Home › Audi › A6 › 18V370000

Audi A6, A7 and S6 passenger airbag may not deploy

NHTSA campaign 18V370000 · Reported 2018-06-04 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

Serious — the car drives normally, but a front passenger could be badly hurt in a crash if the airbag does not deploy correctly, so get it fixed promptly.

What's wrong, in plain English

A pressure-sensing mat inside the front passenger seat tells the car whether someone is sitting there and how large they are, so the airbag knows how to react in a crash. Over time that mat can wear out or be stressed, and the control unit that reads it can malfunction. If that happens, the front passenger airbag may not go off the way it should in a crash, leaving whoever is in that seat less protected.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your car is affected. 2. Book a free appointment with an Audi dealer to have the passenger seat sensor repair kit installed. 3. Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 (recall 74D5) if you need help finding a dealer.

Affected vehicles (3)

2018 Audi A6
2018 Audi A7
2018 Audi S6

Who to contact

Audi — official Audi recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-253-2834

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Why do Audi passenger airbags switch off or fail to deploy? · all 14 Audi recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
Safety risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.