The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·17V196000·Announced 2017-03-22

Audi Recalls 2017 A3 and S3 Vehicles for Air Bag Software Defect

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2017 Audi A3 and S3 vehicles because the air bag control software may deploy the passenger air bag improperly in lower-speed crashes.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a safety-critical component (air bags) where improper deployment can increase the risk of injury, but the source text does not report any actual injuries or fatalities, fitting the 'High' criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. The recall addresses a defect in the air bag control unit software. In a lower-speed crash situation, the software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury. The source text does not report any specific injuries or fatalities associated with this defect.

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
AUDI S3, A3 CABRIOLET
Brand
AUDI
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag System
Hazard
Affected units
11,618

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • S3
  • A3 CABRIOLET

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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