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Audi passenger airbag may be switched off by faulty cable

NHTSA campaign 21V874000 · Reported Nov 10, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

A passenger airbag that has been switched off increases the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	21V874000
Reported to NHTSA	Nov 10, 2021
Manufacturer	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Part affected	Seats
Vehicles covered	14 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2020
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Audi is recalling certain 2017-2020 cars because of a fault in the cable that connects the passenger seat heater to the system that detects whether someone is sitting in the front passenger seat. A poor connection can make the software read a fault that is not there and switch off the passenger airbag. Dealers will replace the cable and either the seat heating mat or the whole seat cover. This recall expands an earlier recall, and vehicles already repaired under that one need to return for the new repair.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included, including vehicles already repaired under the earlier recall. 2. Contact an Audi dealer to have the cable and seat parts replaced; Audi customer service is 1-800-253-2834. 3. The repair is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V874000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (14)

2018 Audi A4
2018 Audi A5
2018 Audi RS5
2018 Audi S4
2018 Audi S5
2019 Audi A4
2019 Audi A5
2019 Audi RS5
2019 Audi S4
2019 Audi S5
2020 Audi A4
2020 Audi A5

Show all 14 vehicles

2020 Audi S4
2020 Audi S5

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

Audi Seat Recalls Involve Tracks, Frames, and Passenger Airbag Problems · all 4 Audi recalls in this area

Other Audi A5 recalls

Oct 5, 2022Audi backup camera screen may go blank in reversemedium
Jan 26, 2022Audi rear axle alignment may not have been checkedmedium
Aug 5, 2021Audi and VW rear belts may not secure child seatshigh
Apr 26, 2021Audi rear axle lock nut may breakhigh
Nov 25, 2020Audi A5, S5 Rear Wiring Lacks Scuff Protectionhigh
Jul 24, 2019Audi Passenger Air Bag May Be Disabledhigh

All 11 A5 recalls

Official notice

Component: SEATS
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Safety risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

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