Audi Recalls 11,618 2017 A3/S3 Sedans To Fix Front Airbag Software Issue

Volkswagen has announced the recall of 11,618 2017 Audi A3 and S3 sedan models for airbag problems. According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are times when the front passenger airbag control unit can deploy with more force than intended, increasing the risk of injury.

According to the agency, if the passenger is out of position, perhaps sitting on the edge of the seat or if the seat is in a reclining position with the rider laying in the seat, the front passenger airbag unit may deploy with too much force. Typically, the accidents are low-speed crashes. In these situations, the airbag control unit software may misread things, causing the deployment issue.

The issue was found in March during routine testing by the automaker and its subcontractor. The agency filing did not list any injuries or report any crash-related issues due to the problem.

Audi will notify owners of the affected vehicles of the recall campaign. At that time, owners can schedule service appointments where the automaker will update the airbag control unit software. The repair is free of charge and was expected to begin this month.

For further information, owners may contact Audi’s customer service at 800-253-2834. The internal recall campaign identification number is 69Q3. Or, owners can communicate with the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 for information on recall number 17V196000. Owners can also contact the agency’s website at www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA