Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Audi Q5 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Its been over a year I am aware of the recall, I have been serviced several times at 2 different dealers both state that they do not have parts to complete this recall. In January 2017 I was in a head on collision and the air bag did not deploy! I was told by the last dealer during 2 other recalls that nj will have supplies come this fall! I would like this recall completed asap as its been over a year! Plus having been in an accident head on its not to reassuring knowing the airbag will not deploy!
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Audi Q5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted at: new country Audi greenwich 181 west putnam avenue, greenwich, ct 06830 and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
We received a notice from Audi in April that our vehicle was recalled due to faulty air bags. After further investigation, we learned that the recall was actually announced on February 10, 2016. As of today, September 19, 2016 no remedy had been provided by Audi. When we discussed options with the dealership where we bought the vehicle, Audi boulder, they described the car as a "death trap". Their only solution was for us to buy a new car from them. We do not feel safe driving this car until the situation is resolved and will be exploring all options to get this matter resolved.
Takata recall I work for a dealership we sell Audi's I finally have Q5's to sell at a good price to the consumer, however this recall is killing the sale because our parts department can not get replacement parts for the air bag however a Honda dealer a half mile away has done over 30 replacements. How do you get the parts I have gone on line talked to several people and have no clue when we are getting replacement air bags some people say 1 to 3 years and that is not exceptable.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags) was received in March of 2016. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata airbag recall campaign not implemented on my vehicle yet. Audi just performed an Audi recall on the drivers side airbag igniter however this does not address the recall. Audi appears to be telling consumers however that it does.
Takata recall I received the safety recall notice from Audi in April 2016. I called my local dealer and was told the "part weren't available yet." it is now November 2016 and when checking on this again I am told the parts still aren't available. I find this unacceptable and I wonder why the NHTSA doesn't find it unacceptable as well. I called Audi customer service and was told they have "no idea when they are getting replacement parts from Takata." however, Audi is obviously still making these cars and since they can find new airbags to put in new cars, why isn't anyone pressuring the manufacturer to fix the cars they sold in the past before they use those parts on new cars!!! It seems that they don't care about this since Takata will be liable if I die in an accident. …
Takata recall NHTSA recall number: 16V078 recall date: February 9, 2016 manufacturer recall number: 69n1 summary: Takata has reported that the driver frontal airbag inflator could potentially rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash where the frontal airbags are designed to deploy. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, which May result in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. Safety risk: as reported by Takata: in the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, which May result in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. Remedy: replace driver airbag inflator. Recall status: recall incomplete it has now been 17 months since a recall was issued. We have contacted our Audi dealership on 6 separate occasions to schedule the repair. …
Well first it was the Takata airbag recall, but the one I'm complaining about is the recall for the fuel pump and also the fuel pump wiring which was also removed from our vehicle, and we're like two about how it was part of the recall for the fuel pump . Anyway I've already put a complaint about this and how it has malfunctioned other important components of our vehicle including the fuel pump flange which was also replaced coils spark plugs sensors etc. What I'm complaining about now is I've contacted Audi USA and they have string us along for almost a year going back-and-forth to different Audi dealerships and getting different responses or different diagnosis of what is wrong with the car. Recently we had our Audi Q5 2011 fully diagnosed and now we come to a whole new dilemma and malfunction of our vehicle. …
Hello, there is an open recall for my 2001 Audi Q5: start date: feb 09, 2016, Audi action code: 69n1 description: Takata has reported that the driver frontal airbag inflator could potentially rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash where the frontal airbags are designed to deploy. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, which May result in serious injury or death to vehicle occupants. NHTSA recall number: 16V078 so the driver airbag inflator has to be replaced. I brought my car to the Audi service (3200 columbia pike, arlington, va 22204). I was told that the airbag inflator replacement campaign is expected to start not earlier than September 2017. Since I am leaving the USA in August 2017 and I am planning to bring my car to my country bulgaria, I would like to ask for professional advice what should I do. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018.
Air bags › Side/window
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
Airbag complaints in other Q5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Audi Q5?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Audi Q5, 47% of the model year's 143 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Audi Q5 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-082 (inflator module, Jan 30, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-001 (side/window, Jan 3, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-078 (inflator module, Feb 10, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Audi Q5 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.