Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (Volkswagen and Audi)
Vehicle recall 16V-078. NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Feb 10, 2016.
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The short answer
NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Feb 10, 2016. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
(Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Upon deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
What should you do?
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver’s frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: 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.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 659,493 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Volkswagen EOSand 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen CCand 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- Audi Q5and 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Passatand 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Golfand 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- Audi S5 Cabrioletand 2010, 2011 and 2012, before the model years listed here
- Audi A5 Cabrioletand 2010, 2011 and 2012, before the model years listed here
- Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagenand 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.