Recall 18V370 covers 2012-2018 Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, and S7 vehicles with a passenger-seat air bag sensor defect. Free repair at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 139,249 2012-2018 A6, A7, RS 7, S6, and S7 vehicles with basic front passenger seats because stress or wear in the seat body-sensing mat can make the occupant detection system malfunction. If that happens, the passenger air bag can fail to deploy properly in a crash, increasing injury risk; Audi dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger seat uses a body-sensing mat as part of the Passenger Occupant Detection System. That mat helps the car recognize the type of occupant in the seat so the airbag system can decide whether, and how, to deploy the passenger airbag in a crash.
On affected 2012-2018 Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, and S7 vehicles with the covered seat types, stress and wear can damage the mat or an internal connector. When that happens, the PODS control module can malfunction. The system then loses reliable information from the passenger seat, so it can make the wrong airbag deployment decision for the person sitting there.
The warning signs are dashboard and indicator lights. If the system detects the fault, the airbag monitoring light illuminates and the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator shows the seat status. Treat those lights as a sign that the passenger airbag system needs recall service.
Who's affected?
Covers Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, and S7 cars across the 2012-2018 model years, all tied to the same air bag occupant classification sensor.
| 2012 Audi A6 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2012 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2013 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2013 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2014 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2014 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi RS 7 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi RS 7 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi RS 7 | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi RS 7 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2013 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| 2014 Audi RS 7 | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi A7 | air bag system |
| 2014 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi A6 | air bag system |
| 2013 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi S7 | air bag system |
| 2014 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi S6 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 139,249 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
A PODS module malfunction affects the system that decides front passenger air bag deployment in a crash. When the airbag monitoring light or Passenger Airbag OFF indicator shows a problem, the front passenger faces a higher injury risk because the air bag deployment decision is not reliable. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2018 Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, or S7 is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free PODS repair kit installation for the front passenger seat sensor fault.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V370 and Audi recall 74D5 when you call.
- Avoid using the front passenger seat until the repair is complete, since the passenger air bag is tied to this occupant detection fault.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician installs the PODS system repair kit for the front passenger seat occupant detection system. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. Audi is offering a reimbursement program under this recall for owners who already paid for a related PODS repair before the recall work was performed. Contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834, or ask the service desk what documentation is needed for the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 4, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 19, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 19, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 26, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| November 26, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 29, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V370?
Recall 18V370 covers 139,249 2012-2018 Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, and S7 vehicles with basic front passenger seats. Stress or wear in the seat body-sensing mat can make the PODS control module malfunction. Audi dealers install a PODS system repair kit for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2018 Audi A6, A7, RS 7, S6, or S7 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 18V370. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the PODS system repair kit installation. Reference recall number 18V370 or Audi recall 74D5 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Audi dealers will install the PODS system repair kit free of charge for vehicles included in recall 18V370.
What is the safety risk?
The front passenger air bag can fail to deploy properly in a crash if the PODS module malfunctions. That increases the risk of injury to the front passenger. If your VIN is included, schedule the free repair with a franchised Audi dealer.
What if I bought my Audi used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your A6, A7, RS 7, S6, or S7 is included, then call a franchised Audi dealer with recall number 18V370.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V370000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V370 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V370000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →