2008 Audi A6 Airbags Problems
Airbags account for 49 of 71 complaints (69%) filed on the 2008 Audi A6, the highest share of any model year. Most describe delayed Takata inflator recall repairs rather than in-crash failures, though owners reported 2 crashes and 5 injuries with a median failure mileage of 102,000.
- Airbags complaints
- 49
- 69% of 71 complaints
- All complaints this year
- 71
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 102,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report a passenger-side curtain airbag that failed to deploy during a side-impact crash, with both vehicles totaled and occupants hospitalized.
- Multiple owners describe recurring airbag warning lights tied to center rear seat belt error codes, appearing repeatedly across a two-year span.
- Many complaints center on the Takata inflator recall (campaign 16V382000), with owners saying parts were unavailable for months after notification.
- Some owners said dealers told them not to drive with a passenger in the front seat or to avoid using the front passenger seat until the recall repair was completed.
- Several owners reported being denied loaner vehicles or compensation while waiting for recall parts to arrive.
When 2008 Audi A6 airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 4, 2010, latest Aug 8, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2008 Audi A6
- NHTSA 18V427000Jun 22, 2018Airbags237,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
- NHTSA 17V032000Jan 11, 2017Airbags33,421 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the 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, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
- NHTSA 16V382000Jun 1, 2016Airbags194,453 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Airbags complaints by A6 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are airbag complaints on the 2008 Audi A6?
- Airbags make up 49 of the 71 total complaints filed for the 2008 Audi A6, or 69% of all complaints, the highest share among A6 model years listed.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2008 Audi A6?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three airbag-related recalls covering the 2008 A6: campaign 16V382000 (2016) and 17V032000 (2017) for Takata passenger inflator replacement, and 18V427000 (2018) for an alternate passenger frontal airbag part.
- Did the airbag problems cause crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area lists 2 crashes and 5 injuries, including one case where a side curtain airbag reportedly did not deploy in a crash.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag-related complaints on the 2008 Audi A6 is 102,000 miles.
- What did most owners actually complain about — a failure or the recall process?
- Most sample complaints describe frustration with delayed Takata recall repairs and unavailable parts, rather than an actual airbag failure during driving.