The problem
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Q4 E-Tron SUV and Q4 E-Tron Sportback vehicles. During deployment, the head curtain air bag could deform the door seal and expose the metal inlay within the seal, which could tear the air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
The risk
In the event of a crash, a torn air bag cannot protect occupants as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will install cloth tape in the driver and front passenger B-pillar area, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69FA.
Contacts
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.nhtsa.gov.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Audi dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 23V189000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.