The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·22V471000·Announced 2022-07-01

Audi Recalls A4 and A8 Models for Airbag Inflator Defect

Audi is recalling 1997-1998 A4 and 1998 A8 vehicles because the driver's airbag inflator may explode or underinflate, posing a risk of injury.

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 (airbag inflator) where the source text explicitly states the scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1997-1998 Audi A4 and 1998 Audi A8 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from a previous recall (20V-056).

Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture. This can cause the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate. If the inflator explodes during air bag deployment, metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent 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.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI A4, A8
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Airbag
Hazard
Affected units
28,624

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)

  • A4
  • A8

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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