Recall 18V427 covers 237,947 2004-2011 Audi vehicles with passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Free repair at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 237,947 2004-2011 A4, A6, S4, S6, RS 4, RS4, and A4 Cabriolet vehicles because the passenger front air bag inflator can explode during deployment after long-term humidity and temperature exposure. Sharp 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 passenger frontal air bag inflator in these 2004-2011 Audi vehicles sits inside the passenger air bag module. Its job is to create a controlled burst of gas when a crash sensor calls for the passenger air bag to deploy. That gas fills the bag so it can cushion the front passenger.
The recalled inflators use ammonium nitrate based propellant. After years of exposure to high absolute humidity, high heat, and temperature cycling, the propellant wafers can degrade. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, combustion inside the inflator can become too aggressive, build excessive pressure, and rupture the inflator body instead of producing a controlled deployment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator, so an owner will not hear, smell, or feel a change during normal driving.
Who's affected?
Spans the A4, A6, RS 4, RS4, S6, S4, and A4 Cabriolet across 2004-2011, all tied to the front passenger air bag inflator module.
| 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 |
| 2007 Audi RS 4 | front air bag |
| 2004 Audi RS4 | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi S6 | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2010 Audi S6 | front air bag |
| 2011 Audi S6 | front air bag |
| 2005 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi RS 4 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2005 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2009 Audi S6 | front air bag |
| 2008 Audi S6 | front air bag |
| 2006 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| 2005 Audi A6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 237,947 |
| 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 car is included.
What's the safety risk?
A passenger frontal air bag inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, striking the driver or other occupants and causing serious injury or death. Schedule the recall repair soon and ask the dealer whether the vehicle needs any use limits before the appointment. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2011 Audi A4, A6, RS 4, RS4, S6, S4, or A4 Cabriolet is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag replacement that addresses the inflator explosion risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. Reference recall number 18V427 and Audi recall 69R7 when you call.
- Tell the dealer if the passenger frontal air bag was replaced under 16V382, 17V032, or 18V004; this recall supersedes those campaigns.
- Avoid delaying the appointment. The risk is tied to passenger air bag deployment in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part. The replacement parts and labor are free under recall 18V427. This campaign also covers vehicles that already received an air bag replacement under recalls 16V382, 17V032, or 18V004, so the VIN check and dealer record still matter. Audi has a general reimbursement plan on file for this recall. If you already paid for a passenger air bag repair tied to this issue before the owner notice, bring documentation to the Audi service desk and ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 22, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 28, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| June 28, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 29, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 29, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V427?
Recall 18V427 covers 237,947 2004-2011 Audi vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment after long-term humidity and temperature exposure. Audi dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part for free.
What should I do if my 2004-2011 Audi A4, A6, RS 4, RS4, S6, S4, or A4 Cabriolet is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V427. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the passenger frontal air bag replacement. Reference recall 18V427 or Audi service number 69R7 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Audi dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part free of charge, including vehicles previously repaired under the earlier related campaigns named in this recall.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V427?
The safety risk is sharp metal fragments from an exploding passenger frontal air bag inflator. In a crash that deploys the passenger air bag, those fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and result in serious injury or death.
What if I bought the Audi used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Audi is included, then call a franchised Audi dealer and ask for the free passenger frontal air bag replacement under recall 18V427.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V427000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V427 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V427000 |
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 →