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2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet, covering air bags, and 14 consumer complaints received since 2016.
The component named most often is air bags: 857.1 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 124.4 per 1,000 across all 2011 model-year vehicles and against 788.5 per 1,000 for the Audi A5 Cabriolet line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 4.2 complaints per model year across the 12 Audi A5 Cabriolet model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2016 (6); the most recent in the file is dated 26 Sep 2018.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign 69R6).
Defect, as filed: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet (black) against all 2011 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2011 | A5 Cabriolet line | All 2011 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 857.1 | 788.5 | 124.4 |
| Engine | 71.4 | 134.6 | 118.1 |
| Unknown or Other | 71.4 | 38.5 | 56.3 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 12 | 857.1 | 788.5 | 124.4 |
| Engine | 1 | 71.4 | 134.6 | 118.1 |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 71.4 | 38.5 | 56.3 |
14 unique complaints, 14 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Audi A5 Cabriolet model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 16 | 822,275 |
| 2011 | 2 | 14 | 822,275 |
| 2012 | 2 | 14 | 822,275 |
| 2013 NHTSA | 1 | 3 | 342,867 |
| 2014 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 342,867 |
| 2015 NHTSA | 1 | 1 | 342,867 |
| 2016 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 342,867 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | 344,543 |
| 2018 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 145,337 |
| 2020 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 31,058 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 246,850 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 6,076 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Audi A5 Cabriolet model years · Audi: 61 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 18V082000, was reported to NHTSA on 30 Jan 2018 and concerns air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Across all model years the Audi A5 Cabriolet line has 9 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet complain about most?
Air Bags: 12 of 14 component mentions (857.1 per 1,000). Next is engine with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.