The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·20V056000·Announced 2020-01-31

Volkswagen Recalls Audi Vehicles for Driver Air Bag Inflator Defect

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling specific Audi A8, A4, TT, and A6 models because driver air bag inflators may absorb moisture, potentially causing improper deployment in a crash.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. 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 increases the risk of serious injury or death, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or high-risk vehicle defects.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, 1999-2000 Audi A4, 2000 TT Coupe, and 2000-2001 TT Roadster vehicles. The recall involves vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, these specific inflators may absorb moisture, which could cause the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

If the air bag does not deploy properly during a crash, it may not adequately protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. The recall affects approximately 106,857 vehicles.

Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator free of charge when parts become available. Owner notifications were mailed on September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI A8, A4, TT, A6
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
106,857

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 (4)

  • A8
  • A4
  • TT
  • A6

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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