Recall 19V474 affects 138,896 2015-2019 Audi A3, S3, and RS 3 vehicles for a faulty passenger air bag sensor. Free repair at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 138,896 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet, S3, RS 3, and A3 Sportback E-Tron vehicles under recall 19V474 because an improper electrical contact can cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System to falsely detect a fault and deactivate the passenger air bag. A deactivated air bag raises the risk of injury in a crash, and Audi dealers will repair the system free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Passenger Occupant Detection System, called PODS, sits under the front passenger seat on these Audi models. It reads whether an adult is in the seat, then tells the airbag control unit whether to arm the passenger airbag for a crash. A wiring connector under the seat carries that signal between the sensor and the control unit.
On affected vehicles, the plug-in contacts inside that connector have widened. The looser fit causes intermittent electrical contact, and the system reads the dropout as a sensor fault. When it registers that fault, it switches the passenger airbag off until a clean contact returns. The shutoff is brief, but during the window the passenger airbag is disarmed and would not fire in a crash.
If the fault triggers, the airbag warning light comes on, an audible chime sounds, an error message appears in the instrument cluster, and the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator changes state. Those are the warning signs to watch for.
Who's affected?
Spans four Audi compact models (A3 Cabriolet, S3, RS 3, A3 Sportback E-Tron) across five model years, all sharing the same front-passenger occupant classification sensor.
| 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi RS 3 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron | air bag system |
| 2019 Audi RS 3 | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi RS 3 | air bag system |
| 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron | air bag system |
| 2016 Audi S3 | air bag system |
| 2015 Audi S3 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 138,896 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A deactivated passenger air bag raises the risk of injury to a front-seat passenger in a crash. Watch for the airbag warning light, an acoustic alert, an instrument-cluster error message, or a lit Passenger Airbag OFF indicator. If any of those appear, schedule the repair soon and avoid seating a passenger up front until the connector is replaced. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2019 Audi A3, A3 Cabriolet, A3 Sportback E-Tron, S3, or RS 3 is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free repair that replaces the connector and reroutes the cable so the passenger occupant detection system stops falsely deactivating the front passenger air bag.
- Reference recall number 19V474 (Audi recall 69Z4) when you call the dealer, and bring the owner notice if Audi has mailed it.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 with questions about scheduling, parts availability, or reimbursement for a related repair you already paid for.
- Until the repair is complete, avoid carrying a front-seat passenger when possible, since the passenger air bag can be deactivated without warning.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the Passenger Occupant Detection System connector and reroutes the cable so the electrical contact stays clean. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you have already paid out of pocket for a repair tied to a false passenger air bag deactivation warning, Audi's reimbursement program covers documented expenses. Bring your receipts and any prior repair paperwork to the service desk when you arrive, and reference recall 69Z4 so the advisor can pull the correct claim form.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 19, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 18, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| August 18, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 18, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 12, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V474?
Recall 19V474 covers 138,896 2015-2019 Audi A3, S3, and RS 3 vehicles with a Passenger Occupant Detection System connector fault. The faulty contact can falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag, increasing injury risk in a crash. Audi dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable at no cost.
What should I do if my 2015-2019 Audi A3, S3, or RS 3 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V474. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the connector replacement and cable rerouting. Reference Audi recall number 69Z4 or NHTSA campaign 19V474 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform the recall repair at no cost. Audi dealers will replace the Passenger Occupant Detection System connector and reroute the cable free of charge at any franchised Audi dealer, regardless of where the vehicle was originally purchased.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch the passenger air bag status indicator on the dashboard. If it shows the passenger air bag as off when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, the Passenger Occupant Detection System has deactivated the air bag. Have the recall repair completed before relying on the front passenger seat.
What if I bought my Audi used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If Audi never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V474, and reference Audi recall number 69Z4 when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V474000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V474 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V474000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation 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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →