Safety issues can be caused by problems with the seatbelt pretensioners, coolant pump, and airbags.
Three recalls are being issued by Audi and Volkswagen in the United States. They affect a total 582,822 vehicles. Two campaigns address issues with the operation of airbags in collisions.
The largest recall affects 342,867 Audi vehicles. This is because debris could block the electric cooling pump, overheat it, and possibly cause a fire. These vehicles have the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines:
Audi dealers will update their vehicles’ software to cut power to the coolant pump in the event that it becomes blocked with debris. The recall will be initiated by Audi on February 20, 2017.
Audi will also recall 234,054 Q5 units from 2011-2017 due to a rupture in the inflator of the side curtain airbag that protects the heads of occupants. According to Audi, water can leak from the drainage system of the panoramic sunroof into the foam which also touches the airbag canister. This could eventually lead to the part becoming corroded.
Audi was the first to be notified of this issue after FAW-VW, a Chinese joint venture, received a report on June 14, 2016. On November 11, the company received another report about an Israeli incident. According to the automaker’s chronology, there are no records of the problem occurring in the U.S.
Audi dealers will inspect the inflator and remove any foam from the sunroof. The company will replace or coat the part depending on its condition. The recall will be initiated by the automaker in February 2017.
VW and Audi will recall 5,901 vehicles in the U.S. to address a different problem with the seatbelt pretensioners or airbags, depending on which model. This campaign may result in the head, frontal and passenger airbags not working on the affected vehicles.
Autoliv supplied airbags for automakers. It is possible that the parts may not be manufactured to meet the requirements for the chemical mixture used to activate them. This can lead them not working in an accident.
The automakers will have dealers replace the seatbelt pretensioners and airbags on their respective vehicles. The automakers are not yet sure when repairs will begin.