Recall 16V079 covers 151,767 2005-2013 A3, A4 Cabriolet, and Passat vehicles for rupturing driver's air bag inflators. Free repair at franchised Audi dealers.
Audi is recalling 151,767 2005-2013 A3, A4 Cabriolet, and Passat vehicles because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment. In a crash, metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers and cause serious injury or death; Audi dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in the 2005-2013 A3, A4 Cabriolet, and Passat is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a crash that deploys the air bag, the inflator creates gas pressure so the bag fills between the driver and the steering wheel.
In these vehicles, the inflator can build excessive internal pressure during deployment. When that pressure is too high, the inflator body can rupture instead of staying contained inside the air bag module. Volkswagen told NHTSA the root cause had not been determined when the recall was filed, so returned parts were being collected and analyzed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem happens at the moment the driver's frontal air bag deploys, so an owner will not hear, feel, or see a normal driving symptom beforehand.
Who's affected?
Spans A3, A4 Cabriolet, and Passat cars across the 2005-2013 model years, all tied to the driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2010 Audi A3 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2005 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2006 Volkswagen Passat | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2013 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 151,767 |
| 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 car.
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 driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm your VIN and schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, or Passat is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free driver frontal air bag inflator replacement that fixes the rupture hazard during driver air bag deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 16V079 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and keep passengers clear of the front passenger seat when practical.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator covered by recall 16V079. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. Audi is not offering reimbursement for prior costs tied to driver air bag inflator replacement under this campaign. Ask the service desk to document the recall work on the repair order before you leave.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| February 10, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 10, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V079?
Recall 16V079 covers 151,767 2005-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, and Passat vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment. Metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers. Audi dealers replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2005-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, or Passat is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V079. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer and ask for the driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V079 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, and Audi dealers 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 16V079?
The risk is serious injury or death from metal fragments if the driver's frontal air bag deploys in a crash. The inflator can rupture from excessive internal pressure. If your VIN is included, arrange the free inflator replacement with a franchised Audi dealer.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific A3, A4 Cabriolet, or Passat is included, then give recall number 16V079 to the Audi dealer service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V079000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V079 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V079000 |
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 →