Recall 21V874 covers 208,332 2017-2020 Audi vehicles for a passenger-air-bag fault. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 208,332 2017-2020 A4, A5, RS 5, S5, and S4 vehicles because a seat-heater cable contact fault can make the passenger occupant detection software 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 these 2017-2020 Audi A4, A5, RS 5, S5, and S4 vehicles is built into the front passenger seat area. It tells the airbag system whether someone is sitting in that seat, so the passenger airbag control logic has the right information before a crash. The seat heater connects to that system through a cable under the seat.
On affected vehicles, that connecting cable can develop a contact fault. When the connection is interrupted, the diagnostic software reads the problem as a PODS malfunction and shuts the occupant detection system down. With the system deactivated, the passenger airbag is disabled even though the seat and airbag hardware are still in the vehicle.
The warning signs are visible and audible. Occupants are alerted by the airbag warning light, a warning sound, an error message in the instrument cluster, and the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator light.
Who's affected?
Covers A4, A5, RS 5, S5, and S4 models across the 2017-2020 model years; the shared part is the passenger occupant detection system, including the seat heating mat and connecting cable.
| 2020 Audi A4 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2020 Audi A4 | seat assembly |
| 2020 Audi A5 | front air bag |
| 2020 Audi A5 | seat assembly |
| 2017 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2017 Audi A4 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi A4 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi A5 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi A5 | seat assembly |
| 2019 Audi A4 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi A4 | seat assembly |
| 2019 Audi A5 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi A5 | seat assembly |
| 2019 Audi RS 5 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi RS 5 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi RS 5 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi RS 5 | seat assembly |
| 2020 Audi S5 | front air bag |
| 2020 Audi S5 | seat assembly |
| 2020 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2020 Audi S4 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi S4 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Audi S5 | front air bag |
| 2018 Audi S5 | seat assembly |
| 2019 Audi S4 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi S4 | seat assembly |
| 2019 Audi S5 | front air bag |
| 2019 Audi S5 | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 208,332 |
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?
If the passenger air bag is disabled, the front passenger has less crash protection, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Treat an airbag warning light, warning sound, cluster error message, or Passenger Airbag OFF indicator as a reason to schedule service promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2020 Audi A4, A5, RS 5, S5, or S4 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free connecting-cable and seat repair that fixes the passenger air bag disablement fault.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V874 when you call.
- Return to the dealer for this new remedy if the vehicle was already repaired under Audi recall 74D9.
- Avoid using the front passenger seat until the dealer completes the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician replaces the connecting cable between the seat heater and the Passenger Occupant Detection System. The technician also replaces either the heating mat or the entire seat cover, depending on what the vehicle needs. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. If your vehicle was repaired under the earlier Audi seat heater recall, it still needs this new remedy. Audi is offering a reimbursement program for this recall. If you already paid for this repair, contact Audi customer service or ask the service desk how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 10, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 7, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| January 7, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 7, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 7, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V874?
Recall 21V874 covers 208,332 2017-2020 Audi A4, A5, RS 5, S5, and S4 vehicles with a seat-heater cable fault tied to the passenger occupant detection system. The fault can disable the passenger air bag, increasing injury risk in a crash.
What should I do if my 2017-2020 Audi A4, A5, RS 5, S5, or S4 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 21V874. If it is, schedule service with a franchised Audi dealer for the cable and seat repair. Reference Audi recall number 74E3 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Audi dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or the entire seat cover free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 21V874?
The safety risk is a disabled passenger air bag. If the passenger air bag is turned off because the system misdiagnoses a malfunction, the passenger has a higher risk of injury in a crash.
What if my Audi was already repaired under recall 19V-547?
You still need to check this recall. Audi says recall 21V874 expands recall 19V-547, and vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 need to return for the new remedy. Use your VIN and ask the Audi dealer about recall 74E3.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V874000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V874 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V874000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →