The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The risk
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A4 | 1997, 1998 |
| Audi A8 | 1998 |
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 A4 | 1997 | 98 | 6 |
| Audi A4 | 1998 | 258 | 4 |
| Audi A8 | 1998 | 4 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2022
32 of the 933 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2022 concerned the air bags; Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed 321 campaigns in all.
| 22V945000 21 Dec 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 22V929000 15 Dec 2022 | General Motors, LLC |
| 22V928000 14 Dec 2022 | Ford Motor Company |
| 22V878000 28 Nov 2022 | Kia America, Inc. |
| 22V873000 23 Nov 2022 | General Motors, LLC |
| 22V843000 15 Nov 2022 | Tesla, Inc. |
| 22V858000 2 Nov 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 22V684000 14 Sept 2022 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2022