The Auxiliary PTC Electric Cabin Heater fails and causes an overheat/fire condition. We own a 2015 Audi A3 TDI Premium Plus sedan. This vehicle has a diesel engine. Audi fitted A3 models that have a diesel engine with an auxiliary electric cabin air heater. This heater helps to warm the cabin and provide defrost capabilities on days when the temperature is below 7 degrees C. This heater in our vehicle failed due to melting at the wiring harness connection lugs. This melting caused an overheating condition to occur. On cold days we would notice a terrible burning plastic, rubber smell coming from the air vents inside the cabin. Once the car was warmed up and the electric heater was disabled by the cars ECU (computer) the smell gradually went away. The process was repeated the next day, but the smell was worse. We took the vehicle to Zimbrick European Audi in Madison, WI. They found the electrical issue with the Auxiliary Electric Cabin Air heater. In researching this issue we found there are MANY user reports of the same failure on Volkswagon Audi Group vehicles. Audi issued a safety recall for the SAME problem on Audi A4, A5 and Q5 vehicles under Audi Safety Recall Code : 80C5 with the NHTSA document number being: RCRIT-17V622-6265.pdf This very same problem currently affects my Audi A3 TDI. I have found numerous other people reporting the same issue with VW Golf TDI models, VW Passat TDI models and Jetta TDI models. Examples are located here: https://forums.tdiclub.com/index
2015 Audi A3 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2015 record →
The warning lights that the Airbag is not functioning intermittently turns on and off and the car beeps incessantly. It is very distracting and has diverted my attention several times on the highway. This Recall has been pending since March 2021. I have been trying to schedule an appointment with the dealer to get it fixed and the response I get is there are no parts, call back next month. At this point I am concerned that Audi does not have the necessary parts and is simply wasting their customers time asking them to schedule appointments with the dealer. It will be great if the NHTSA can investigate this and update owners with what to expect here. I am concerned that I am driving this car without passenger airbags functioning for close to a year now!
I purchased this vehicle in Germany back in September 2020. It’s a US spec Audi that has the passenger air bag floor sensor recall that I can’t seem to get fixed by the German Audi dealership. How can I get this recall fixed in case I sell the car or want to ship it back stateside. They won’t ship a car with a potential safety recall outstanding. My phone number is [XXX] and I used my stateside address because the system will not accept my German address. Please contact me via phone number listed above or by email. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
During cold ambient temperature when the engine is cold the vehicle activates an axillary cabin heater which fills the cabin with smoke and burning odor due to the heating element burning the housing and wiring inside the dash. This is a serious danger risking vehicle fire and health hazard for the operator and occupants of the vehicle. It appears multiple other Audi vehicles have a similar/same heating element that have the same issue. The 2015 A4 and Q5 appear to have a recall for this issue.
It has been nearly 9 months since this recall was issued. Audi cannot provide a remedy and cannot tell me when they can provide a remedy. I cannot transport a passenger in the front seat safely, and I cannot sell the car because Audi has issued a 'stop sell' order. Audi will not repurchase the car.
I experienced the exact scenario listed in NHTSA Recall Number21V198. Took the vehicle to my local Audi Dealer. Paid for the necessary safety repairs. Submitted for reimbursement with Audi USA reached out to them multiple times and they have refused to reimburse me for the parts and labor. Attached are the recall and emails between me and Audi USA. Thank you for any support you can provide.
The manufacturer has yet to find a remedy for hmmmmm cars recall.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3 equipped with General Tires, Tire Line: G-Max AS-05, Tire Size: 225/40/R18, DOT Number: (Not Available). The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 70 MPH, the front driver’s side tire experienced a blowout. The contact's daughter informed him that she could see the tire tread blowing off the vehicle as she pulled to the side of the road. A state patrol officer was able to assist his daughter in changing the tire. Upon inspection of the tire, the contact stated that the tread had ripped off from the sidewall causing the failure. The tire manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The tire failure mileage was 15,000. The vehicle failure mileage was 39,000.
After taking my '15 A3 to the dealer to have the Passenger Occupant Detection (POD) serviced, the issues started. For example, the passenger seatbelt sometimes chimes when no one is in the passenger seat, to the airbag shutting off when someone is seated in the passenger seat. As a result, I've reached out to my local Audi dealer to schedule an appointment to fix the issue. However, the service representative informed me that the recall is currently on hold due to parts not being readily available from Audi of North America to fix the issue. The dealer added my information to a waiting list and told me to wait for a phone call or an email when the PODS recall parts are available. Three months later, and I am still waiting.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag and the seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 48,500. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
My airbag light randomly goes off while driving or parked. Someone can be in or not in the seat. Shows they’re not buckled in while they are. It sounds with a ding. Documents at dealership where they told me it was my own issue. I was saving to do their repair recommendations.
