Audis Recalled Due To Potential Air Bag Explosions

 

Auburn Hills, MI – Jan. 23, 2018 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) recently announced a recall of more than 10,000 of popular Audi models produced between the 2009 and 2011 model years, over concerns that the front passenger air bag could explode, according to a filing made with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Audi vehicles in question include:

  • 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet
  • 2009-2011 Audi A6
  • 2009 Audi S4 Cabriolet
  • 2009-2011 Audi S6

Recall Summary

Specifically, the problem with the passenger frontal air bags relates to the inflators that could degrade over time if left exposed to high humidity or dramatic temperature changes. That, in turn, could lead inflators to rupture and potentially explode in the event of a crash during which the frontal passenger air bag is deployed. This issue is related to the broader Takata air bag recall.

In the event the inflator were to cause the air bag to rupture and potentially explode, metal fragments could launch into vehicles’ cabins, which could result in serious industry or death. This issue would likely arise only after several years of exposure to the adverse conditions described above, per Takata testing of the faulty air bags. The likelihood of a rupture could, however, increase due to a number of other factors.

Unfortunately, it would be impossible for owners to determine whether their vehicles are likely to be affected by this issue, or if their air bags had already ruptured.

As part of the Takata recall, three “zones” were set up to describe regions where affected vehicles were sold or registered. In this case, A6 Avants and Sedans, as well as S6 Sedans – all from the 2010 and 2011 model years in Zone B. So too were, certain 2011 A6 Avants and Sedans and S6 Sedans.

As for vehicles in Zone C, recalled vehicles include model year 2009 A4 and S4 Cabriolets, A6 Avants and Sedans, S6 Sedans, as well as model year 2010 and 2011 A6 Avants and Sedans, and S6 Sedans.

This filing was made in early January 2018 at the request of the NHTSA, as part of a Coordinated Remedy Order.

The repair

Drivers who own the affected vehicles will be notified by mail about the issue, and asked to take their cars to authorized Audi dealers to have their frontal air bag inflators replaced at no cost. Due to the size of the Takata air bag recall, Volkswagen is working with the NHTSA to stagger its announcement and planning of the recall efforts as part of the coordinated remedy program.

As such, owners and dealers alike will officially receive notification of the recall on or around March 3, 2018.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 10,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. On June 22, 2018, This recall was rolled into a larger recall of 237,947 vehicles. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 116,835 airbags from the recall. had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

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Audi A5s Recalled for Curtain Air Bag Issue

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Jan. 12, 2018 – Volkswagen Group of America recently announced a recall of more than 8,000 of its Audi A5 Coupes from the 2018 model year, citing concerns about side curtain air bags potentially not deploying properly in the event of an accident, according to a filing made with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Specifically, the head curtain air bag has a chance to get caught on the trim of the vehicle’s A-pillar and therefore may not unfold from its compartment properly.

All vehicles in the recall are expected to be affected by this defect, and were produced from Nov. 17, 2016 to Dec. 14, 2017.

The Defect

The issue arises because all air bags for these luxury vehicles were produced with excess fabric as well as a paper sleeve on the upper part of the A-Pillar.

In crashes in which the head curtain air bags are supposed to deploy, the potential for the air bag to get hung up on the A-pillar could result in injury for occupants, due to “positional tolerances.” As of Dec. 8, all Audi A5s from the 2018 model year were produced without the excess fabric and paper sleeves in question.

Timeline of Events

Prior to July 2017, testing on these vehicles showed that there was 100 percent compliance with production standards in air bag deployment issues, but at that time, testing showed certain abnormalities in deployment for air bags in the “foremost position.”

The next month, the issue came before the Audi Product Safety Committee, which ordered more testing and evaluation to be conducted on the affected vehicles. Those tests took place between August and November, 2017, which determined the factors and causes related to the air bag deployment issue, as well as what that could mean for drivers and passengers.

On Dec. 13, 2017, the Product Safety Committee determined the root cause of the defect and decided to issue the recall.

The Solution

Drivers of the affected vehicles were advised to bring their Audi A5s to a dealer, where excess fabric on the curtain air bags will be removed, as will the paper sleeves on the upper parts of the A-pillars. As these alterations are free of charge, the repairs will not require reimbursement for owners.

Both Audi dealers and affected owners will begin receiving notification in the near future, starting on or before Jan. 31, 2018.

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Audi Recalling A6 and A7 Vehicles Over Fuel Line Issues

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 26, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America recently announced that it would recall nearly 49,000 Audi A6 and A7 executive cars from model years 2012 to 2014, over concerns about the potential for a leaking fuel line, according to a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue stems from a compression point in the design of the fuel line that was supposed to facilitate installation. However, that part of the fuel line may weaken over time due to issues in the manufacturing process, potentially leading to a leak.

The vehicles in question were produced from March 28, 2011, to Sept. 13, 2013, and 100 percent of the A6s and A7s in the recall are affected by the issue.

