NHTSA Recall 21V198000: Air bags: front passenger and on-off switch assembly (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 153,152 vehicles. It affects 4 models including the Audi A3.
| NHTSA campaign | 21V198000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | 69BY |
| Components | AIR BAGS › SENSOR › OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION › FRONT PASSENGER; AIR BAGS › ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY |
| Report received | March 22, 2021 |
| Owner notification | December 23, 2021 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Defect
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.
Safety 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.
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 21V198000
| Make and model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A3 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Audi A3 Sportback e-tron | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Audi RS 3 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Audi S3 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
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.