NHTSA Complaint #11664062 — 2014 AUDI Q7

Component/System That Failed: The airbag system failed to deploy during a frontal collision. The vehicle’s front driver and passenger airbags did not activate at the time of impact. The airbag system is still present in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. ⸻ Safety Risk: The failure of the airbags to deploy during a significant front-end collision put my safety and the safety of my passengers at serious risk. The impact was forceful enough to cause frame displacement and over $11,000 in structural damage, rendering the vehicle inoperable. Had the collision occurred at a slightly higher speed or involved another passenger vehicle, the lack of airbag protection could have resulted in serious injury or death. ⸻ Reproduced or Confirmed by a Dealer or Service Center: The issue has not been reproduced, as it occurred during a single collision event. However, an independent body shop has confirmed structural frame damage, and Audi of America was provided photos, repair estimates, and the official police report. Audi reviewed the case but denied the claim, stating the crash “did not meet the deceleration threshold” for deployment — despite the vehicle being disabled in the crash. ⸻ Inspected By: •Police: Yes – an official California Highway Patrol report was filed (Report #231220583). •Insurance Representative: Yes – damage was assessed and repairs partially initiated. •Manufacturer: Yes – Audi of America reviewed photos and documentation submitted by me but declined further inspection. •Independent Service Center: Yes – initial damage assessment and frame displacement confirmed. ⸻ Warning Lamps or Symptoms: There were no warning lights or malfunction indicators related to the airbag system before the collision. The vehicle was operating normally at the time of the incident. Post-incident, the airbags never deployed and no system alerts were generated.