Recall 16V045 covers 734 2015 Audi Q5 and Tiguan vehicles for side air bag inflators that rupture. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 734 2015 Q5 and Tiguan vehicles under recall 16V045 because the driver and front passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators can rupture during a crash. If an air bag deploys, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; the dealer repair will be free once Audi makes the remedy available.
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What's wrong?
The seat-mounted side air bags in the 2015 Q5 and Tiguan are built into the front seats for the driver and front passenger. In a side-impact crash, each air bag uses an inflator, a small gas-producing device, to fill the bag fast enough to cushion the occupant.
In the recalled vehicles, the Takata inflators came from lots that Audi identified as suspect after a rupture in a deployed side air bag and failed lot-acceptance testing. When one of these inflators ruptures during deployment, the air bag system does not perform as designed and an occupant can be injured. The root cause had not been determined in the source filing, so the repair removes the suspect inflators and replaces them with parts made outside that lot.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem only shows itself if the side air bag deploys in a crash and the inflator ruptures instead of staying intact.
Who's affected?
Spans two SUV nameplates, Q5 and Tiguan, from the 2015 model year, both tied to the side air bag component.
| 2015 Audi Q5 | side air bag |
|---|---|
| 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan | side air bag |
| Units affected | 734 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys a seat-mounted air bag, a ruptured inflator can send metal fragments into the driver or occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. There is no listed warning sign before deployment, so confirm your VIN and ask the dealer about repair timing. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Audi Q5 or Tiguan is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner notice before scheduling repair work, since this recall record lists the remedy as under development.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 with questions and reference recall number 16V045 when you call.
- Keep the recall notice with your records so the dealer can match the seat-mounted side air bag inflator repair to your VIN once the remedy is available.
- Avoid relying on model year alone. The VIN decides whether the free side air bag module replacement applies to your vehicle.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair will be free once Audi opens it. At that visit, an Audi technician replaces the driver and front passenger seat-mounted side air bag modules. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Volkswagen's filing lists a general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who paid out of pocket for this air bag module repair can keep repair invoices and contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 to ask how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 28, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V045?
Recall 16V045 covers 734 2015 Audi Q5 and Tiguan vehicles with seat-mounted side air bag inflators that can rupture during a crash. Metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers. Dealers will replace the side air bag modules for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Audi Q5 or Tiguan is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V045. If it is, call an Audi dealer and reference recall 16V045, plus recall code 69M1 for Q5 or 69L9 for Tiguan. The side air bag module replacement is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 16V045, dealers replace the affected side air bag modules free of charge, including parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is serious injury or death if a seat-mounted side air bag deploys in a crash and the inflator ruptures. Metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants. The fix is replacement of the affected side air bag modules at no cost.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to see whether your specific 2015 Q5 or Tiguan is included, then call an Audi dealer with recall 16V045.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V045000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-822-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V045 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V045000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →