the Takata airbag recall letter

[emilio]

yup, i was just wondering about it a couple months ago and sho'nuff the Takata recall letter showed up today for my 2007 B7 S4.

if you bought your S4 second/third/fourth-hand and have never taken it to a dealer, you should call one up or drop by to ensure your place in line for the recall.

interestingly, it's only for the front passenger airbag, and they're pretty clear about one thing:

"Please note that at this present time we do not have replacement parts available. Audi will notify you by another letter as soon as we can perform this recall on your vehicle. In the meantime, Audi recommends avoiding use of the front passenger seat whenever possible until the recall repair has been performed."

- emilio

[DaveyDave424]

I received one as well for my 2008 A4. " In the meantime, Audi recommends avoiding use of the front passenger seat whenever possible until the recall repair has been performed." I just find this humorous since not once did this ever cross my mind for the past 8 years or 155,000 miles, and now fear strikes !

[gautam]

Type your VIN# into:

http://web.audiusa.com/recall/

My B6 S4 is safe (for now)

[BCsniper]

So what are they gonna do, remove the dash on every B7 to swap the airbag?

[pchrist]

Just got this letter today!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TarlCabot]

i just got this in today as well...

[dufferdude]

Mine came up clean. 07 RS4
Thanks for posting that link.

[Aok303]

Just got the letter today too

[LINDW4LL]

So what are they gonna do, remove the dash on every B7 to swap the airbag?

On my M3 (which was also recalled), the passenger airbag is accessible by removing the glovebox assembly; that may be a possibility here, not sure. But otherwise, a major pain indeed!

[emilio]

On my M3 (which was also recalled), the passenger airbag is accessible by removing the glovebox assembly; that may be a possibility here, not sure. But otherwise, a major pain indeed!

i sure hope so! i'm always a little hesitant about dashboard work - yes, it's a pain in the ass, and yes, it's easy to damage stuff, but it can also be tricky to put back together without any new squeaks or rattles.

well, i left the letter hanging out of my glovebox; my friends can decide wether they want to sit there or in the back like a Chinese grandma. personally, i don't think i would!

- emilio

[thomasskull666]

Mine came up clean. 07 RS4
Thanks for posting that link.

Strange, I looked up the VIN on my 07 RS4 and see it's included in the recall. I wonder if there is a VIN split

Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

[kevinye77137]

Got one just today... Was kinda disappointed that it wasn't a recall for excessive oil consumption and timing chain failure....

[Mr.Wrong]

Checked mine a while ago and it was clear, did it just now again and same thing. Late build B6 FYI.

[BCsniper]

Pretty sure my '05 is considered a late model B6 but it didn't show up when I checked the site

[d2a4]

Strange, I looked up the VIN on my 07 RS4 and see it's included in the recall. I wonder if there is a VIN split

Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

My 07 RS4 is clean also. My 03 Pilot got replaced both airbag without remove dash

[scottkollig]

I received one for my 08 S4 in the mail today.

[Silver Streakin]

I received one as well. so did a friend with another DTM S4.

[noob5]

My '07 RS4 is not listed.
I too, am wondering if it's a VIN split, or an oversight?

[gcoy]

My B6 is clear.. Maybe only late B7's & B8's ??

[Sphawkins007]

Just got one for 06 s4

[Mr. Corey]

early build date B6's had lots of problematic issues glad this isn't one of them! B6 FTW

[taikex]

I got mine today as well (07 DTM S4).

[RSFourMe]

Got my letter this weekend....I will need any and all passengers to sign a release form now....uhg...paperwork!! HA!

[audisri]

I have a second hand B6 A4 that I never had to go to the dealer and haven't received a letter from Audi about the Takata airbag recall. I called dealer in Des Moines, Iowa and they asked me to wait on the letter that Audi may send using my address information with the Department of transportation and that they don't have a replacement part yet. Should I drop by to the dealer to ensure my place in the recall? Has anyone received a follow up letter from Audi?

[audisri]

I found out about the recall from NHTSA online VIN lookup.

[Velox]

LOL it is important to schedule a repair appointment at your local Audi dealership as soon as blablablabla
I don't have a local Audi dealer ship! or does Audi pay for car shipping to the nearest country with an Audi dealership, lol!

[icanfly]

I got mine and as the 3rd owner was able to get the service performed without issues...
Getting my damn alignment done on the other hand has proved to be the biggest nightmare of my year....

[JimmyBones]

There are like four different ignitors that need to be replaced. My local dealership has parts for three out of four of the different versions. The one that they don't have is for the late B7s like the 2008s. Had to call and ask for a friend that has a 2008 A4.

[S4Bennett]

Dropping my 2008 RS4 off tomorrow and hoping for the best that they don't destroy the interior like Lexus did on my CT200h (curtain airbag recall).

I wish I could remove it myself and then let them install the replacement / sign off the paperwork, then let me close.

[b6bydesign04]

Do you guys know if they've moved on from the interim fix or are they still just replacing the older Takata inflators with newly manufactured versions of these same Takata inflators.? I'm a little hesitant to take the car in for the interim fix as it causes you to lose your place in line for the permanent fix.

