Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, and 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
In the required NHTSA filing made public today VW Group said, “Audi is aware of one customer claim due to this issue.” The issues are an inflator explosion that may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. And/or an improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge as required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA recall number is 22V543000.
Chronology
- April 14-18, 2022: A dealership representative sent an email to a VWGoA employee on April 14 regarding a claim that an airbag inflator ruptured in a 2016 A3 e-Tron during a crash. The email was read and submitted to the appropriate business unit on April 18.
- May 03, 2022: The current status of investigation and all relevant vehicle information were presented at the quarterly meeting between NHTSA and VWGoA.
- June 29, 2022: Volkswagen Group of America was permitted to carry out a joint visual inspection with representatives for plaintiffs in the above-referenced lawsuit, ARC, Joyson (the supplier), and NHTSA present. Solely based on this visual inspection the inflator is most likely original equipment and a rupture was confirmed.
- July 19, 2022: Volkswagen AG and Audi AG received the serial numbers of the suspect inflator batch from the supplier and then verified the scope of vehicles in the field.
- July 22, 2022: The Volkswagen and Audi Product Safety Committees decide a voluntary worldwide safety recall in order to analyze the parts from the suspect inflator batch.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
VW Recalls Audi, Golf Models for Exploding Airbags
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, and 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
In the required NHTSA filing made public today VW Group said, “Audi is aware of one customer claim due to this issue.” The issues are an inflator explosion that may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. And/or an improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge as required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA recall number is 22V543000.
Chronology
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.