Auburn Hills, MI – Feb. 22, 2018 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled more than 97,000 Audis equipped with defective Takata air bag inflators, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects the following models:
- 2009-2012 Audi Q5
- 2010-2012 Audi A5
- 2010-2012 Audi S5
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.
Recall summary
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.
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 repair
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.
Is your vehicle part of the recall?
Over 97,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. Since then, the recall population has grown to 162,977 vehicles. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 122,954 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.