[emilio]

wait, you guys are actually getting fixes? for those of you with fixes, where are you roughly located? warm, humid areas - SE Asia, SE US, tropics - are supposed to be the priority. i'm in the Bay Area of California, so we're probably mid-priority. i haven't received anything but this letter.

- emilio

[TarlCabot]

got mine done about a month ago, took about 45 minutes to an hour or so, i was busy luxury in the lounge at Audi ;)

[SprintBlueWorld]

Its like an hour ride to a dealership in any direction here. Idk if I will ever get this fixed.

[b6bydesign04]

wait, you guys are actually getting fixes? for those of you with fixes, where are you roughly located? warm, humid areas - SE Asia, SE US, tropics - are supposed to be the priority. i'm in the Bay Area of California, so we're probably mid-priority. i haven't received anything but this letter.

- emilio

The Audi website actually has a decent FAQ (https://www.audiusa.com/about/takata) and lays out the Zones:

How will I be notified when a final repair or replacement is available?
Customers will receive a letter via first-class mail. Since this Takata recall affects multiple OEMs and a large population of vehicles, the NHTSA created a Coordinated Remedy Program to prioritize the replacement parts to the areas in the high Absolute Humidity Region where the potential risk for an airbag rupture during deployment is considered to be the greatest. Additional customers will be invited to complete the repair based on the prioritization schedule below.

In addition to taking into account the age of the inflator, the replacement part schedule is divided into three geographic zones based on temperature fluctuations, humidity and the exposure time required under those environmental conditions to degrade the propellant to the point where it poses an unreasonable risk to safety. The schedule for recalls has been set to make sure that vehicles are recalled before the propellant in the inflator will degrade to the point of becoming dangerous.

Zone A covers states with high temperature cycling and humidity, in addition to California and South Carolina. Time until unsafe propellant degradation may occur is projected at between six and nine years.

Zone B includes states that have moderate temperature cycling and humidity. Time until unsafe propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 10 and 15 years.

Zone C includes states with lower temperature cycling and humidity. Time until unsafe propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 15 and 20 years.

Additional information regarding repair prioritization can also be found on the NHTSA website: http://www.safercar.gov, or you may call the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

What States are in each zone?
Zone A includes Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Zone B includes Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Zone C includes Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Additional information regarding repair prioritization can also be found on the NHTSA website: http://www.safercar.gov, or you may call the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

But I think a lot of people are getting the interim fix right now which is described as:

What is an “interim” or “like for like” repair or remedy and why should I bother having that performed?
A small number of manufacturers are replacing older Takata inflators with newly manufactured versions of these same Takata inflators. Even though these replacements will eventually need to be replaced as well, you should still have an interim repair performed if it is offered to you.

The data NHTSA has collected unequivocally points to the age of the inflator as being a critical factor in the likelihood of rupture. An older inflator is more likely to rupture than a newer version of the same inflator. Therefore, replacing the older inflator with a newer version reduces the safety risk associated with your vehicle until a final remedy inflator can be produced and installed. All owners that have an interim remedy applied will still be offered a free final remedy inflator and should be sure to have that repair done as well.

And my issue with that is, it bumps you down the list for a permanent fix:

Is it true that if I have an interim remedy performed, I lose my priority for a permanent remedy? Why would I agree to that?
Yes, that is correct. Repairs are prioritized to reduce risk. If you received an interim remedy, your risk has been reduced. A vehicle that has yet to receive any remedy is now a higher priority to be repaired. But it is still better to receive the interim remedy now to reduce your immediate risk. You will still be entitled to a free, final remedy. All vehicles with interim repairs are scheduled to be recalled for the final remedy no later than Dec. 31, 2019. While there is an inconvenience of having your vehicle serviced twice, or having to wait longer for a final remedy, rejecting an interim remedy is not worth the continued higher risk of injury or even death while waiting for the final remedy.

Hopefully they've moved on to the permanent fix, but it's worth asking your dealer before hand.

[d2a4]

I have not received anything (Bought the car Jan 2016). I enter my VIN in the website and it did not show up as a recall. Spoke with a another RS4 owner a week ago and he had it done (SoCal Mission Viejo Audi) . Should I still worry?

[ven0m]

You guys at least got a recall. Here in Europe Audi doesn't say a word or give any info. I asked by 2 dealerships already and they don't even know about "A Takata recall" or that any are being performed...

When asked if this means that the igniters installed in the EU are different from the ones that are being recalled in the US, they also don't have a clue. Just standard political answer for customers that ask more questions than the usual "Can I get an oil change for 300$?"...

[SprintBlueWorld]

Sounds like th B6's didn't have them. The Takata company is on its knees over this, looking likely it will go out of business. The auto manufacturers sourced most of their igniters from this one company,

[ven0m]

Sounds like th B6's didn't have them. The Takata company is on its knees over this, looking likely it will go out of business. The auto manufacturers sourced most of their igniters from this one company,

They already filed for bankruptcy last week if I remember correctly.

[icanfly]

PNW - Bellevue Audi - 06' B7S4

[VinnysS4]

I got the letter last year. 2005.5 b7 s4 Havent heard anything since. Car came from California to oregon. Maybe when its put together I'll drive it up to the dealer.