RoadVitals

2012 Audi Q5 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
85
Latest May 12, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
51%
of 168 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Audi Q5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 85 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 85, in the owner's own words

AirbagsBody & structureSuspension
Filed May 12, 2026

Unknown

NHTSA ID
11737442
Incident
May 20, 2022
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 2024
Crash reported

I had an accident on 4/15/2024. I blacked out and ran into an oak tree but none of my airbags deployed.

NHTSA ID
11586039
Incident
Apr 15, 2024
Airbags
Filed Feb 2, 2022

This 2012 Audi Q5 has an apparent bad passenger occupant sensor connection that could deactivate the vehicle's passenger-side airbags and increase the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. It appears the problem specifically stems from a faulty connection between the passenger seat occupancy sensor and the seat heater wiring, which can cause the vehicle's computer to assume that there is no passenger present and defeat the airbag on that side. This system is typically meant to reduce the cost of repairs in a crash by not detonating unneeded airbags. Audi recently announced recall number 74E3 to fix other models with the same issue.

NHTSA ID
11449958
Incident
Feb 2, 2022
Airbags
Filed Jan 10, 2022

On the dash, the airbag warning light is on. Something is wrong about the airbag

NHTSA ID
11446948
Incident
Jun 29, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI SHREWSBURY AT (508) 581-5800 (LOCATED AT 780 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA 01545) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11166131
Incident
Oct 9, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2019

TAMARA RECALL. MY DEALER, AUDI OF STRATHAM NH KEEPS SENDING ME CARDS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT A MONTH AGO AND WHEN I ARRIVED WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT. MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR TODAY, 1/4/19, ON THE BASIS OF BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAD IT IN HAND. WHEN I CALLED TODAY THEY DIDN'T. THEY BLAME IT ON AUDI, SAY THEY ARE ONLY THE DEALERSHIP. I MUST HAVE RECEIVED 15 OR MORE NOTICES FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR FOR 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ID
11165772
Incident
Jan 4, 2019
Airbags
Filed Nov 14, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THELEN AUDI VOLKSWAGEN MAZDA (LOCATED AT 1112 N EUCLID AVE, BAY CITY, MI 48706, (989) 684-2980) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED *JB

NHTSA ID
11151534
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2018

TAKATA AIRBAGS - THE DEALERSHIP NEAR US THAT SERVICES OUR AUDI VEHICLES WILL NOT PERFORM THE RECALL WORK SERVICE. THEY CLAIM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CHANGED. THEY QUOTED US A $2500 PRICE TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THEY CAN DO THE RECALL WORK. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED. WE DID NOT CHANGE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL IS AN AUDI S LINE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR IS AN S LINE AS INDICATED ON VARIOUS PARTS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. I WENT TO LUXURY HAUS WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE ISSUE BUT CLOSED OUR CASE WITH NO WRITTEN EXPLANATION. I SPOKE TO THE PERSON HANDLING MY CASE AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT TO ME AS THEY WERE NOT QUALIFIED. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO A QUALIFIED PERSON SO I CAN AT LEAST UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I NEVER RECEIVED AN EXPLANATION EITHER WRITTEN OR VERBAL OVER THE PHONE. WE DID NOT CHANGE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL MATCHES THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL IS AN AUDI PRODUCT. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO SPEND $2500 TO GET ANOTHER SAME STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GET THIS SAFETY RECALL COMPLETED. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS 6 YEARS OLD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE CANNOT TRADE THE CAR IN UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE RECALL. I COULD NOT TRY TO SELL IT PRIVATELY KNOWING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM EXISTS AND DUMPING THIS PROBLEM ONTO SOMEONE ELSE. IT SEEMS VERY UNFAIR.

NHTSA ID
11141070
Incident
Mar 16, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 12, 2018

EVERY TIME I CALL THE AUDI DEALER NEAREST ME WHICH IS MISHAWAKA, IN THEY NEVER HAVE ANY PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED SINCE OCTOBER OF 2017. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
11129106
Incident
Sep 11, 2018
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2018

TAKATA RECALL AUDI OF EL PASO STILL HAS NOT COMPLETED THE REPAIR, WHEN CONTACTED THEM THEY HAD NO ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED

NHTSA ID
11123346
Incident
Jul 2, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jun 6, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (SUN MOTOR CARS AUDI-PORSCHE (356 WOODS DR., MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050, (717) 691-3333) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11100153
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 28, 2018

