The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·17V032000·Announced 2017-01-11

Audi Recalls Vehicles Due to Passenger Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling specific Audi models because passenger air bag inflators may rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious injury or death.

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 source text explicitly states that inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. This aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural vehicle defects involving serious injury risk.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2005-2009 Audi A4, A6, S4, S6, and RS4 vehicles. The recall affects vehicles originally sold or registered in specific states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, and others, as well as a second group of vehicles in states like Alaska, Colorado, and Connecticut. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain passenger frontal air bag inflators that were used as original or replacement equipment.

The defect involves the potential for these inflators to rupture during a crash if the front air bags deploy. This rupture can occur due to propellant degradation resulting from long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. If the inflator ruptures, metal fragments may strike vehicle occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator free of charge. The recall began on March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note that this recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI A4, A6, S6, S4
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag Inflator
Hazard
Affected units
33,421

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 (5)

  • A4
  • A6
  • S6
  • S4
  • RS 4

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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