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Volkswagen Passat Recall 16V078: Driver Airbag Inflator Can Rupture, Sending Metal Fragments at Occupants

NHTSA campaign 16V078, reported February 10, 2016, 659,493 vehicles potentially affected.

What this recall means for you

The driver's frontal airbag inflator may be subject to excessive internal pressure when the airbag deploys. This can cause the inflator to rupture in a crash, and metal fragments could strike the occupants, potentially causing serious injury or death.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal airbag inflator free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on April 12, 2016, and owners will be contacted again once replacement parts are available. Volkswagen owners can call 1-800-893-5298, and Audi owners can call 1-800-253-2834. Check your VIN for open recalls in the meantime.

Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle

The repair is normally free at an authorized dealer.

Official recall notice

Safety recall 16V078Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Remedy
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.
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.

Affected vehicles

Audi A5 Cabriolet201020112012
Audi Q52009201020112012
Audi S5 Cabriolet201020112012
Volkswagen CC200920102011201220132014
Volkswagen EOS201220132014
Volkswagen Golf20102011201220132014
Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen20102011201220132014
Volkswagen Passat2007200820092010201220132014