Recall 19V547 covers 145,337 select 2017-2019 Audi vehicles for a passenger air bag cable defect. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 145,337 2017-2019 A5, A4 Allroad, RS 5, S5, and S4 vehicles because oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System cable can make the software misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag. A disabled passenger air bag increases injury risk in a crash, and Audi dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Passenger Occupant Detection System in affected 2017-2019 Audi vehicles is the seat sensor system that tells the air bag computer whether someone is sitting in the front passenger seat. It uses a connecting cable in the seat wiring harness to send that signal. When it works correctly, the system helps decide whether the passenger air bag stays active or switches off.
In campaign 19V547, partial surface oxidation can form on the electrical shielding inside that connecting cable. The software that checks the cable is too sensitive to that oxidation, so it diagnoses a fault even when the cable is not actually disconnected. That error can disable the passenger air bag.
If the malfunction happens, occupants are alerted by the air bag warning light, an acoustic warning sound, an instrument-cluster error message, and the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator light. Treat those warnings as a passenger air bag system problem until an Audi dealer checks the vehicle.
Who's affected?
Covers 8 Audi car lines across the 2017-2019 model years. The included vehicles involve both the front air bag and the occupant-classification system.
| 2018 Audi A5 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2018 Audi A5 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi A4 Allroad | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi A4 Allroad | air bag system |
| 2019 Audi RS 5 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi RS 5 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi RS 5 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi RS 5 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi S5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi S5 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi S5 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi S5 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi S4 | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi A4 Allroad | front air bag |
| 2017 Audi A4 Allroad | air bag system |
| 2018 Audi Allroad | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi Allroad | air bag system |
| 2017 Audi Allroad | front air bag |
| 2017 Audi Allroad | air bag system |
| Units affected | 145,337 |
| 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?
A disabled passenger air bag leaves the front passenger with less crash protection and increases the risk of injury in a crash. Watch for the airbag warning light, acoustic warning, instrument-cluster error message, or Passenger Airbag OFF indicator. If these alerts appear, schedule service soon and tell the dealer the PODS system is reporting a fault. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2019 Audi A5, A4 Allroad, RS 5, S5 Cabriolet, S5, S4, A5 Cabriolet, or Allroad is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free PODS cable-harness tie installation that fixes the false passenger air bag malfunction reading.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V547 when you call.
- Keep using seat belts on every trip, and avoid putting a passenger in the front seat if an air bag warning appears before the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician installs cable ties on the Passenger Occupant Detection System connecting cable harness. The repair secures the harness connection tied to the air bag detection fault described in recall 19V547. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Audi offers a reimbursement program for this recall. If you already paid for a related PODS cable or passenger air bag detection repair, ask the Audi service desk or the listed customer service line how to submit documentation for a claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 24, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 9, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 15, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| September 15, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 15, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| September 15, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V547?
Recall 19V547 covers 145,337 2017-2019 Audi A5, A4 Allroad, RS 5, S5 Cabriolet, S5, S4, A5 Cabriolet, and Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the passenger occupant detection system cable can lead the software to disable the passenger air bag. Audi dealers install cable ties to the harness for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2019 Audi A5, A4 Allroad, RS 5, S5 Cabriolet, S5, S4, A5 Cabriolet, or Allroad is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 19V547. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the harness cable tie installation. Reference Audi recall number 74D9 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Audi's remedy says dealers will install cable ties to the harness free of charge. The free repair applies at any franchised Audi dealer.
What is the safety risk in this Audi air bag recall?
The risk is that the passenger air bag can be disabled. If a crash occurs with someone in the front passenger seat, a disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury. The repair addresses the passenger occupant detection system cable connection at the 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 specific Audi is included, then call a franchised Audi dealer and reference recall 19V547 or Audi recall number 74D9.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V547000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V547 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V547000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →