Audi has announced a global recall of 1.27 million cars related to a potential fire hazard. Affected models include the A4 B8, A5 B8, A5 Cabriolet and first-gen Audi Q5 built between April 2011 to May 2015.
According to AutoCar UK, the plug connectors of the electrical connections in the auxiliary heater may potentially burn and subsequently cause a fire due to the incorrect coatings on the contacts and friction corrosion. The friction is caused by movement of the components which in turn can cause a fire.
Audi will be fitting new auxiliary heating elements with improved electrical contacts. The company claims that the cars can still be driven despite the potential fire risk but should a burning smell is detected, owners should immediately stop the car and have the car inspected by an authorised Audi dealer.
The breakdown of cars affected is as follows: 875,000 in Europe, 250,000 in North America and 47,000 in Asia. Audi discovered the fault during a periodical product monitoring check.
