Audi and Volkswagen are issuing three recalls in the United States for a total of 582,822 vehicles. Two of the campaigns address potential problems with how the airbags function in a collision.

The largest of the three recalls affects 342,867 vehicles from Audi because debris can block the electric coolant pump, cause it to overheat, and potentially lead to a fire. The campaign covers the following vehicles with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine:

Audi dealers will update the vehicles’ software so that the system cuts power to the coolant pump if the part becomes blocked by debris. The company will begin the recall February 20, 2017.

In a separate recall, Audi will recall 234,054 units of the 2011-2017 Q5 because of a possible rupture in the inflator for the side curtain airbag for protecting occupants’ heads. According to the automaker, damage to the drainage system for the panoramic sunroof can allow water to leak into the foam that also touches the airbag canister. This can eventually cause the part to corrode.

Audi received the first report of this issue when its Chinese joint venture FAW-VW received a report of an incident on June 14, 2016. The company got another report of another occurrence of the problem in Israel on November 11. The automaker’s chronology shows no accounts of the issue happening in the U.S.

Audi dealers will remove the foam surrounding the sunroof and inspect the inflator. Depending on the condition, the company will either coat it or replace the part. The automaker will begin the recall February 2017.

VW and Audi will also recall 5,901 vehicles in the U.S. for a separate problem with the airbags or seatbelt pre-tensioners depending on the model. The campaign means the frontal, passenger, and head airbags may not deploy on the:

The seatbelt pre-tensioners might not deploy on the:

  • 2017 Audi A4
  • 2017 Allroad
  • 2017 Q7
  • 2018 Q5

According to the automakers, Autoliv supplied the airbags and pre-tensioner igniters. The parts might not meet manufacturing specifications for the mixture of chemicals that make them activate, and this can cause them not to work in a crash.

Dealers for the automakers will replace the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners on the respective vehicles. The companies don't yet know when the repairs might begin.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, [2], [3]

Gallery: 2017 Audi A4 to bow in Detroit, priced from $37,300

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NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V001000
Air Bag Inflator may Rupture due to CorrosionAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V001000

Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Components VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected 234,054

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. This corrosion can weaken the canister and, during deployment of the side head air bag, the inflator may fracture and propel fragments into the passenger compartment.


Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.


Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.


7 Affected Products Vehicle

MAKE MODEL YEAR
AUDI Q5 2011-2017

 

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V002000
Coolant Pump May Overheat and cause FireIf the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V002000

Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Components ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Potential Number of Units Affected 342,867

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.


Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.


Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.


18 Affected Products Vehicles
MAKE MODEL YEAR
 
AUDI A4 2013-2016
AUDI A5 2013-2017
AUDI A6 2012-2015
AUDI Q5 2013-2017

 

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V955000
Air Bags or Seat Belt Pretensioners may not DeployIn the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.


NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V955000

Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Components AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

Potential Number of Units Affected 5,901

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.


Remedy

Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.


Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
8 Affected Products Vehicles


MAKE MODEL YEAR
 
AUDI A4 2017
AUDI A6 2017
AUDI A7 2017
AUDI Q5 2018
AUDI Q7 2017
VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF 2016
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2017

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