Recall 16V382 covers 194,453 2004-2011 Audi A4 and A6 vehicles for rupturing passenger air bag inflators. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 194,453 2004-2011 A4 and A6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. A ruptured inflator can send metal fragments toward occupants and cause serious injury or death; Audi dealers will replace the affected inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in these 2004-2011 Audi A4 and A6 vehicles is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash that calls for the passenger air bag, the inflator burns propellant to create gas and fill the air bag quickly. The module is designed to inflate the bag without breaking apart.
In the affected inflators, the propellant wafers degrade after years of exposure to high absolute humidity, heat, and temperature cycling. When the air bag deploys, degraded propellant can burn too aggressively. That raises pressure inside the inflator and can rupture the inflator body instead of sending gas only into the air bag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem appears only during a crash deployment, so an owner would not hear, smell, or feel a problem during normal driving.
Who's affected?
Spans A4 and A6 models across the 2004-2011 model years, all tied to the passenger-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2005 Audi A4 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2004 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2005 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 194,453 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the passenger frontal air bag inflator ruptures during deployment, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Until the recall repair is complete, drive cautiously and make the dealer appointment a priority. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2011 Audi A4 or A6 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement that removes the inflator tied to rupture risk.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, or reference recall number 16V382 when you call.
- Limit front passenger-seat use until the dealer repair is complete.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag inflator in the passenger frontal air bag module. The recall repair is available now, and the replacement parts and labor are free. This campaign does not include reimbursement for out of pocket air bag inflator replacement costs, so Audi is not offering a separate reimbursement path for those expenses. Ask the service desk to confirm that your VIN is included before the work starts.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| June 1, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V382?
Recall 16V382 covers 194,453 certain 2004-2008 Audi A4 and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during deployment after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. Audi dealers replace the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2004-2011 Audi A4 or A6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 16V382. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V382 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 Audi dealers replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Audi mailed owner notification letters on April 28, 2017.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V382?
The safety risk is metal fragments striking occupants if the passenger frontal air bag inflator ruptures during a crash. Per NHTSA campaign 16V382, that rupture creates a serious injury or death risk. Audi's free repair replaces the affected inflator.
What if I bought my Audi A4 or A6 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Because this recall depends on model year, model, and where the vehicle was sold or registered, check your VIN before calling an Audi dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V382000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-822-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V382 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V382000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation 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 →