Manufacturer Recall Number69BY NHTSA Recall Number21V198
I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY 2015 AUDI THAT SO MANY OTHERS I READ ARE HAVING, MY PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS TURNING ON AND OFF WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. IM NOW CONCERNED AFTER READING ALL THESE REPORTS THAT IM GOING TO GET HOSED SINCE AUDI ISNT DOING THE PROPER THING AND FIXING WHATS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. WHOS RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR DIES BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS OFF DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT WAS IGNORED?
AUDI RECALL #69Z4, NHTSA RECALL #19V474 THE CAR WAS UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH WAS 'FIXED' BY DEALER SOMETIME IN 2019. CURRENTLY THE CAR SHOWS AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED, THE UNBUCKLED SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS FLASHES EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. SPOKE THE AUDI OF ONTARIO,CA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS COMPONENT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON, WHEN THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED, THIS HAPPENS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE UNFASTENED SEATBELT LIGHT, AND AIRBAG LIGHT REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. UNFASTENED SEATBELT SOUNDS CONTINUE FOR 2-3 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED, THEN GOES AWAY.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER 2020 CAR WAS SLOW TO TAKE OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND SEEMED TO TAKE TIME TO SHIFT GEARS. TOOK TO AUDI MECHANIC AND HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP -W/THERMOSTAT HOUSING & INTAKE MANIFOLD. NOW I'M APRIL 2021 CAR IS BACK IN SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TURN CAR OFF AND THEN GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION CANNOT REVERSE AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AGAIN. I'M TOLD IT NEEDS MECHATRONIC UNIT REPLACED, REPLACE TIMING COVER DUE TO OIL LEAK, EVAP LEAK AND WIPER FLUID IS LEAKING.
PODS FAILURE. PASSENGER OCCUPANCY DEVICE. WHEN NOT WORKING, PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF WHILE PASSENGER IN SEAT. IN MY CASE THE PART WAS REPLACED AT 10,208 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 13,924 MILES. AUDI REPLACED THE SENSOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER A LOT OF DEBATE, BUT REFUSE THE SECOND TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE SENSOR, BUT NOT THE SENSOR ITSELF. CRITICAL AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FAILURES HIGHLIGHTED IN MANY AUDI FORUMS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AUDI, AND THE NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE.
SHORTLY AFTER HAVING RECALL 69Z4 COMPLETED (HARNESS AND CONNECTOR) COMPLETED STARTED GETTING WARNINGS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT WORKING AND WHEN SOMEONE WAS NOT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT GETTING A SEATBELT WARNING. ALSO ERROR ON DISPLAY ABOUT PRE-SENSE ERROR. WENT TO DEALER AND POINT OUT THIS STARTED RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL AND THEY SAID DIFFERENT ISSUE AND HAS IMPACTED A LOT OF OTHERS. NOW THEY SAY THE PODS (PASSENGER OCCUPANCY DETECTION SYSTEM) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED QUOTING ME APPROXIMATELY $1200 TO FIX. DUE TO THE FAULT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT OPERATE. IN ADDITION TO MY DEALER TELLING ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHEN LOOKING AT THE FORUMS IT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM ACROSS MANY AUDI MODELS, NOT JUST THE A3, S3.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. IF THEIR IS NO PASSENGER THE SEAT BELT WARNING SIGNAL GOES OFF. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PASSENGER PRESENT IN ORDER TO GET THE SIGNAL TO STOP DINGING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI VIRGINIA BEACH (2865 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS) WHERE THE CABLE TIES IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AND PODS HARNESS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ALL CONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.
