Driver's frontal air bag inflator may rupture
Defect 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.
Safety 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.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Volkswagen Group Of America, Inc. or involving Air Bags.
FAQ: Recall 16V078000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 16V078000?
NHTSA recall 16V078000 was issued by Volkswagen Group Of America, Inc. on February 10, 2016. It addresses: Driver's frontal air bag inflator may rupture. The recall affects approximately 659,493 vehicles, with the defect involving the Air Bags component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Volkswagen Group Of America, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 16V078000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.