The Defect

The defect was first noticed as far back as the middle of 2013, but various intermediate fixes were apparently not effective in fully reducing the risk of a fuel line leak. In fact, various attempted fixes may have exacerbated the problem in certain situations. The fuel line was manufactured by a parts supplier based in Denmark, but many of the fixes were made by Audi on the basis of software updates to the vehicles’ internal gearbox computer.

Leaking fuel could lead to a fire or explosion if in the presence of an ignition source. Drivers or vehicle occupants may be able to spot this issue by noticing a gasoline smell, or puddles under their vehicles.

Timeline of Events

In 2013, Audi began receiving reports of A6 and A7 vehicles that had the 3.0TFSI engine installed, prompting an investigation by the company. In June 2014, with reports of leaking fuel lines increasing, the company’s Product Safety Committee received more information on the issue and made the decision to update the gearboxes’ software, with an eye toward reducing vibration and strain on the fuel lines. Monitoring of the issue continued even after this point.

From March 2015 to April 2017, more information came in that some Audi vehicles were still suffering the same type of damage even after getting the gearbox software update. Once again, the Product Safety Committee received the latest data on the investigation and conducted more field analysis.

In October 2017, the company’s laboratory analyzed 11 fuel lines, none of which showed any damage, but later that month and into November, more incidents were reported.

Then on Nov. 29, the Product Safety Committee completed further analysis and determined it was time to recall the vehicles in question.

The Solution

Audi drivers whose vehicles are affected by the recall will be able to take them to their local Audi dealerships or other locations for free repairs. The company will also offer reimbursement to owners who already paid to have these issues fixed.

The replacement fuel lines have a redesigned fuel hose that shrinks during installation instead of being compressed.

Both dealers and owners will be formally informed of the recall on Feb. 5, 2018.

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Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective auxiliary heaters

Recall Masters  – October 24, 2017

Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective auxiliary heaters

The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 216,000 vehicles possibly equipped with defective auxiliary heaters, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models, including:

  • 2013-2016 Audi A4 sedans and A4 Allroad station wagons produced between March 2, 2012 and July 31, 2015.
  • 2013-2016 Audi A5 coupes and cabriolets produced between March 8, 2012 and July 31, 2015.
  • 2013-2016 Audi Q5 sport utility vehicles produced between April 7, 2012 and July 31, 2015.

The German automaker estimates 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

Affected models contain auxiliary heaters with defective electrical connectors prone to contact corrosion. Mechanical wear and movement is known to cause this condition, which can lead to overheating, melting of nearby wires and even engine fires. This poses a serious threat to occupants. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive reports linking the defective auxiliary heaters to any accidents or injuries…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesVolkswagen recalls vehicles with defective auxiliary heaters

Audi recalls vehicles with defective ECU software

Recall Masters -September 8, 2017

Audi recalls vehicles with defective ECU software

The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 8,300 vehicles possibly equipped with defective engine control unit software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 Audi A3 cabriolets and sedans. The German automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective software.
The Defect
Affected models are equipped with problematic ECU software that facilitates an engine air and fuel mixture burning stability strategy, which is prone to cause stalling during start-up or low-RPM maneuvers. Specifically, when the engine flywheel begins to rotate, the software misinterprets this movement as “knocking,” which triggers engine shutoff. This poses a serious hazard to occupants, as vehicles could lose power when traveling at high speeds, therefore increasing the likelihood of an accident. That said, Audi has yet to receive reports linking the defect to any accidents or injuries…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesAudi recalls vehicles with defective ECU software

Audi recalls vehicles with defective ECU software

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Sept. 8, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 8,300 vehicles possibly equipped with defective engine control unit software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 Audi A3 cabriolets and sedans. The German automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective software.

The Defect

Affected models are equipped with problematic ECU software that facilitates an engine air and fuel mixture burning stability strategy, which is prone to cause stalling during start-up or low-RPM maneuvers. Specifically, when the engine flywheel begins to rotate, the software misinterprets this movement as “knocking,” which triggers engine shutoff. This poses a serious hazard to occupants, as vehicles could lose power when traveling at high speeds, therefore increasing the likelihood of an accident. That said, Audi has yet to receive reports linking the defect to any accidents or injuries.

In the event of an engine stall, the “Engine Stop While Driving” light will illuminate. Drivers can immediately restart their vehicles to regain operability.

Timeline of Events

Earlier this year, Audi began receiving internal reports outlining sudden engine shutoffs in new production vehicles. These documents described instances in which vehicles would stall when accelerating out of complete stops or slow rolls. Over the course of April and May 2017, the car company received multiple claims from owners. Claim volumes further increased during the summer months, the majority of which seemed to come from owners living in regions with high temperatures. Audi initiated an internal investigation in response to these filings, and discovered that virtually all of the claims originated from owners in cities with warm climates. It also found that the stalling behavior was a result of problematic ECU software.