IN 2019, I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL CONSISTING OF THE PODS(PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) SYSTEM STATING THAT THE WIRING AND CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE REPAIRS DONE. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE RECALL REPAIRS, I HAVE NOW BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE PODS SYSTEM. AROUND MARCH 2020, I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG TURNING ON AND OFF WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN MY PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SEATBELT ON. I WOULD HAVE TO INSTRUCT MY PASSENGER TO DISENGAGE THE SEATBELT AND RE-ENGAGE IT IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAG TO COME BACK ON AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PERSON OVER THE MINIMAL WEIGHT REQUIREMENT OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THIS ISSUE HAVE CONTINUED TO OCCUR ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ON NOV. 6TH, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT(REAR-ENDED) WITH NO MAJOR INJURIES. THAT ACCIDENT WAS LUCKILY NOT VERY SEVERE AND I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T HIT THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND NEEDED MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND I WOULDN'T DUE TO A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WAS FINE UNTIL THE RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2019. SO ON FRIDAY, NOV 13TH, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS IN FACT MY SENSOR INSIDE MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE WIRING AND CONNECTOR WAS CHANGED IN DEC 2019. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF THE AUTO MAKER AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO PAY ANY PART OF
JUNE 2018 PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR PASSENGER PODS DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG. 10/2019 RECALL FOR WIRING WAS DONE. OCTOBER 29 2020, PODS NEED REPLACED AGAIN! OUT OF WARRANTY! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND AFTER VIEWING MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE, A RECALL MUST BE DONE! AUDI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ADDRESS THEIR FAULTY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD HE COVERED UNDER RECALL. GOD FORBID SOMEONE BECOME SERIOUSLY INJURED OR LOSE THEIR LIFE DUE TO AUDIS LACK OF RESPONSE. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT I LUST PAY OUT OF POCKET ONCE AGAIN TO REPAIR!
CAR RECEIVED PODS RECALL FIX CODED 69Z4 IN JANUARY 2020. THE FIX DID NOT SOLVE THE ANNOYING AND LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTIONION THAT LEADS TO AUDI PRESENSE FAILURE ALERT AND DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. IT WOULD ALSO TRIGGER THE ERROR WHEN NO PASSENGER WAS SEATED, REQUIRING TO FASTEN THE SEATBELT TO AN EMPTY SEAT TO GET RID OF THE SEATBELT BEEPS. CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP OCTOBER AND AFTER AN INSPECTION, THE ISSUE WAS FOUND TO BE THE SENSOR ITSELF THIS TIME. THE DIAGNOSIS REPORT DILIGENTLY RULED OUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTOR AND WIRING WHOSE FAULT WOULD MEAN A POTENTIAL REPAIR AND THE INSPECTION WOULD BE AT NO COST TO OWNER. HOWEVER, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S COMPLAINTS OWNER WAS PRESENTED WITH A 1,500 DOLLAR QUOTE FOR REPLACING THE SENSOR + $250 FEE FOR USING THEIR VAGCOM ("INSPECTION"). THE ERROR CODE WAS B12251B (MAT RESISTANCE TOO HIGH). AUDI'S INTERNAL DOCUMENTS ACCESSED THROUGH NHTSA REPORT THAT "IF FAULT, 'B12251B: SEAT OCCUPIED RECOGNITION SENSOR MAT RESISTANCE TOO HIGH' IS STORED IN THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE, DO NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS FOR THIS FAULT BEFORE PERFORMING THIS REPAIR. THE 69Z4 TOPIC IS NOT THE ONLY CAUSE OF THIS FAULT. ANY DIAGNOSIS RELATED TO THIS FAULT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN." AUDI OPENLY ADMITS THAT THE SCOPE OF THE 69Z4 RECALL AND THE SENSOR ISSUE ARE LINKED TOGETHER BY VIRTUE OF HAVING SIMILAR BEHAVIORS FOR THE CAR SYSTEMS AS WELL AS FAULT CODES. HOWEVER AUDI PERFOR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, A WARNING CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS DISCONNECTED, FOLLOWED BY AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THERE WAS AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO WAS PROPERLY BELTED IN. RECALL "FIX" 69Z4 HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE.
WITH AN SOMETHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING MESSAGE SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION, THE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF. A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE OR TWO LATER ANOTHER MESSAGE SAYS THE AIRBAGS ARE ON. THIS SEQUENCE CAN APPEAR MANY TIMES IN AN HOUR OF DRIVING OR NOT APPEAR AT ALL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS REPORTED AND RECALLED FOR CERTAIN 2018 AUDI S5 AND A5 VEHICLES ALONG WITH SOME 2017-2018 A4S. I'VE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG ISSUE FIXED WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO BE SERVICES FOR THE RECALL OF FAULTY WIRING UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT AUDI IN CARY NORTH CAROLINA SAID THAT THIS IS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE FORMER RECAL.
