2015 Audi S3 airbags problems

Related recalls

• Recall 21V198000Mar 22, 2021153,152 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.

  Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.

• Recall 19V474000Jun 19, 2019138,896 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

  Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 30, 2024NJAirbags

   When driving, without AND more importantly, WITH, a passenger in the front passenger seat, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) light goes on and indicates that the passenger air bag has been deactivated. I looked on line and saw that Audi has already recalled certain 2015-2019 Audi A3 Sedans but apparently my car is not part of the initial recall. I think the recall is BIGGER than Audi estimated and that my car should also be part of the recall. I plan to take to…

   NHTSA complaint #11605361 · source
2. Filed Jan 28, 2023COAirbags

   I have had a passenger airbag recall since 2021, and I have tried to schedule the maintenance for that recall several times, but each of the 5 times that I’ve tried, the Audi dealership (in Glenwood Springs, CO) says they don’t have the parts in stock. Each time that happens, I’m told I’ve been put on the list for the next parts shipment. I am so tired of waiting, while in the meantime, my passengers are considered unsafe in this vehicle. I need to have this repaired soon,…

   NHTSA complaint #11504086 · source
3. Filed Oct 20, 2022MSAirbags

   The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

   NHTSA complaint #11490200 · source
4. Filed Sep 2, 2022MAAirbags

   A recall for my car's PODS system has been in place since March of 2021 but Audi continues to inform me that the part is not available to fix the recall. It has been a year and a half since the recall and the passenger airbag in my car continues to turn on and off randomly. I feel that it's completely unacceptable to have to wait this long for a fix. I just spoke with my dealership today (Audi of Westwood, Massachusetts) and they again informed me that there are no parts…

   NHTSA complaint #11482560 · source
5. Filed Aug 30, 2022OHAirbags

   I had scheduled with the dealership to have the PODS recall fix completed. While waiting for the scheduled date my vehicle began showing symptoms described in the recall and they were sporadic just as described in the recall and only lasted a few seconds. The dealer called and cancelled my appointment as there are no parts available and they do not know when the recall parts will become available again. Then in early August things got worse than described in the recall…

   NHTSA complaint #11481928 · source
6. Filed May 31, 2022MAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   Audi has had a safety recall on this vehicle since I purchased the car in June 2019. In 2019 and early 2020, there were no issues. About two years into owning the vehicle, I started experiencing faults, error codes, and safety lights on my dash due to issues with the passenger seat air bag. I brought the vehicle to Audi Burlington in MA and they said that the issues I was having was due to the recall but there was no fix. In January of 2022, I received a letter saying that…

   NHTSA complaint #11466835 · source
7. Filed Nov 9, 2021CAAirbags

   The contact's husband owns a 2015 Audi S3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal beeping sound would emit from the passenger’s side occupant detection system while the passenger’s side seat was vacant. The passenger’s side air bag warning light would remain illuminated at start-up. The contact stated that she would either buckle the seat belt or place a heavy object in the passenger’s seat to stop the beeping. The dealer was notified of the…

   NHTSA complaint #11439882 · source
8. Filed Oct 11, 2021PAAirbags

   Audi issued a recall in March 2020. Seven months later, they still say that they have no solution. This is a major passenger safety issue and could result in serious injury or death. Seven months with no solution should not be accepted by NHTSA and we request that you take further enforcement action with Audi to achieve a fix quickly. They do not appear to feel pressure to act and issuing a recall without then rapidly achieving and implementing a fix makes a mockery of the…

   NHTSA complaint #11436282 · source
9. Filed Aug 17, 2021100,000 miMDAirbags

   The contact owns a 2015 Audi S3. The contact stated while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the airbag warning light and the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…

   NHTSA complaint #11429482 · source
10. Filed Jul 16, 2021NJAirbags

    Passenger Air bag light that indicates it is OFF and pre sense safety system failure . This has been occurring for years on my 2015 A3 . How long does the manufacture have to repair said problem ?

    NHTSA complaint #11425218 · source
11. Filed Jan 21, 2021TXAirbagsElectrical System

    The passenger seat airbag sensor is faulty. I see everyone else has the same issue but when i type in my vin it says it is not recalled? They wanted $1000 to fix it but it isn't my fault and i hope to see them own up to their mistake and fix our airbags. Online it says my vehicle should be covered and fixed for free but when i checked their site 2015 audi s3 isn't covered, however, on this site, it will say it is but when i type in vin nothing.

    NHTSA complaint #11389144 · source
12. Filed Dec 19, 202020,000 miCAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    I got a passenger airbag off problem on the second year, and keep going back to dealership to check the problem until i got a recall notice. After having the passenger airbag sensor repaired recall, the car still comes up the same problem plus the passenger seatbelt off light up. The audi dealership now tell me that the pods sensor is faulty and let me pay for its safety problems. I have no idea what have it done with my car after recall, and i feel really disappointed with…

    NHTSA complaint #11384201 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology