General notes

The airbag is one element of the overall passive safety concept.

In severe frontal collisions, the front airbag, combined with the three-point seat belts, provides the driver and front passenger with additional protection for the head and upper body.

In severe side collisions, the side airbags and curtain airbags reduce the risk of injury on the side affected by the impact.

In addition to their normal protective function, seat belts also have the task, in a collision, of keeping occupants in a correct seating position so that the airbags can deploy properly and provide additional protection.

The airbag only works when the ignition is switched on. Correct operation of the airbag system is checked electronically and indicated by the airbag warning lamp.

The main components of the airbag system are:

• the electronic control and monitoring unit (control unit and sensors),
• the two front airbags,
• the side airbags and curtain airbags,
• the airbag warning lamp in the instrument cluster.

You must consider the system to be faulty if:

• the warning lamp does not light up when you switch the ignition on,
• the warning lamp does not go out approximately 3 seconds after you switch the ignition on.
• the lamp goes out and then comes back on after you switch the ignition on,
• the lamp comes on or flickers while driving.

CAUTION!

• The airbag system does not replace the seat belt. It is one component of the overall passive safety concept. The airbag system only provides maximum protection in combination with the seat belts. You must therefore always make sure that every occupant has fastened their seat belt. See “Why seat belts?”.
• Only a correct seating position ensures that the seat belts and airbag system work at their full effectiveness. See “Seats and storage”.
• If you do not fasten your seat belt, lean forward while driving or adopt an incorrect seating position, you face a greater risk of injury in an accident in which the airbag deploys.
• Airbag system components are installed in various places in your vehicle. If you carry out work on the airbag system, or if you have to remove and reinstall system components because you are performing other work, you may damage airbag system components. As a result, the airbags may not deploy correctly or may not deploy at all in an accident.
• If the airbag system malfunctions, have it checked as soon as possible by a specialist workshop. Otherwise the airbag system may not deploy in an accident.
• No modifications may be made to airbag system components.
• Never modify the front bumper or the bodywork.
• The protective effect of the airbag system is only sufficient for one accident. If an airbag has deployed, the system must be replaced. A specialist workshop will record the replacement of the airbag system or airbag modules in the service booklet entries.
• If you sell your Audi, please hand over the complete owner's documentation to the buyer. Do not forget to include any documents relating to a possible deactivation of the front passenger airbag!
• When the vehicle, airbag system components or seat belt pretensioners are scrapped, the applicable safety regulations must be strictly observed.