— Audi is recalling more than 97,400 cars and SUVs to replace front driver-side Takata airbags capable of exploding and killing occupants.
Model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet vehicles will need to be brought to dealers so the airbag inflators can be replaced.
Audi is part of the massive and complex recall mess created when Takata airbag inflators started exploding and killing car occupants. The airbags contain metal inflators used to deploy the airbags in a crash, but inside those inflators is a chemical called ammonium nitrate.
The chemical, which is used as the propellant, becomes unstable in conditions of high temperatures and humidity, causing the metal inflators to rupture and send shrapnel into the cabins of vehicles.
About 37 million vehicles are currently under recall to replace about 50 million defective Takata airbags, but by the end of 2019 the number of recalled airbags will grow to nearly 70 million.
The Audi recall should begin February 13, 2018. Dealers will replace the driver-side frontal airbag inflators with inflators that don't contain ammonium nitrate.
Customers with questions should call 800-253-2834 and ask about recall number 69R6.
CarComplaints.com has owner-reported complaints about the Audi A5, Audi Q5 and Audi S5.
