The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·15V823000·Announced 2015-12-08

Audi Recalls A6 and A7 Vehicles Due to Passenger Air Bag Defect

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2012-2013 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles because the passenger air bag system may fail to deploy in a crash.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where the air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury in a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury reports or structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The recall covers Audi A6 vehicles manufactured between March 28, 2011, and March 25, 2013, and Audi A7 vehicles manufactured between January 25, 2011, and March 19, 2013. The total number of affected vehicles is 21,074.

In vehicles equipped with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may malfunction. This system is responsible for enabling the front passenger air bags. If the PODS malfunctions, the passenger-side air bags may not deploy during a crash, which increases the risk of occupant injury.

The recall began on February 5, 2016. Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit free of charge. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Volkswagen's internal number for this recall is 74D1.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI A7, A6
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag / Occupant Restraint
Hazard
Affected units
21,074

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • A7
  • A6

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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