MY AUDI A3 CONTINUALLY HAS A PRESENCE SYSTEM FAULT WHEN THE CAR STARTS WHICH INDICATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AS A RESULT IT TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EVEN WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. AUDI HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO AUDI.S ATTENTION FOR OVER FOUR YEARS WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS ISSUE HAS CONTINUED DESPITE A PRIOR RECALL SERVICE ON ANOTHER CONNECTOR WITH THE PODS SYSTEM HOWEVER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT FIX THE ISSSUE CONTINUED AND AUDI INDICATES IT ACTUALLY LIKES WITH A FAULTY SENSOR. THIS ISSUE OCCURS RANDOMLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED OR WHILE ALREADY DRIVING, THE ERROR MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND PUT AN ALERT ON THE MAIN DASHBOARD WHICH IS UNNERVING AND DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. I PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AUDI PICTURES OF THE ALERT MESSAGES MULTIPLE TIMES OVER SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO RESOLUTION.
2015 AUDI A3 ,18000 MILES, O2 SENSOR BANKJ 1(AFTER THE ENGINE) WAS CHANGE BANK 2 CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST NOT CHANGE BUT KEEP GOING BACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NEED HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A FALSE WARNING FROM THE AIR BAG SYSTEM THAT DEACTIVATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSNAK/PASADENA AUDI (267 W COLORADO BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91105, (626) 714-3159). THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT HAD NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
CAT FEELS UNSTABLE WHEN I DRIVE OVER 70 MILES ON THE FREEWAY.. ALSO SEATBELTS LOCK ROOM HARD
SEPT 2019 RECALL FOR AIRBAG CONNECTOR AND WIRING. REPAIRED IN OCT. SAFETY BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME SEAT, THEY SAY NOW IT IS SENSOR NOT THE RECALL ITEM. THERE ARE 75 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. SEEMS LIKE RECALL SHOULD HAVE REPLACED SENSOR AS WELL. NOW IT COSTS $1300 TO FIX SENSOR WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE TIME OR AT LEAST OFFERED TO REPLACE WHEN TEHEY HAD THE RECALL SEAT TORN APART TO SAVE $1K IN LABOR.
PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON. WARNING LIGHT IS DISPLAYED AND ERROR SAFETY MESSAGE IS ON SCREEN WHEN CARE IS TURNED ON AND OPERATING. ADDITIONALLY SEATBELT ALARM CONTINUES TO CHIME WHILE SEATBELT IS USED.
MY 2015 AUDI A3 HAS ONLY 11,200 MILES ON IT. THE PASSENGER BAG SAFETY LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS DONE FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT WILL OCCUR WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE YELLOW DASH LIGHT COMES ON NEAR THE PASSENGER AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES. THE INFORMATION PANEL ON THE DASH WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY REPORT "SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT! SEE OWNER'S MANUAL" AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND "AUDI PRE SENSE: SYSTEM FAULT!". THIS FAULT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8-10 TIMES DURING A 1,000 MILE TRIP MY WIFE AND I TOOK DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN 2020. I HAD MY WIFE TRY ADJUSTING THE ANGLE OF THE SEAT, RAISING THE FRONT PORTION HIGHER TO TRY TO APPLY MORE BODY WEIGHT TO THE SEAT. MY THINKING WAS THAT IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF IF A PASSENGER DOES NOT WEIGH ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG TO SAFELY DEPLOY. THE SYSTEM FAULT ACTS LIKE IT DETECTS SOME WEIGHT THERE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE AIRBAG SAFELY. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS NOT REGISTERING THE WEIGHT CORRECTLY OR MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT READING THAT WOULD KEEP THE AIRBAG ENGAGED OVER TIME. THE PICTURE ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT WERE TAKEN ON MAY 25, 2020 DURING OUR TRIP, BUT THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER GETTING ONLINE TO GOOGLE FOR ANSWERS, I CAN SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. I SEE THAT THE 2015 MODEL MAY HAVE BEEN L
FOR THE LAST 4 DAYS I HAVE HAD SOMEONE GET INTO MY PASSENGER SEAT AND RANDOMLY WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE AIRBAG SIGNAL STATES ' PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' IT FLASHES TO NOTIFY ME IT HAS TURNED OF. I COMPLETED RESEARCH AND FOUND THEIR IS A RECALL ON AUDI VEHICLES FOR THIS COMPLAINT BUT ONLY 2016 AND A FEW OTHER YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO 2015 AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUDI WESTMONT (276 E OGDEN AVE, WESTMONT, IL 60559) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
AUDI PASSENGER OCCUPANT SYSTEM CONSISTENTLY FAULTS EFFECTIVELY DISABLING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS ISSUE OCCURS MOSTLY WHILE A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT, BUT FROM TIME TO TIME WILL OCCUR WHEN NO PASSENGER IS PRESENT. IT OCCURS WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION DURING NORMAL DAY TO DAY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE PODS RECALL PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WHICH HAS MADE THE ISSUE WORSE. *TR
AUDI RECALL CAMPAIGN 69Z4 WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION BY REPLACING A CONNECTOR AND HARNESS. THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUES. MANY AUDI CUSTOMERS SAYING THE SEAT BELT ALARM AND WARNING LIGHT STILL COME ON. MINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I PLUG THE SEAT BELT BACK IN, BUT THEN MY AIRBAGS TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY EVEN IF THERE IS AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WAS THE CHEAP FIX. AUDI ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE WITH THE ACTUAL PODS SENSOR BUT MAKES CUSTOMERS PAY $1,200 FOR THE SAFETY FIX. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECALL. AUDI BLAMES MINE ON THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, BUT THE PHOTOS PRE-DATE THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER.