I AM A MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER ASSIGNED IN STUTTGART, GERMANY. MY VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED HERE IN DECEMBER 2017, AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. NOW MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. BELOW IS WHAT I SENT AUDI OF AMERICA AS WELL AS THEIR RESPONSE. PLEASE ASSIST IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER BECAUSE AUDI OF USA DID NOT PROVIDE A VIABLE, SAFE SOLUTION. THANK YOU MY VEHICLE IS IN STUTTGART, GERMANY AND WAS SHIPPED AS PART OF MY MILITARY WORK DIRECTED MOVE IN OCTOBER 2017. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL AND YESTERDAY I VISITED A LOCAL GERMAN DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH INSPECTING MY CAR OR REPLACING AN AIRBAG IF NEEDED. COULD YOU PLEASE AND URGENTLY LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN RESOLVE THIS RECALL ISSUE WHILE MY VEHICLE IS IN STUTTGART, GERMANY? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT ASSIST CONSIDERING THE RISK POSED TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS/PEDESTRIANS IF THIS AIRBAG ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK IF THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ITEM ISSUED.

NHTSA ID
11098260
Incident
May 14, 2018
Airbags
Filed May 16, 2018

STILL WAITING FOR MY AIRBAG FIX

NHTSA ID
11094146
Incident
Jan 2, 2018
Airbags
Filed May 3, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUDI SOUTHAMPTON, 51 MONTAUK HWY, SOUTHAMPTON, NY 11976, (631) 283-0888) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11091616
Incident
May 3, 2018
Airbags
Filed Apr 17, 2018

TAKATA INFLATORS. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE FIXED FROM THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. I WAS TOLD AGAIN 4/17/2018 THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WANT AUDI TO PAY FOR A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL THE PARTS ARE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THESE PARTS IN AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11088621
Incident
Nov 15, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 3, 2018

TAKATA RECALL: WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED 4 OR 5 LETTERS OVER THE PAST 9 MONTHS INFORMING US OF THE RECALL AND TELLING US OUR LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER AND TO CONTACT OUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED. WHEN I CALL OUR DEALER (PEABODY, MA), THEY INFORM ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. WHEN I CONTACTED AUDI USA THEY INDICATED IT IS NHTSA WHO DETERMINES WHICH DEALERS GET THE PARTS AND WHEN. IF YOU AREN'T SUPPLYING THE PARTS, DON'T REPEATEDLY REQUIRE AUDI TO SEND ME LETTERS TELLING ME MY LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER. IT'S A BIT LIKE THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF, I NO LONGER BELIEVE YOU REALLY MEAN MY LIFE IS IN DANGER, BECAUSE IF YOU DID, YOU'D ENSURE THE PART IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE 2 MOST RECENT LETTERS ARE ATTACHED.

NHTSA ID
11083147
Incident
Apr 3, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AUDI LYNBROOK (855 SUNRISE HIGHWAY LYNBROOK, NY 11563, (516)-887-5300) SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND THE CONTACT WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN THEY ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER A HIGH PRIORITY. THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO ONLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEALER REGARDING PART AVAILABILITY AND STATED THAT THE INTERIM REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11076364
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (LYNNBROOK AUDI IN LYNNBROOK, NY), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11075782
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED PRESTIGE IMPORTS (9201 W COLFAX AVE, DENVER, CO 80215) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11075674
Incident
Aug 14, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2018
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER BECAME DISTRACTED AND CRASHED ONTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11064590
Incident
Jan 20, 2018
Mileage
49,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 19, 2018

TACATA AIR BAG RECALL - SAFETY RECALL 69N1 ... 2 YEARS AND COUNTING THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, AUDI IS DOING NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11063763
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 3, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI OF WESTWOOD AT (866) 980-6960 (375 PROVIDENCE HWY, WESTWOOD, MA 02090) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11058239
Incident
Sep 6, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE CONTACTED MANY DEALERS (SINCE MAY 2017) AROUND MY AREA AND THEY MENTIONED THEY ARE AWAITING PARTS FROM TAKATA COMPANY. I DO HAVE AN 2012 AUDI Q5. NOT SURE HOW TO RESOLVE THIS. I WANTED TO BE SAFE AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP US IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11057667
Incident
Dec 30, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI DANBURY (25 SUGAR HOLLOW RD, DANBURY, CT) CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11053900
Incident
Feb 23, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 29, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM BAY RIDGE NISSAN IN BROOKLYN ON 11/03/17. THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAD RECALL THAT NEEDED TO FIX. IT'S NEARLY A MONTH NOW AND I HAVEN'T GOT THE CAR. DOES IT TAKE THAT LONG TO FIX THE AIRBAG? VIN # [XXX]. THE SALESMAN NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11051297
Incident
Nov 3, 2017

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .