2005–2009 Audi A4 and 4 other Audi models: air bags recall

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

high 33,421 vehicles affected

Also on this page:

What was reported

Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. Risk An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

Reported to NHTSA Jan 11, 2017 by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc, owners notified Mar 30, 2018.

Which vehicles are covered

Source: NHTSA campaign 17V032000

Vehicles built Nov 13, 2004 to May 19, 2008 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.

Model year	On WhichTrim
2005 Audi A4	every Audi on this site
2006 Audi A4	every Audi on this site
2007 Audi A4	every Audi on this site
2008 Audi A4	every Audi on this site
2009 Audi A4	every Audi on this site
2005 Audi A6	every Audi on this site
2006 Audi A6	every Audi on this site
2007 Audi A6	every Audi on this site
2008 Audi A6	every Audi on this site
2009 Audi A6	every Audi on this site
2007 Audi RS 4	every Audi on this site
2008 Audi RS 4	every Audi on this site
2005 Audi S4	every Audi on this site
2006 Audi S4	every Audi on this site
2007 Audi S4	every Audi on this site
2008 Audi S4	every Audi on this site
2009 Audi S4	every Audi on this site
2007 Audi S6	every Audi on this site
2008 Audi S6	every Audi on this site
2009 Audi S6	every Audi on this site

None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: every model year it names is older than the catalogue, which begins at 2016. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →

The federal paperwork

Source: nhtsa.gov

Filed documents

NHTSA has not published the scanned filings for this campaign, or has not published them yet. The campaign record itself is on their site.

Check one specific vehicle

A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. NHTSA checks a VIN against the manufacturer's own list and tells you whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →

Campaign 17V032000

Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Does this recall repair cost anything?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.

How do I know whether my vehicle is included?

By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built Nov 13, 2004 to May 19, 2008. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.

What if the repair is not available yet?

It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.

What did the manufacturer say was wrong?

The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.

Who started this recall?

NHTSA's record credits NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.