The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·22V543000·Announced 2022-07-27

Volkswagen Recalls 2016 Audi and Golf Models for Air Bag Defect

Volkswagen is recalling 1,216 2016 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles because the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly, 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 sharp metal fragments, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural vehicle defects involving life-safety systems.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. The recall involves 1,216 vehicles in total.

The defect involves the front passenger air bag inflator module. During air bag deployment, the module may explode or deploy improperly. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.

Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's recall numbers are 69DY and 61C1. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI, VOLKSWAGEN S3, A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON, GTI, GOLF R
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bags
Hazard
Affected units
1,216

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 (10)

  • S3
  • A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON
  • GTI
  • GOLF R
  • A3
  • E-GOLF
  • R8
  • GOLF
  • TT
  • GOLF SPORTWAGEN

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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