AUDI HAS A RECALL TO FIX THE WIRING IN THE PODS SYSTEM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE COMPONENTS TO DETECT AND PROTECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT EXISTS. THE RECALL DOES NOT FIX THE SENSOR ITSELF WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN EXISTING FAILURE ISSUE. KNOWING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AUDI HAS YET TO RECALL THE SENSOR AS PART OF THE SYSTEM TO DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS AS BAD IF NOT WORSE THEN THE AIRBAG RECALL THAT EXISTS TODAY. THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT THE SENSOR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE ITS A DIFFERENT COMPONENT THAN THE WIRING HARNESS, EVEN THOUGH THE HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE SENSOR AND THE CONNECTION WAS PART OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO CHARGE BETWEEN 1200 AND 1300 DOLLARS FOR EACH REPLACED SENSOR. THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO FAIL TO ACTIVATE BECAUSE THE SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER OR NOT. ADDITIONALLY THERE COULD BE INJURY TO THE DRIVER ON DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DUE TO SENSOR FAILURE TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY OCCUPANT. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM AND SHOULD NOT BE MANAGED AS SUCH AS A FAILING USE PART. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY ITEM.
MY CAR KEEPS HAVING A SAFETY SYSTEM FAULT. THERE ARE TWO ERRORS: 1. THE "PAASENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR STAYS ON EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT 2. BUCKLE SEATBELT SIGN IS ON WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER I TOOK MY CAR FOR A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE OF THE AIRBAG BEING OFF! THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AFTER RECENT CAR INSPECTION DUE TO RECALL FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55 000 MILES ON IT. OTHER AUDI MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR AUDI A3 2015. AS A MANUFACTURER AUDI MUST TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS AND IT SHOULD REPLACE THEM ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
EVERY 2 MIN. HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY IT SELF FOR 2-3 SECONDS.. THEN TURN BACK ON.. PEOPLE ON FRONT OF YOU THINK THAT YOU HIGH BEAM THEM... BUT THE DANGER IS WHEN YOU DRIVE LIKE ON BRIDGE OR HIGHWAY WHERE NO STREET LIGHTS.. ROAD MAKING TURN.. AND YOUR HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF FOR COUPLE OF SECONDS.. AND THIS ON/OFF HEADLIGHTS THING GOING ON STOP.. DOESN'T MATTER IF VEHICLE IN MOTION.. PARKED OR EVEN ENGINE NOT RUNNING...
THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS ON NEARLY ALL MQB CHASSIS VW/AUDI'S WITH THE EA888 GEN 3 2.0 TFSI ENGINE. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE.
THERE WAS RECENTLY A PODS RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR THE RECALL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUES FOR MANY PEOPLE. CAR WILL RANDOMLY THINK SOMEONE IS SETTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND ACTIVATE AIRBAG AND CAUSE THE SEATBELT LIGHT TO CHIME CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE SENSOR IMBEDDED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS FAULTY.
VENT MOTORS FOR DEFROST FLAPS STOP WORKING CAUSING SCREEN TO FOG WITH VERY THICK MIST. CAN HAPPEN RANDOMLY EVEN WHILE BLOWER IS ON THE SCREEN POSITION AT FULL BLAST
WATER PUMP / THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILURE CAUSING COOLAT TO LEAK. ALL OF MY COOLANT WAS DRAINED BEFORE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2015 Audi A3 → · Every A3 year → · How the figures are calculated →