Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 17% | 32,000 miles |
| 2021 | 1 | 9% | 4,000 miles |
| 2019 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2018 | 4 | 9% | — |
| 2017 | 13 | 23% | 50,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 5% | 46,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | 0 miles |
| 2009 | 33 | 28% | 85,000 miles |
| 2008 | 116 | 66% | 77,000 miles |
| 2007 | 119 | 61% | 78,000 miles |
| 2006 | 73 | 25% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 54 | 25% | 59,000 miles |
| 2004 | 26 | 14% | 86,000 miles |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% | 75,000 miles |
| 2002 | 8 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% | 90,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 6% | 55,000 miles |
| 1999 | 8 | 4% | 56,000 miles |
| 1998 | 16 | 6% | 89,000 miles |
| 1997 | 3 | 3% | 183,000 miles |
| 1996 | 6 | 7% | 27,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The vehicle is subject to a Passenger Occupant Detection System / PODS safety recall involving the front passenger seat occupant-detection system and passenger airbag status. The concern is that the system may incorrectly detect whether a passenger is seated and may switch off or affect the front passenger airbag when the seat is occupied. This is being reported because the recall remedy was not completed, was delayed, was not properly resolved, or the concern remains unresolved. A malfunctioning passenger occupant detection system can affect whether the passenger airbag deploys as intended in a crash. The issue involves the airbag system, front passenger seat occupant detection, related sensors/modules, and related electrical components. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. …
After dealership did the second repair to the airbag recall, the airbag light came on and has been on solid . When taking the car back to The dealership to have it fixed ,We were clear about the whole thing over the phone .the dealership proceeded to charge me for a diagnostic test as well as claiming to not have seen any recalls on the car .dealership claimed the whole airbag needed to be replaced yet the car has never been in an accident. Bottom line The initial recall isn't finished . Dealership explained car would be safe to drive , even tho the safety system is currently malfunctioning .
I went to Audi Fort Worth (116 University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107) to fix my PODS recall currently on my Audi A4. After a day of servicing my vehicle for the recall the dealership handed me back my vehicle in the condition attached in the photo. You can see the huge gap in the seat which is a safety hazard considering there is high voltage wires in the seat and they just left it exposed with a considerable gap. They refused to reassemble my seat so I am unsure if my airbag sensors even work now, it has been a week of waiting and my VIN still shows that it has a recall even though the service was completed a week ago. I asked for a service ticket of he work preformed but Audi Fort Worth refused to provide me one. I went in for the recall service on 1/24/2021. Is there any way we can remove my VIN from this recall list since the service was completed? …
Our 2017 A4 suddenly had the passenger airbag warning light illuminate while driving. In addition a different warning stated "safety system malfunction." We took the car to the dealer. They saw that there was a code in the computer but said that this could be "because a wire moved." They claimed it was "fixed" by "restarting" the car.They did no repair despite our protests, and told us to bring it back if it happened again. The next time we drove the car it happened again. We returned to the dealer. They stated the following (1) there is nothing wrong with the car and we should ignore the random intermittent safety light and continue driving; (2) that "probably you won't have a crash during the malfunction, so it should be OK" and "Audi engineering won't pay to fix this under your warranty because "sometimes your seat heater can trigger this warning for no reason if you don't use the …
The negligent driver yielded to the flow of traffic without stopping. When he collided with us, the airbags (exploded) deployed so strongly that they damaged the windshield and our bodies: face, neck, etc. Our beloved Audi A4 2009 was totaled and after that we had several operations: 2 eye operations (need 2 more), dental surgeries, 3 neck surgeries ... multiple unpaid medical expenses.
The turbo sounds like it's not going in/out of gear, oil going into spark plugs, radiator fluid leaking system getting real hot. Low engine poer picking up speed an issue. Air bag rear brake light malfunction, oil pressure not correct
The contact owns a 2008 Audi A4. The contact received an unknown recall notice related to the air bags. The contact scheduled an appointment at a dealer and had the recall serviced. The contact then stated that while idle in the parking lot of a hospital, a speeding vehicle clipped the front end, driver's side of her vehicle, which caused the entire front bumper to detach from the vehicle. The driver also hit a gate, guardrail, and utility box in the parking lot. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was then treated at the hospital for an injury to her neck and left shoulder. The contact sustains severe headaches weeks after the accident. The contact received an X-ray and had been assigned to physical therapy for the next few months. The other driver was not injured as a result of the accident. A police report was filed. …
i was in a pretty bad car accident, the car was totaled but the air bags didn't deploy and i slammed my head on my steering wheel, i got side swiped and the driver door wasn't able to be opened i had to kick it open and the front of the car hit a concrete pole going roughly 35 mph or more.
Related recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: 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 September 21, 2021.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) 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.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey,…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Air bags
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The discharge of static electricity under low humidity conditions can activate the driver side air bag when the driver enters or exits the vehicle and forms an electrical circuit by touching certain areas of the steering wheel.
Remedy: Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi A4 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (119), 2008 (116), 2006 (73), 2005 (54) and 2009 (33) model years. Airbag complaints make up 61% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Audi A4 airbag problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 22V-471 (inflator module, Jul 1, 2022); 21V-874 (front passenger, Nov 10, 2021); 21V-470 (inflator module, Jun 23, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Audi A4 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (31 mentions), followed by the side/window (9).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.