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Audi Air Bag Recalls Involve Passenger Detection and Deployment Problems
Passenger air bag protection is the recurring concern in these Audi notices, particularly across A3, A6 and A7 model families. The 2018 seat-sensor recall covers certain A6 Sedans and A7 vehicles from 2012-2018, while separate A3-family notices describe electrical-contact or PODS malfunctions that can deactivate the passenger air bag. A6 and A7 notices also address instrument panel tear seams and an incorrectly manufactured passenger air bag score line. Other defects are model-specific: certain 2018 A5 Coupes have curtain bags that may not unfold properly, certain 2019 Q7 vehicles have curtain inflation problems, and certain 2020-2021 Q7 vehicles have passenger air bag deployment timing concerns.
Warning signs to watch for
- The notices for these recalls do not describe any warning sign an owner would notice.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The supplied Audi air bag notices do not tell owners to stop driving, and none gives a park-outside instruction. Their stated risks concern protection during a crash: a passenger air bag may be disabled, deploy incorrectly or provide inadequate protection, while curtain bags may fail to unfold or inflate properly. The 2020-2021 Q7 notice specifically describes increased injury risk to a child from second-stage deployment timing. These notices do not provide a stop-driving instruction for those defects.
What the free repair involves
Free remedies vary by notice: 74D5 installs a PODS repair kit; 69BY replaces its sensor mat and updates its control module. Recall 69Z4 replaces the connector and reroutes the cable; 74D9 installs harness cable ties. Recall 69AJ replaces curtain bags, 69BV updates the air bag control module, and 70i2 inspects and repairs the score line as necessary.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 14 |
Models affected most
Where owners report air bags problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under air bags for the Audi models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Air bags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Audi A3 | 24 |
| 2020 Audi A3 | 9 |
| 2018 Audi A3 Sportback E-TRON | 7 |
| 2019 Audi A3 | 7 |
| 2018 Audi RS3 | 5 |
| 2018 Audi S5 | 3 |
| 2023 Audi Q5 | 3 |
| 2018 Audi A4 Allroad | 3 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2024 | Audi SUVs and A4 Allroad Risk Passenger Airbag Shutoff | high |
| Dec 20, 2023 | Audi Q7 and Q8 Side Airbag Mounting | high |
| Mar 22, 2021 | Audi A3, S3, RS3 Passenger Airbag May Deactivate | high |
| Mar 10, 2021 | Audi passenger airbag may not open properly in crash | high |
| Feb 17, 2021 | Audi Q7 Front Passenger Air Bag Problem | high |
| May 13, 2020 | Audi Q3 Passenger Airbag May Not Deploy Properly | high |
| May 13, 2020 | Audi A6 and A7 passenger airbag may deploy improperly | high |
| Feb 19, 2020 | Audi Q7 Side Curtain Airbags May Not Inflate | high |
| Jul 24, 2019 | Audi Passenger Air Bag May Be Disabled | high |
| Jun 19, 2019 | Audi A3 E-Tron Passenger Air Bag May Shut Off | high |
| Jun 19, 2019 | Audi Q5 and SQ5 Passenger Air Bag Damage Risk | high |
| Nov 27, 2018 | Audi A4 Allroad, A5 Passenger Airbag May Not Deploy | high |
| Jun 4, 2018 | Audi Seat Sensor Fault May Stop Airbag | high |
| Dec 20, 2017 | Audi A5: Side Curtain Airbags May Not Deploy Properly | high |
Common questions
Why can an Audi A3 passenger air bag switch off?
Recall 69Z4 describes improper electrical contact causing PODS to detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag. Recall 69BY describes a PODS malfunction that can switch the bag off even when the seat is occupied.
What are the A6 and A7 instrument panel air bag repairs?
Recall 70H6 calls for instrument panel replacement on certain 2020 A6, A6 Allroad and A7 vehicles. Recall 70i2 instead calls for inspection of the passenger air bag score line and repair as necessary on its specified vehicles.
Are the Q7 curtain and passenger air bag problems different?
The 2019 Q7 curtain air bag notice, 69AJ, describes improper inflation and requires curtain bag replacement. For certain 2020-2021 Q7 vehicles, 69BV addresses second-stage passenger air bag deployment timing through an air bag control module update.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.