Recall 18V803 affects 169 2018 A3 Cabriolet, Golf R, RS 3, and E-Golf vehicles for rear head-restraint welds. Free repair at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi recall 18V803 covers 169 2018 A3 Cabriolet, RS 3, Golf R, and E-Golf vehicles because rear-seat head restraint guide sleeves were welded incorrectly to the seat frame. In a crash, the head restraints can lose stability and raise injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once Audi opens it.
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What's wrong?
The rear seat frame holds the backrest structure and supports the rear head restraints. The head restraint guide sleeves are the metal guides that the head restraint posts slide into. They keep the head restraint aligned and tied to the seat frame when the seat needs to support an occupant.
On the affected 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet, Golf R, RS 3, and E-Golf vehicles, those guide sleeves were positioned incorrectly during welding. That poor position can leave a gap between a guide sleeve and the seat frame structure. The gap weakens the welded connection, so the rear head restraint does not have the seat-frame support it was designed to have.
An owner is not given a warning sign by this defect. The seat can look normal from the cabin, and the head restraint can appear seated in its guides. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Covers four 2018 models, all involving the same seat assembly.
| 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf R | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi RS 3 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Volkswagen E-Golf | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 169 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrectly welded guide sleeves can reduce rear seat head restraint stability in a crash, increasing injury risk for rear seat passengers. There is no driving symptom to watch for before a crash, so use your VIN result to confirm whether your vehicle is included and arrange the dealer inspection when available. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet, Golf R, RS 3, or E-Golf is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to ask whether the free rear-seat-frame inspection is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the guide-sleeve weld inspection and rear-seat-frame replacement if needed; the repair restores rear head restraint stability in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V803 when you call.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions before the dealer visit.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, an Audi technician will inspect the rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves for incorrect welds. If the inspection finds an incorrectly welded sleeve, the technician will replace the rear seat frame. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under recall 18V803. Audi is not offering reimbursement under this campaign, so prior out-of-pocket repair costs are not covered by a separate recall reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| November 14, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 28, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 11, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 11, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 11, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V803?
Recall 18V803 covers 169 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet, Golf R, RS 3, and E-Golf vehicles with rear seat head restraint guide sleeves that were welded incorrectly to the seat frame. Dealers inspect the guide sleeves and replace the rear seat frame when incorrect welds are found, free of charge.
What should I do if my 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet, Golf R, RS 3, or E-Golf is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V803. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer and ask for the rear seat head restraint guide sleeve inspection. Reference recall number 18V803 when you call. The recall repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair this safety defect at no cost. For recall 18V803, the dealer inspects the rear seat head restraint guide sleeves and replaces the rear seat frame when the welds are incorrect, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is reduced rear head restraint stability during a crash. If the guide sleeves are welded incorrectly, the rear head restraints have less support when occupants need them, which increases injury risk. The dealer repair addresses the seat frame issue for free.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2018 vehicle is included, then call a franchised Audi dealer with recall number 18V803.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V803000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V803 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V803000 |
Source documents
-
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 →