On Aug. 9, quality assurance personnel at automaker decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall. Audi notified dealers of the action Sept. 6.

The Solution

The car company has directed dealers to replace the ECU software in affected vehicles free of charge, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. Audi plans to notify owners Sept. 27. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Audi customer service staff at (800) 253-2834. Callers should use the internal recall reference identification code 24DF. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA via the organization’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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Audi recalls SUVs prone to gas leaks

 

Auburn Hill, Mich. – May 3, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 240,000 sport utility vehicles with defective fuel pump flanges, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The recall, which is an expansion of two earlier campaigns, affects Audi Q7 SUVs produced between May 2012 and July 2015, as well as Q5 models that rolled off the assembly line from July 2012 to March 2017. The automaker estimates that this problem affects 100 percent of these vehicles.

The Defect
The vehicles named in the recall are equipped with defective fuel-pump flanges that are prone to cracking. Should fissures develop, fuel could leak into the engine compartment and catch fire, posing a serious risk to occupants. Owners are likely to smell fuel while operating the vehicle or standing near it when leakage has occurred. There have been no accidents or injuries linked to this defect.

Timeline of Events
Earlier this month, Volkswagen recalled a large number of Porsche Macan crossovers due to the same issue, CNET reported. However, this fuel flange problem can be traced back to a recall initiated in September of last year that included the Audi Q7 and Q5, according to the NHTSA.

In the fall of 2015, the automaker became aware of customer complaints and NHTSA filings that mentioned the possibility of fuel leakage. Engineers investigated these assertions and found that the vehicles mentioned in the reports had faulty fuel flanges that tended to develop fissures. Further evaluations took place over an eight-month period between December 2015 and July 2016. Unfortunately, inspectors were unable to discover the root cause. However, Volkswagen developed a workable solution to the problem: a butyl rubber film that could cover the fuel pump flange and seal off leaks.

In September of 2016, the Audi Product Safety Committee chose to issue an official recall. Volkswagen has since discovered the defect in other vehicles, including the Porsche Macan, and has expanded the campaign to account for new models.

The Solution
Volkswagen has ordered dealers to reinforce the fuel pump flanges on affected vehicles with protective butyl rubber film. However, models that exhibit extensive cracking will receive replacement fuel pump flanges of a new, more durable design. This latest recall extension involving the Audi Q7 and Q5 is expected to begin in July, according to Volkswagen. Owners in need of more immediate assistance prior to the official campaign launch date are advised to contact the NHTSA. Those with affected vehicles will receive notification via first-class mail.

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Volkswagen recalls Audi vehicles with forceful air bag deployment risk [Video]

Volkswagen has a new recall action in motion. Around twelve thousand Audi S three sedans, all of which are from model year 2017, could feature a dangerous bug that deploys air bags more forcefully than necessary.

This fault comes from the in-vehicle control module software. If this software has the wrong parameters in it, the air bags may deploy with a heavy impact. This not only puts vehicle occupants at risk but could also fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number two hundred and eight.

Production for the earliest of these vehicles began in July 2016. To fix the problem, dealers will update the software in the vehicle modules with a new version developed during February. This action will fall under vehicle warranty. Both owner and dealer notification is scheduled for April.

Thank you for watching.

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Volkswagen Recalls Convertibles with Defective Safety Belts

Auburn Hill, Mich. – March 20, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 1,600 vehicles equipped with defective safety belts. The recall affects Audi A5 and S5 cabriolets produced between June and November 2016, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Defect

Impacted vehicles have safety-belt pretensioners that could detach during a high-velocity crash. Consequently, the microgas generators contained within these fixtures may also disconnect and become airborne within the cabin, putting passengers at risk. While the pretensioners addressed in this recall are installed in a whole range of Audi models, engineers have discovered that microgas generators only come loose in A5 and S5 cabriolets. This is a result of ineffective crimping unique to these vehicles.

Timeline of Events

In December 2016, Autoliv, the OEM manufacturer that supplied the safety belt pretensioner assemblies, notified Volkswagen that its products were defective due to an assembly line oversight. It also communicated that a 573 report on its pretensioners and microgas generators was forthcoming. Members of the car maker’s Product Safety Committee discussed the matter over multiple sessions that took place throughout December 2016 and January 2017. The group ultimately decided there was not enough data to call for a voluntary recall and asked Autoliv to supply further information.

The parts producer submitted specific serial numbers for installed pretensioners and microgas generators in January. Volkswagen engineers reviewed the information and conducted field tests that lasted through the following month. On March 1, the auto manufacturer decided to initiate a voluntary recall for Audi A5 and S5 models, both of which performed poorly in trials.

The Solution

Volkswagen will order dealers to replace defective safety belt pretensioners and microgas generators. It does not plan to reimburse owners for these repairs. There are no timelines for dealer or owner notification.

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