORK.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL NHSTA RECALL HV032, AUDI RECALL 69P6, JAN '17, LOCAL DEALER SAYS CANNOT COMPLETE RECALL WORK.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 MANUFA
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 EX
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Audi S4. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 servi
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, N
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 41 | below average |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 17 of them (57%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.