NHTSA Recall 17V196000: Occupant classification (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 11,618 vehicles. It affects 2 models including the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
| NHTSA campaign | 17V196000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | 69Q3 |
| Component | AIR BAGS › SENSOR › OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION |
| Report received | March 22, 2017 |
| Owner notification | April 20, 2017 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Safety risk
If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Vehicles covered by recall 17V196000
Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.