Auburn Hills, Mich. – Feb. 22, 2018 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 97,000 vehicles equipped with defective Takata air bag inflators, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models across the Audi brand, including:
- 2009-2012 Audi Q5 sport utility vehicles produced between Nov. 15, 2008 and Oct. 22, 2012.
- 2010-2012 Audi A5 cabriolets produced between June 4, 2009 and March 6, 2012.
- 2010-2012 Audi S5 cabriolets produced between June 8, 2009 and March 1, 2012.
Volkswagen has concluded that all of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective Takata air bag inflators. These fixtures are at the center of a massive, multiyear safety campaign spanning almost two dozen automotive brands and 37 million vehicles, according to Consumer Reports. The air bags have resulted in approximately 15 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
The Defect
The models named in this recall contain Takata air bag inflators that are prone to rupture due to extensive propellant breakdown, which occurs in hot and humid environments. During front air bag deployment, the degraded propellant may rupture the metal inflator casing, causing high-speed projectiles to fly through the vehicle cabin at high speeds. As a result, the Takata air bag inflators pose a grave hazard to occupants.
Timeline of Events
The German automaker initiated an extensive field investigation in January 2016 after receiving word from Takata that several of its vehicles, including the Audi A5, S5 and Q5 models, contained the problematic inflators assemblies, according to an NHTSA safety recall report. The NHTSA advised the company to issue an immediate safety recall to accompany the inquiry, which it did in February 2016. The latest action taken by Volkswagen is a continuation of the initial campaign and a requirement under the NHTSA’s coordinated remedy order related to the defective Takata air bag components.
The car manufacturer notified dealers Jan. 30, 2018.
The Solution
Volkswagen has directed dealers replace the air bag inflators installed in the recalled vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. Owners can expect to receive official notice of the campaign between Feb. 13, 2018 and March 30, 2018 via first-class mail. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 253-2834. Callers should use the internal recall identification code 69R6. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA directly using its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
