Audi Seat Recalls Involve Tracks, Frames, and Passenger Airbag Problems
Audi's seat recalls cover structural connections and a seat-related passenger airbag fault. The 2019 A8 equipped with rear relaxation seats has a front passenger seat track rivet that may fail. One 2020 Q3 has a potentially incorrect driver seat frame-to-rail bolt connection, while certain 2020 Q5 and SQ5 vehicles have front seat frame and backrest adjuster weld concerns. The broadest model-year coverage appears in recall 74E3: certain 2017-2020 A4 variants, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe and 2019 RS5 Sportback vehicles, and 2018-2020 A5, S4, and S5 variants. That recall concerns a seat-heater connecting cable fault that can disable the passenger airbag.
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
None of these four notices instructs owners to stop driving or park outside. The A8 seat track rivet notice, Q3 driver seat bolt notice, passenger airbag cable notice 74E3, and Q5/SQ5 front seat weld notice do not tell owners to stop driving. Their stated risks concern increased injury during a crash, including reduced occupant restraint or a disabled passenger airbag. The notices provide dealer remedies, but their lack of a stop-driving instruction does not establish that an affected vehicle is safe to drive.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are free: A8 recall 72J3 replaces passenger seat tracks; Q3 recall 72L4 inspects the bolt connection and replaces the seat structure as necessary. Recall 74E3 replaces the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover. The Q5/SQ5 weld recall inspects front seats and replaces seatback frames as necessary.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 3 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report seats problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under seats for the Audi models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Seats complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Audi A5 | 1 |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 1 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2021 | Audi passenger airbag may be switched off by faulty cable | high |
| Oct 19, 2020 | Audi Q3 Driver Seat Bolt May Fail | high |
| Aug 26, 2020 | Audi, VW Front Seat Frame Weld Defect | medium |
| Jun 5, 2019 | Audi A8 Front Passenger Seat Track Rivet May Fail | high |
Common questions
Why is a passenger airbag problem included in Audi seat recalls?
Recall 74E3 concerns the cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System. A contact fault can cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger airbag, increasing injury risk in a crash.
Which Audi A8 seats are involved in recall 72J3?
The notice covers certain 2019 Audi A8 vehicles equipped with rear relaxation seats. The defect concerns the front passenger seat track rivet, which may fail and allow the spindle bracket to separate. Dealers replace the passenger seat tracks free of charge.
Does the Q3 seat bolt recall automatically require a replacement seat structure?
The notice for recall 72L4 covers one 2020 Audi Q3. Dealers inspect the driver's seat bolt connection and replace the seat structure as necessary. The notice specifies that this inspection and any necessary replacement are free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.