The problem
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. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 18V-082 (18V082000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 69R6 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module |
| Report date | January 30, 2018 |
| Owners notified | February 23, 2018 |
| Vehicles affected | 162,782 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
- 2006 Audi A3
- 2007 Audi A3
- 2008 Audi A3
- 2009 Audi A3
- 2010 Audi A3
- 2011 Audi A3
- 2012 Audi A3
- 2013 Audi A3
- 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet
- 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet
- 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet
- 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet
- 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet
- 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet
- 2009 Audi Q5
- 2010 Audi Q5
- 2011 Audi Q5
- 2012 Audi Q5
- 2008 Audi RS 4
- 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet
Plus 1 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the air bags
- 2006 Audi A3 airbag problems 56
- 2007 Audi A3 airbag problems 32
- 2008 Audi A3 airbag problems 24
- 2009 Audi A3 airbag problems 22
- 2010 Audi A3 airbag problems 13
- 2011 Audi A3 airbag problems 20
- 2012 Audi A3 airbag problems 31
- 2013 Audi A3 airbag problems 10
- 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet airbag problems 23
- 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet airbag problems 15
- 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet airbag problems 18
- 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet airbag problems 15
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 18V-082 repair free?
Yes. Audi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 162,782 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.