The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A3 | 2011 | 43 | 4 |
| Audi A3 | 2012 | 43 | 4 |
| Audi A3 | 2013 | 20 | 3 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2011 | 110 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2012 | 48 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2013 | 43 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2014 | 12 | 5 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2012 | 484 | 11 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2013 | 749 | 9 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2014 | 594 | 10 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2015 | 243 | 7 |
Other air bags recalls in 2019
76 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the air bags; Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed 321 campaigns in all.
| 19V910000 19 Dec 2019 | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| 19V892000 16 Dec 2019 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 19V885000 12 Dec 2019 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 19V868000 6 Dec 2019 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 19V852000 26 Nov 2019 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 19V853000 26 Nov 2019 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 19V851000 26 Nov 2019 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 19V806000 12 Nov 2019 | Aston Martin The Americas |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019