Seat belts: pretensioner; air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module; air bags: side/window; air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (Volkswagen and Audi)
Vehicle recall 16V-955. NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Dec 29, 2016.
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The short answer
NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Dec 29, 2016. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 19, 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, 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.
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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Seat belts: pretensioner.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: side/window.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
What should you do?
Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 19, 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 5,947 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
Each model year opens its own page: every recall naming it, its owner complaints and its crash ratings.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Who is recalling it?
- Made by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt. Owners’ complaints are counted on each vehicle’s page.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- 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 19, 2026 and checked Oct 19, 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 19, 2026.