In late March 2021, Audi announced a recall affecting all 2013-2020 Audi A3 vehicles. The issue stems from a flawed passenger occupant detection system (PODS) that may prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying correctly. So far, Audi is not aware of accidents or injuries associated with this issue, but the automaker urges A3 owners to take their vehicles to the dealership when a fix becomes available.
The Airbag Safety Issue
While the root cause of the passenger airbag safety issue has not been identified, the manufacturer urges consumers to check for a “passenger airbag off” warning that illuminates when the airbag is not active. As soon as this warning appears, people should avoid using the passenger seat and take the vehicle to the nearest Audi dealership. When the airbag doesn’t work as intended, the passenger may be at an increased risk of injury when riding in the front seat. If you don’t see an illuminated warning, this means that the airbag is working as intended.
Audi A3 Vehicles Affected Under This Recall
This current recall applies to all Audi A3 vehicles built between 2013 to 2020, including the 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2020 A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 E-Tron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet. It expands upon a previous recall regarding a faulty electrical connector that prevents front passenger airbags from deploying properly. Unfortunately, even if you received a repair for the previous recall, you need to visit the dealership to receive an updated fix once it becomes available.
Next Steps for Audi A3 Owners
For now, those who own or lease a 2013-2020 Audi A3 vehicle need to wait for the manufacturer to contact them about a remedy. The automaker urges consumers to keep an eye out for any warning lights that suddenly illuminate, as these may indicate that the airbag system is malfunctioning. As soon as a repair is identified and offered, the manufacturer will reach out and encourage consumers to come in for the fix.
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