Recall 15V823 affects 21,074 2012-2013 Audi A7 and A6 vehicles for a PODS air-bag sensor malfunction. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 21,074 2012-2013 A6 and A7 vehicles with heated and cooled seats because the Passenger Occupant Detection System can malfunction and keep the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash. That failure increases the risk of occupant injury, and the Audi dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Passenger Occupant Detection System on the 2012-2013 Audi A6 and A7 sits in the front passenger seat and tells the air bag system when someone is riding there. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, this sensor system is part of the logic that enables the passenger-side air bags for a crash.
On affected vehicles, the occupant detection system can malfunction. When that happens, the car can fail to recognize that the front passenger seat is occupied, so the passenger-side air bags stay disabled when they are needed in a crash. The issue is tied to the seat sensor system, not to how the passenger uses the seat.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall summary does not identify a dashboard light, chime, seat message, or change in seat operation that tells an owner the system has failed.
Who's affected?
Covers the A7 and A6 across the 2012 and 2013 model years, tied to the same air bag system component.
| 2013 Audi A7 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2013 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2012 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2012 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 21,074 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
In recall 15V823, the passenger air bag can fail to deploy as intended, which increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash. If your VIN is included, schedule dealer service and avoid delaying the repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Audi A7 or A6 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to ask whether the free PODS repair kit is ready for your VIN.
- Tell the dealer the PODS malfunction can prevent the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V823 and Audi recall 74D1 when you call.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 with questions about repair timing for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician installs a PODS system repair kit for the front passenger seat occupant detection system. That system tells the vehicle when to enable the passenger side air bags. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Audi customer service can also reference Volkswagen recall number 74D1 when the service desk checks the campaign.
Timeline
| December 8, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 5, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V823?
Recall 15V823 covers 21,074 2012-2013 Audi A7 and A6 vehicles with heated and cooled seats. The Passenger Occupant Detection System can malfunction and stop the front passenger air bags from deploying in a crash. Audi dealers install a PODS system repair kit for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Audi A7 or A6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V823. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the PODS system repair kit installation. Reference recall number 15V823 or Audi recall number 74D1 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Audi dealers install the PODS system repair kit free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Audi dealer handling this recall.
What is the safety risk in recall 15V823?
The safety risk is front passenger air bags failing to deploy as intended in a crash. That increases the risk of occupant injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the free Audi dealer repair so the Passenger Occupant Detection System works as intended.
What if I bought my Audi A7 or A6 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2012-2013 Audi A7 or A6 is included, then call an Audi dealer and reference recall 15V823.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V823000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V823 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V823000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →