Audi has issued a recall for its Q4 E-Tron models in the United States, after it was discovered that one of the airbags could potentially tear, posing a safety risk to occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the recall, warning that in the event of a crash where the head curtain airbag is deployed, the airbag may deform the door seal and expose the metal inlay within the seal. This could result in pieces of exposed metal tearing the airbag, compromising its ability to protect occupants and increasing the risk of injury.
Audi has identified that the issue could be triggered due to the door sealing not lying flat, caused by the slight overlapping of metal parts of the body shell in the area around the B-pillar. The car manufacturer discovered the potential issue during a head-airbag test conducted on November 15, 2022, where it was found that the airbag material had been damaged. A subsequent test yielded the same result, leading Audi to block all vehicles currently in production and introduce a countermeasure that fastens the door seal in the B-pillar area to production.
A total of 5,224 vehicles are affected by the recall, including 4,324 examples of the 2022-2023 Q4 E-Tron manufactured between September 20, 2021, and January 9, 2023, as well as 900 examples of the 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback built between September 27, 2021, and January 9, 2023. Audi will inform owners of the recall on or before May 19, 2023, and instruct them to take their EV to a dealer where cloth tape will be installed in the driver and front passenger B-pillar area to secure the door seal in place.
While the recall may be concerning for some Audi Q4 E-Tron owners, it is reassuring that the issue has been identified and will be addressed swiftly. The safety of occupants is of paramount importance, and car manufacturers must take prompt action to address any potential safety risks. Owners of affected vehicles should follow the instructions provided by Audi and take their vehicle to a dealer to have the necessary repairs carried out.
