Recall 16V078 covers 659,493 2007-2014 Volkswagen vehicles with driver frontal air bag inflators that can rupture. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 659,493 2007-2014 vehicles, including Passat, Golf, Eos, Cc, Jetta Sportwagen, Q5, S5 Cabriolet, and A5 Cabriolet models, because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment. In a crash, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Volkswagen dealers will replace the affected air bag inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in the 2007-2014 Volkswagen vehicles listed in this recall is the small pressure device inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a frontal crash, it produces gas that fills the air bag so the bag can cushion the driver as designed.
On affected Eos, Cc, Q5, Passat, Golf, S5 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, and Jetta Sportwagen vehicles, the inflator can build excessive internal pressure when the driver's frontal air bag deploys. Instead of staying sealed while it fills the bag, the inflator can rupture during deployment. Volkswagen's filing says the root cause had not been determined, so returned inflators were being collected and analyzed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator, so an owner should not expect a dashboard light, noise, smell, or change in how the vehicle drives before the air bag is needed.
Who's affected?
Spans 8 model lines from 2007-2014, all tied to the driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2013 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2014 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Eos | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2009 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2009 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2008 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2007 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Cc | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Golf | front air bag |
| 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2012 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen | front air bag |
| 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen | front air bag |
| Units affected | 659,493 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, creating a risk of serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before this failure. Schedule the recall repair soon, especially before longer trips. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2014 Volkswagen vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free driver frontal air bag inflator replacement that addresses the rupture risk during air bag deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V078 when you call.
- Avoid delaying the repair; the rupture risk applies if a crash deploys the driver frontal air bag.
- Call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions about scheduling or parts.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator covered by recall 16V078. Parts and labor are free under the recall. The service visit centers on removing the affected driver's air bag inflator and installing the recall replacement part. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for costs associated with prior replacement of air bag inflators under this campaign.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| February 10, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 10, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V078?
Recall 16V078 covers 659,493 2007-2014 Volkswagen Eos, Cc, Q5, Passat, Golf, S5 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, and Jetta Sportwagen vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator defect. During deployment, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants, causing serious injury or death.
What should I do if my 2007-2014 Volkswagen Eos, Cc, Q5, Passat, Golf, S5 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, or Jetta Sportwagen is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V078. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule replacement of the driver's frontal air bag inflator. Reference recall number 16V078 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Volkswagen dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included vehicles.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V078?
The safety risk is metal fragments striking occupants during a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag. The defect is inside the inflator, so the repair path is replacement of the affected driver's frontal air bag inflator at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then give the dealer recall number 16V078 when you schedule the air bag inflator replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V078000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V078 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V078000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →