Vehicle recall 16V078000 · February 10, 2016
Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen CC and 6 more models
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V078000
- Reported to NHTSA
- February 10, 2016
- Filed by
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Owner notification
- March 10, 2017
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 659,493
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Audi A5 Cabriolet (2010-2012): 2012, 2011, 2010
- Audi Q5 (2009-2012): 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
- Audi S5 Cabriolet (2010-2012): 2012, 2011, 2010
- Volkswagen CC (2009-2014): 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
- Volkswagen Eos (2012-2014): 2014, 2013, 2012
- Volkswagen Golf (2010-2014): 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
- Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (2010-2014): 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
- Volkswagen Passat (2007-2010, 2012-2014): 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
Has your Audi been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Audi dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.