Recall 11V580 covers 317 2012 Audi A6 vehicles with improperly stitched curtain air bags. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 317 2012 A6 vehicles because a stitching problem in the head curtain air bag can keep it from deploying properly in a crash. That failure can leave an occupant without proper head protection and raise the risk of injury; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The curtain air bag in the 2012 Audi A6 is a fabric safety bag folded behind the trim along the roof and side-window area. In a side impact, it is designed to inflate beside the occupants and help cover the side glass area. The fabric and its stitched joint have to stay together as the bag fills.
On affected A6 vehicles, Volkswagen found a problem in the stitching process for the curtain air bag. The stitched joint was not completed the way Audi designed it. When the air bag inflates, that weak joint can separate instead of holding pressure, so the curtain air bag does not work as intended.
The owner is not expected to see this problem during normal driving. There is no warning sign before failure, because the defect is inside the folded air bag and shows up only when the air bag deploys.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Audi A6 | side air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 317 |
Not every 2012 Audi A6 is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the head curtain air bag can fail to deploy, leaving an occupant without the protection the bag is meant to provide and increasing the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the repair promptly once the recall work is available. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Audi A6 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer and ask whether the free curtain air bag replacement is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 11V580 when you call, and bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one.
- Ask the dealer to replace the left or right curtain air bag that fails to protect the occupant in a crash.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the left curtain air bag, the right curtain air bag, or both, depending on which side is covered by campaign 11V580. The listed remedy is a curtain air bag replacement, with parts and labor covered by the recall. The dealer repair will be free once available. Volkswagen's filing said owner notices were expected during January 2012 and gave 1-800-822-8987 for owner questions.
Timeline
| December 6, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 16, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V580?
Recall 11V580 covers 317 2012 Audi A6 vehicles with a curtain air bag stitching defect. In a crash, the head curtain air bag can fail to deploy, increasing injury risk. Audi dealers will replace the left and/or right curtain air bag for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Audi A6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific A6 is included in recall 11V580. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the curtain air bag replacement. Reference recall number 11V580 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 11V580, Audi dealers will replace the affected left and/or right curtain air bag free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced occupant protection in a crash. If the head curtain air bag does not deploy, it cannot properly protect an occupant, increasing injury risk. The fix is replacement of the affected curtain air bag at a franchised Audi dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V580000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-822-8987 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V580 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V580000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →