Audi 80, A4, A6 And 1 More Recall R/1997/075: Unscheduled Deployment Of Drivers Air Bag, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 26 Nov 1997
- Launched
- 50,523
- vehicles in the UK
- R/1997/075
- DVSA reference
Audi recalled 80, A4, A6 and 1 more vehicles built between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1996. In weather conditions which favour the build up of static electricity the air bag may deploy spontaneously if the driver enters or leaves the vehicle while carrying a high static charge. The recall notice describes the fix as: affected vehicles are being recalled for the installation of an earth cable to the steering wheel to conduct any static charge to earth. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
In weather conditions which favour the build up of static electricity the air bag may deploy spontaneously if the driver enters or leaves the vehicle while carrying a high static charge. This can only happen when the car is stationery and not while it is in motion.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: UNSCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG Defect: In weather conditions which favour the build up of static electricity the air bag may deploy spontaneously if the driver enters or leaves the vehicle while carrying a high static charge. This can only happen when the car is stationery and not while it is in motion. Remedy: Affected vehicles are being recalled for the installation of an earth cable to the steering wheel to conduct any static charge to earth.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: unscheduled deployment of drivers air bag.
The Fix
The recall notice describes the fix as: affected vehicles are being recalled for the installation of an earth cable to the steering wheel to conduct any static charge to earth.
Are You Affected?
80, A4, A6 and 1 more built between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1996 may be included. Audi estimates 50,523 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Audi, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Audi.
- Book with any franchised Audi dealer, quoting the DVSA reference R/1997/075. See how to get a Audi recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
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|---|---|---|---|
| A6, Q8Belt buckle rivet missing | Urgent | R/2025/508 | |
| A6, A7, Q5Software update for battery control unit | Urgent | R/2025/463 | |
| A8, Q7, Q8Software update for battery control unit | Urgent | R/2025/441 | |
| A3, A4, A4 Cabrio, A5 and 3 moreStop-drive TAKATA PSAN | Stop driving | R/2025/387 | |
| A6, Q5Servicing high-voltage battery | Stop driving | R/2024/495 |
This is one of 158 Audi recalls in DVSA’s data. The Audi recall launched before it was R/1997/049 on 28 Jun 1997, for front seat belt height adjuster. The one launched after it was R/1998/047 on 1 Jul 1998, for rear left and right seat belt retractor mounting brackets may be prone to fatigue cracking. You can also see every Audi recall, the Audi A4 recall history, all recalls launched in 1997 and airbag recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/1997/075, launched 26 November 1997. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.