In a concerning turn of events, Audi has initiated a recall affecting a total of 1,001 units of the 2023-2024 Q7 and Q8 models in the United States due to an airbag-related fault. This development underscores the unfortunate frequency of airbag issues in the automotive industry, with the latest victims being certain Audi Q7 and Q8 vehicles. Fortunately, as of now, Audi has not received reports of injuries, warranty claims, customer complaints, or field reports associated with the identified problem.
The root cause of the recall lies in the driver seat side airbag of the impacted vehicles, which may not have been correctly mounted into the seatback frame during the manufacturing process. This misalignment poses a significant safety concern, as an inflated airbag could be displaced from its intended position. Consequently, affected Q7 and Q8 models may fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, raising the risk of potential driver injuries in the event of a crash.
The recall encompasses various Audi models, including 2023-2024 Audi SQ8s produced between August 11, 2023, and October 19, 2023, 2024MY Audi SQ7s manufactured from August 15, 2023, to September 26, 2023, 2023-2024MY RSQ8 models assembled from August 15, 2023, to November 3, 2023, 2023-2024MY Audi Q8s made from August 11, 2023, to October 23, 2023, and 2023-2024MY Audi Q7s built from August 11, 2023, to October 26, 2023.
Audi attributes the airbag issue to a worker error in the seat assembly line at the supplier, Forvia. The automaker became aware of the potential problem on November 6, 2023, during routine production monitoring, when it identified that the driver seat side airbag in one vehicle was not correctly mounted. This discovery prompted immediate action to address the manufacturing lapse.
Owners of the affected Q7 and Q8 models can expect to be notified of the recall on or before February 16. Audi dealerships will conduct inspections of the driver seat side airbags and reinstall them as necessary, ensuring that safety concerns are promptly addressed and mitigated for the affected vehicle owners. The proactive approach taken by Audi reflects its commitment to prioritizing customer safety and addressing potential issues swiftly and effectively.