The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·18V427000·Announced 2018-06-22

Audi Recalls A4, A6, and RS4 Models Due to Air Bag Inflator Defect

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling specific Audi models because passenger air bag inflators may explode during deployment, posing a risk of 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 the defect may result in 'serious injury or death' due to inflator explosion, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating involving significant injury or death reports/risks.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 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. This recall involves 237,947 vehicles equipped with specific passenger frontal air bag inflators that were used as original equipment or replacement parts.

The defect involves air bag inflators that may explode due to propellant degradation caused by long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. If a crash necessitates the deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, the inflator explosion could result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, potentially causing serious injury or death.

Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2018. This recall supersedes previous campaigns 16V382, 17V032, and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under those earlier campaigns. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI A4, A6, RS 4, RS4
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag Inflator
Hazard
Affected units
237,947

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 (7)

  • A4
  • A6
  • RS 4
  • RS4
  • S6
  • S4
  • A4 CABRIOLET

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · AUDI

Same manufacturer · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

See all →

Same hazard · air bag inflator explosion

See all →

Similar recalls