My Audi a3 got the recall for PODS done 5/2022 which the sensors and air bag in the passenger side weren’t working and I got the same lights come up 2 weeks ago. My Dealership says since this was a recalled item and is a massive safety concern and should be covered by AUDI USA. Instead they want to charge me $1400. I have 3 kids and one sits in the front, and need my car to take them to school and…
2018 audi A3 airbags problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not e…
The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa…
The passenger airbag stays on off mode even when a passenger is sitting in the seat with their seatbelt on. I have taken my car to Audi dealership two times and they tell me I would have to pay $900.00 for a new airbag pod which may not even fix it. Audi also told me it’s not covered with my warranty. I’ve been trying to avoid driving with passengers but it’s my only vehicle and can’t always avoid…
The car informed me the passenger airbag is turned off. This recall was first noticed 7 months ago. Surely that’s enough time for Audi to come up with a fix? If the fix is going to be expensive (new seats and sensors) then that sucks for Audi. But what about the tens of thousands of us driving without airbags while Audi “investigates” for 7 months?
Airbag light reads off while my husband is sitting in the seat
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AUDI GRAPEVINE (LOCATED AT 1260 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 354-2834) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CON…
My wife was impacted on the drivers side very hard by another vehicle, enough to total the car, and the side airbags did not deploy
Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may detect a malfunction and switch off the passenger airbag even though the seat may be occupied. I have been waiting for the recall on my vehicle to be fixed since 03/22/2021. It has been 6months and the manufacture still doesn't have a remedy to fix my vehicle. I can't sale my vehicle or e…
Audi Dealership is not co-operating to perform the recall issued on my vehicle, i have been trying to schedule the part replacement for more than a year now and every time they say the part is not available. i also attached my service request to Audi but after a phone call to confirm they said the part not available and they do not know when they will have the part. below is recall info: Mar…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2018 audi A3?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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