Recall 18V082 covers 162,782 2006-2013 Audi vehicles with driver air bag inflators that can explode. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 162,782 2006-2013 A3, A4 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet, RS 4, and Q5 vehicles because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. In a crash, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Audi dealers will replace the inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in the 2006-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, RS 4, Q5, A5 Cabriolet, and S5 Cabriolet is the metal device that fills the air bag during a frontal crash. In a normal deployment, the inflator burns its propellant in a controlled way so the air bag opens between the driver and the steering wheel.
These vehicles have Takata inflators that use propellant wafers inside the inflator. Over years of exposure to high humidity, heat, and repeated temperature changes, those wafers degrade. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, the propellant burn becomes too aggressive, pressure rises inside the inflator, and the inflator body can rupture instead of opening the air bag normally.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver will not see a light, hear a noise, or feel a change that confirms the inflator is degrading before a crash deployment.
Who's affected?
Spans the Q5, S5 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A3, A4 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, and RS 4 across 2006-2013, all with the same driver front air bag inflator module.
| 2010 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi S4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi RS 4 | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2013 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2012 Audi Q5 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A3 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 162,782 |
| 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 your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can explode and send metal fragments toward occupants, increasing the risk of serious injury or death. Confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, Q5, RS 4, S4 Cabriolet, or S5 Cabriolet is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement that addresses the explosion risk during air bag deployment.
- Reference recall number 18V082 and Audi recall 69R6 when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and ask the dealer to confirm the repair is complete before you pick up the vehicle.
- Avoid delaying the repair. In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, metal fragments can strike occupants.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator. The recall repair is available now, and the replacement parts and labor are free. This work addresses the inflator covered by campaign 18V082, which partially supersedes the earlier Audi air bag inflator recall. Audi is not offering reimbursement for prior costs tied to replacement of air bag inflators under this campaign.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| January 30, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 30, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 30, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 13, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 13, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 23, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V082?
Recall 18V082 covers 162,782 2006-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, RS 4, Q5, A5 Cabriolet, and S5 Cabriolet vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator that can explode during deployment. Audi dealers replace the inflator with an alternative inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2006-2013 Audi A3, A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, RS 4, Q5, A5 Cabriolet, or S5 Cabriolet is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 18V082. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 18V082 or Audi recall number 69R6 when you call.
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 with an alternative inflator free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is metal-fragment injury during a crash. If the driver's frontal air bag deploys, excessive internal pressure can cause the inflator to explode and send metal fragments toward people inside the vehicle, resulting in serious injury or death.
What if I bought this Audi 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 Audi is included, then contact a franchised Audi dealer and reference recall 18V082 or Audi recall number 69R6.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V082000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V082 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V082000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →