2016-2020 Audi A3 Passenger Airbag Recall 21V198000
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Audi A3, S3 Sedan, A3 Etron, RS3 Sedan, and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction, deactivating the passenger airbag and increasing injury risk in a crash.
S'applique également à
- Audi A3
- 2016, 2019
Why This Matters: Safety Risk
The primary concern with the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) malfunction in affected Audi vehicles is a significantly increased risk of injury during a crash. If the PODS system fails, it may incorrectly detect that the passenger seat is empty, even when it is occupied. This can lead to the passenger airbag being deactivated.
A deactivated passenger airbag means that in the event of a collision, the front passenger will not receive the intended protection from the airbag. This critical safety failure can result in severe injuries.
What's Being Recalled
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 specific component under recall is the AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER. The issue stems from the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) which may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied. This recall, often searched as the 2020 Audi A3 recall, is identified by NHTSA ID 21V198000 and Audi's internal number 69BY.
Manufacturer's Remedy
Audi dealers will address the issue by replacing the PODS sensor mat and updating the PODS control module. This repair will be performed free of charge to the owner. This comprehensive fix aims to restore the proper function of the passenger airbag system, ensuring it deploys correctly when a passenger is present.
Important Owner Information
Owners of affected vehicles, including those impacted by the 2020 Audi A3 recall, should have received notification letters from Audi. These letters were mailed on December 23, 2021. If you own one of the affected models and have not received a letter, or if you have any questions, you can contact Audi customer service.
You can reach Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. For additional information or to report a safety concern, you may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.safercar.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recall 21V198000
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the issue with the Audi A3 passenger airbag?
- The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) in certain Audi A3, S3, RS3, and A3 Etron vehicles may malfunction, causing the passenger airbag to switch off even when the seat is occupied. This increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- Which Audi models are affected by recall 21V198000?
- NHTSA recall 21V198000 affects certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The specific component is the AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER.
- How will Audi fix the PODS malfunction?
- Audi dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module. This repair will be performed free of charge to owners of affected vehicles.
- When were owners notified about this recall?
- Owner notification letters for this recall (Audi's number 69BY) were mailed on December 23, 2021. If you own an affected vehicle and have not received a letter, you should contact Audi customer service.
What Audi A3 owners report
Counted from the records in our database across 22 model years.
- 905
- Owner complaints
- 31
- Recalls
- 2,982
- Service bulletins
- 22
- Crashes reported
- 7
- Fires reported
- 13
- Injuries reported
The 2020 model year
17 complaints, the 13th most of 22 model years on file. Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries for this year, which also has 3 recalls on file.
Air Bags, the system this article covers, accounts for 418 of 905 complaints (46%), including 9 for 2020.
Complaints by model year
| 2006 | 123 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 52 | |
| 2009 | 48 | |
| 2010 | 50 | |
| 2012 | 43 | |
| 2015 | 180 | |
| 2016 | 121 | |
| 2017 | 71 | |
| 2018 | 45 | |
| 2020 | 17 |
Most-reported systems
- Air Bags — 418
- Power Train — 137
- Electrical System — 105
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 92
- Engine — 79
Latest recalls for the 2020 model year
- 24V110000 — Fuel System, Gasoline (Feb 2024)
- 22V815000 — Tires (Oct 2022)
- 21V198000 — Air Bags (Mar 2021)
Recent owner reports about air bags
The passenger occupant detection system has permanently failed and causes my passenger airbag to be off at all times including when a passenger is seated in the vehicle. The seatbelt sensor also goes off when no one is in the seat.
Read owner complaints →Supposedly the recall parts for the PODS system can’t be replaced because AUDI is not manufacturing the necessary part!! There is no schedule or estimated time for when the parts will become available.
Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.
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